“What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. What then did you go out to see?” (Matthew 11:9)
Several years ago I took my family on a trip to Great Britain, France and Italy. While there we visited and spent time in several cathedrals and famous churches. St. Paul and Westminster Abbey in London; Bath Abby in Bath; Notre Dame, Sacre Coure, and St. Chappelle in Paris; and the Doumo and Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. I am a church planter of Simple Church models and missional communities, creating discipleship environments in mangers. These great churches would be at the complete opposite on a simple church in a manger. The pages above from Matthew caused me to reflect on my time spent in these Catherdrals.
When you walk into these churches they instill in you a sense of awe, and belief in God, or at least definitely a sense of awe, and belief in architecture. As I walked into a church, take Notre Dame for example. It started its construction in the 11th century and was completed in the 13th century, I tried to image walking into it for the first time not as a tourist in the 21st century who has seen everything, but walking into it for the first time it as a peasant of the 13th century. I would have lived in a small simple house with no electricity, TV, or running water. My life knowledge and experience would be of a 1miled circumference from my home. I would be uneducated and unread.
Walking up to Notre Dame would be like walking up into the shadow of a holy mountain. Its gargoyles that surround its walls would be staring down at me and the fear of God would envelope me. When I gained enough courage to walk into it through it massive doors ordained with carving of saints and apostles I would have an overwhelming experience beyond belief: The vaulted ceilings above me would seem to reach up to the heavens. The gold gilded altar, the sculptures and artwork would captivate me eyes.. The towering stain glass windows that fill the space with colors and light that I have never seen before, like light from heaven itself. Then there is a massive pipe organ in the back of Notre Dame that when played fills the grand space of stone with a reverberation like thunder that echoes into my very soul. When the choir joined in it would be like the heavenly host that announced Jesus’ birth. Next the priest, altar boys, and other members would parade down the isle in their gilded and embroidered vestments such as I have never seen before. The procession would be lifting up crosses, The Bible, and other church standards. The service would then take place in Latin ritualistically with thurifers sending up clouds of incense that would fill my sense of smell, bells ringing synchronized to the liturgy, and clergy chanting. As a 13 century peasant, I would have walked out of Notre Dame like Moses walking down from Mount Sinai, my face a glow from the overwhelming experience to my senses, convinced I had been in the very presence of God. Convinced of the power and authority of the church as God’s representative on earth. I would have then gone and shared and told my family, neighbors and friends all about my experience and would invite and encourage everyone I met to come and see and experience the presence of God at “my church.”
Fast forward 800 years back to the present, to us of the 21st century. Jesus asked those in the church who went to see John the Baptist, “What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. What then did you go out to see?” (Matthew 11:9)
I reflected on Jesus question as a leader attempting to form true missional communities, What am I hoping people will see? When you walkout your house on Sunday mornings and drive to your church why are you going? “What then do you go out to see?” When you walk out of your “Notre Dame” following your service, what effect, what is the experience are you walking out with? Do you walk out with “your face glowing” and a sense of awe that you are assured you had been in the presence of God? Are you compelled to tell your family, neighbors and friends all about your experience and invite and encourage everyone you meet to come and see and experience the presence of God at “my church.”
My family, I pray in your reflections and prayers on this the Holy Spirit will reveal and clarify in you, “What then are you going out to see?” In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
As we read through the New Testament, I can not post a reflection on an entire chapter, but what verses stood out to me. I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
We started January 1st the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year. This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend. The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org. Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2025, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe. Then you will receive an email confirmation to click on. Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.
