“Fortifying Our Faith While Focusing on Our Future through Worship” CONNECTIONAL LAY COUNCIL THEME “Fortifying Our Faith While Focusing on Our Future through Worship”

The theme embodies 3 ideas. (1) We can fortify our faith through worship. (2) We can develop the capacity to focus on our future through worship (3) We can fortify our faith and at the same time develop our capacity to focus on our future if we engage in true worship.

A note on “true” worship… “True worship” is engaged when we seek and experience the felt presence of God. We respond with thanksgiving, praise, and (re)dedication and offering of self to God’s will and God’s work. vs. In entertainment, we are responding to the skill or lack of skill of the performers, usually who stand in front of us and please or disenchant us with their talent in speaking or singing.

1st Idea in Our Theme: We can fortify our faith through worship.

What are some ideas embodied in the word “fortify”? QUESTION: WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY “FORTIFYING” OUR FAITH? What are some ideas embodied in the word “fortify”?

SYNONYMS FOR “FORTIFY” (How many did we name? STRENGTHEN REINFORCE SUPPORT BUTTRESS SECURE BOOST BOLSTER AUGMENT SUSTAIN ENRICH BUILD UP REFRESH REVIVE INVIGORATE ENCOURAGE ENHANCE

Why do you think worship fortifies faith? QUESTION: Why do you think worship fortifies faith?

WORSHIP FORTIFIES FAITH BECAUSE. . . It helps us to feel the presence of God. We consciously seek God and acknowledge God’s grace in our lives. We hear the Word of God proclaimed through words and song. We are in the company of other believers. Other reasons?

2nd Idea in Our Theme: We can develop the capacity to focus on our future through worship.

Worship has the power to help us develop the capacity to focus on the future.

Why do you think that worship empowers us to focus on our future? Question: Why do you think that worship empowers us to focus on our future?

Worship can help us to focus on our future because… when we accept God’s grace and forgiveness of sins we are released from the past to focus on the future.

Worship can help us to focus on our future because… worship has the power to change our patterns of thought, feeling, specch, and behavior, enabling us to desist in destructive patterns and develop constructive ones.

Worship can help us to focus on our future because… it strengthens our faith in the power of God which gives us a greater sense of security to use the gifts and talents God has given us. we become more focused on things that matter and give up concern about superficial and worldly matters.

Worship can help us to focus on our future because… we develop a better understanding of our purpose in living and are thus motivated to engage in meaningful endeavors.

Worship can help us to focus on our future because… it increases the capacity of a congregation to work together to carry out the true mission of the church: worshipping God, carrying the gospel to others, and edifying the people.

In summary… Worship has power! It has power to fortify our faith. It has power to enable us to focus on our future, both on our individual futures and our collective future as a congregation of believers.