---
title: "Trumpets"
author: "Grace Church Young Adults"
url: "https://resources.gracechurchsp.org/3/trumpets"
---

# Foreward
_by Evan Kahlich_

Trumpets in the Bible.

I cannot shake the use and references of trumpets in Scriptures. The trumpet is often used in the Scriptures and with much meaning. One expositor said,

"Now the voice was like a trumpet. It is the one instrument that makes us think of the future. It is piercing, it is commanding, it is penetrating, it makes you listen and pay attention. There is going to be a day - the noisiest day in the world's history - when the trumpet shall sound, the archangel will cry out with a shouted command: and the word trumpet occurs more in the last book in the Bible than anywhere else in the New Testament. It is quite frequent in the Old, but this is the book of trumpets, and though most people associate harps with heaven, I associate trumpets. It was a voice like a trumpet: piercing, loud, penetrating."

The most impressive use of the trumpet in the Bible is it is the sound used when the dead are raised! The Apostle Paul makes this reference twice in his epistles.

First, in 1 Corinthians 15:52:

> "In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed!"

And then, when writing to those in Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 4:16:

> "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."

> “Incredibly, the astronomical reconstruction of the circumstances of Revelation 12:1–7 that produces a birth date for the Messiah of September 11, 3 B.C., was also the beginning of the Jewish New Year in 3 B.C. (Rosh ha-Shanah)—Tishri 1, the Day of Trumpets. The Feast of Trumpets/Tishri 1 was also the day that many of the ancient kings and rulers of Judah reckoned as their inauguration day of rule. This procedure was followed consistently in the time of Solomon, Jeremiah, and Ezra… Jewish tradition also held that the Day of Trumpets commemorated the beginning of the world—the very first “first day” of the human calendar. As Jewish historian Theodor H. Gaster writes, “Judaism regards New Year’s Day not merely as an anniversary of creation―but more importantly―as a renewal of it. This is when the world is reborn.” [Heiser, Michael S.. Reversing Hermon: Enoch, the Watchers, and the Forgotten Mission of Jesus Christ (pp. 81-82). Kindle Edition.]

The trumpet is an odd instrument because, to me, it is an instrument we don't hear too often in our modern context. I'm not advocating that the trumpet is the best instrument in an ensemble or that it is my favorite instrument! But when we hear a trumpet, we almost always stop to linger, look, and listen because its penetrating noise has caught our attention.

# Day 1: An Outward Expression of an Inward Delight
_by Keith Golightly_

## Scripture

>“An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” —John 4:23-24 (NASB)



## Application

Worship in its most simple definition is paying attention to God. When a King enters his kingdom or even his throne room, all eyes and ears of the people are on him as an expression of honor and respect. As carriers of the presence of King Jesus, our hearts and minds are always aware of Him and sensitive to His presence. 

We all worship something, whether we realize it or not. Our hearts are like sonar radars that constantly scan for things to give itself to. Worship is never an on or off switch that suddenly switches on when we find ourselves in a worship service; nor does it switch off when we leave church. Our worship is constantly on - it’s just a matter of what or who our worship is directed to in any given moment of our lives. What is the object of your worship? To answer this, ask yourself this question.. What is the one thing I think about most in my day? Whatever that thing is, that is the ultimate object of your worship. This is why Jesus commands us to love Him with our minds (Matthew 22:37) because when we do, our thought lives are founded on Him, and therefore our worship.  

Have you ever noticed that when you get excited about something, you need to tell someone about it? This is because we are creatures that love to delight in things. We love sharing what we delight in with others that may delight in the same thing(s). Nothing is more frustrating than when someone is not excited about what you’re excited about. Our natural inclination of taking delight in something is expressing it. In fact, the expression of delight is the completion of that delight. When we delight in Jesus, the result of that delight is outward expression. In other words, worship is the outward expression of our inward delight in Jesus. Outward expression without inward delight is hypocrisy, while inward delight without outward expression is incomplete. Delight and expression go hand-in-hand; you can’t truly have one without the other. God designed us to enjoy Him, and the best way to tell God you enjoy Him is to worship Him. By doing so, you are giving your soul the opportunity to complete its utmost delight and fulfill its grand and divine purpose.        



## Reflection
- Am I truly delighting in Jesus, and how is that affecting my expression of worship? 
- What are the different expressions of worship that are outlined in the Bible? 

## Read 
- Psalm 46:10 (being silent/still) 
- Psalm 145:21 (speak to God) 
- Psalm 69:30 (sing songs) - Psalm 98:1 (sing a new song) 
- Psalm 66:1 (shouting) 
- Psalm 95:6 (bowing/kneeling) 
- Psalm 63:3-4, 134:1 (lifting hands) 
-  Psalm 47:1 (clapping hands) 
- Psalm 149:2-3 (dancing) 
- Psalm 150 (musical instruments).



## Prayer

_“Father, may you be my heart’s ultimate delight. Help me, Lord, to place You in Your rightful place in my heart so that You can change me from the inside out. I want the outward expression of my worship to match the inward delight that I have in You. I don’t want my worship to entertain hypocrisy or risk being incomplete. Holy Spirit, help me to genuinely worship You in spirit and truth, so that Your throne may be exalted and You receive the worth and praise that is due to Your name. I pray this in the worthy name of King Jesus, Amen.”_

# Day 2: The Invitation to Trust God Through Our Circumstances
_by Joshua Lett_

## Scripture

> “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand… Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me.” —Philippians 4:6, 7a, 8b, 9a



## Application

Worship isn’t the denial of what we see and feel in our circumstances by singing songs about God’s Truth. Worship is our response of trust in and through prayer that walks us through our circumstances because of God’s worth. 

We worship God when we give an honest response to His worth in relationship with Him through prayer. In prayer we bring what we honestly see and feel into the presence of God. God isn’t looking for our perfect devotion, but our honest attention. When He gets this honest attention, then He’s able to show us His True worth. 

Jesus revealed God’s worth through how He lived, died, and rose again displaying His love for humanity. God proved His love by giving us His best - His Presence. Jesus came, to make a way, for us to experience the reality of His Presence in His Ways, Truths, and Life. Jesus made access for us to experience the love of the Father, the grace of Jesus, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us God’s love - the gift of His Presence (Romans 8:31-32). We can actually bring all that we are seeing and feeling to God and trust Him through our worship of prayer because God is a God of relationship. The Gospel is God’s Presence made known to man. This is why God is worthy. He did what no man has done, He does what no man can do, and He will forever do what no man will ever do. God is enough. God is worthy. 

Knowing God’s worth produces worship in us. It produces trust for us despite what we may see or feel in our circumstances. Worship is the ability to trust God. You may have heard the phrase, “Worship is a lifestyle.” This is helpful because oftentimes when we hear the word “worship” we associate it with the word “singing.” Although, yes, worshiping God through song is one of the primary ways we do connect with Him, yet, it’s not the only way to do so. If worship is a lifestyle, that means we can worship God with and in our life.

This ought to bring such peace to our hearts because what this means is: in our homework, in our eating, in our working out, in our finances, in our relationships, in our sleep, in our hobbies, in our meal times, in our work, in our rest days, in our sickness, in our free time, in whatever happens in our regular day to day life, meaning; in everything that we do and feel throughout our day, we can worship God. Here’s the thing about this that should bring us peace: Most of life isn’t happening within the hour-long service we have gathered as the Church. Life is happening in the other 167 hours of our week. 

Therefore; in our daily circumstances we can begin to talk with God in prayer and we then begin to worship God with our honest self. And it’s only then in the place of prayer we begin to truly worship and experience God for who He really is. It wasn’t until I admitted all my pain, hurt, confusion, and gave myself permission to grief the divorce of my parents that I began to truly worship. God didn’t want me to sing a song to Him declaring that He is good. God wanted me to experience that He is good through a relationship with Him. Because I allowed my suffering to be met with God’s worth - His love. I now know then, despite what I feel or see, I can still worship. Because I have experienced the worth of God, therefore; I will and I can sing to Him a song of praise. 

Worship isn’t the denial of what we see and feel in our circumstances by singing songs about God’s Truth. Worship is our response of trust in and through prayer that walks us through our circumstances because of God’s worth.


## Reflection

You may have had a conversation with yourself go something like this: “Man, I know my parents got divorced and I’m really hurting, but hey, God is good, so I need to trust Him and worship Him.” So you keep singing songs week after week, reading your Bible week after week and keep on proclaiming the Truth that God is good but your heart still is hurt and never seems to change no matter how “hard” you worship. Have you ever felt like to worship God you had to “fake it til you make it?” 

If you feel the need to “fake it,” you may have been taught wrongly about what worship is. Take 1 minute to close your eyes, think, and ask yourself the question: What’s my definition of worship? It’s important to ask this question, because the answer determines everything about how we live our life.

## Prayer

Follow this Prayer Exercise as a way to foster a life of worship:

1. **Pray about everything.**  Prayer is an invitation to the past, present, and future momentsSet a 10 minute timer. Close your eyes. Sit and breathe in and out. Let this time serve you by becoming aware of what’s happening inside of you as you also invite the Presence of the Holy Spirit to make you aware that waiting in silence is resting and trusting in God’s greatness rather than our circumstances and our own activity.
2. **Tell God what we need.** Prayer is an invitation to approach God as Father Express where you are and what you feel to God. God already knows but it’s important for us to process with God. Be real and honest. God meets us in our brokenness.
3. **Thank Him for who He is, what He has done and what He promises to do.** Prayer is an invitation to remember the GospelThank God for who He is. Thank Him for the promise of His love. Remember who God is and what He has done for us.
4. **Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.** Prayer is an invitation to the renewing of our mindsContinue this process of thanksgiving by reading other Scriptures and or simply thanking Him for all the good things in your life. It’s about perspective.

# Day 3: The Gospel Makes Us Perfect Again
_by Simon Netznik_

## Scripture

> “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand… And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” —Romans 5:1, 2a, 5 (ESV)


## Application

When our team is planning corporate worship experiences, it’s tempting to try to create a perfect, seamless experience. After all, that’s what we see on social media - hours worth of professional, sterilized content that has been produced for the business of mass media.

This got me thinking: What elements would create a “perfect” worship service – whether according to my preference or theological technicalities?

After a few moments thinking, something hit me - In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve embodied God’s initial design for worship and communion. They quite literally had perfect worship. When the Bible says they were “naked” (Genesis 3:10), it wasn’t just their bodies that were bare; Their souls were also fully open before the Godhead, with direct access to intimacy with the Father. They knew God personally, and this relationship is the premise of true worship.

When Adam and Eve fell into the temptation to touch the forbidden fruit (Original Sin), they not only covered themselves with shame and self-consciousness, embarrassed for God to see them; They faced the consequence of death and became “banished” from the garden.

Through our sin nature, our desire for intimacy with Him is magnified and we seek fulfillment through all kinds of worldly expressions: money, power, sex, drugs, or even a “perfect” corporate worship setlist.

The only thing that can fill the void in our heart is Christ Himself. The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus’ Resurrection has the power to reconcile us back to our original purpose – “for My glory,” as God said (Isaiah 43:7). This doesn’t mean we automatically don’t sin again, as we still live in earthly bodies until we become part of the New Heaven and Earth (Revelation 21:1-7).

Spiritually, Jesus justifies us through faith (Romans 5:1), makes us holy and blameless in God’s sight (Ephesians 1:4), and we now become the very righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). By believing in Him, we’ve regained access to the Father directly through the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). He wills to make us perfect again and restore us to perfect worship.


## Reflection

1. Read Romans 5. How does “death through Adam” lead to “life in Christ” for a believer?
2. Are there any areas of your life in which you are experiencing shame, self-consciousness, or fear? You may be asking God for a “holy interruption” (Refer back to Day 2, Heart Over Hype). Identify these areas and write them in your journal. Invite God directly into those parts of your heart and to begin healing those areas.
3. Have you tried to create your own “perfect” experience, whether in worship or other areas of your life? How might submitting those areas to God increase your intimacy with Him?

## Prayer

_“Father, thank you for giving me Life in Christ. I confess that I have attempted to find perfection in my own strength, crafting experiences that may appear flawless on the outside, yet fall short of the true intimacy and communion that You desire. I recognize that this fulfillment and peace are only found in You. Help me to lay down my fear, shae, and self-consciousness. Grant me the wisdom to embrace the freedom that comes from being fully known and loved by You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”_

# Day 4: Heart Over Hype

_by Simon Netznik_


## Scripture

> "Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" 1 Samuel 16:6b-7

## Application

In ancient times, the trumpet wasn't just a musical instrument—it was a call to focus and give attention for all those in its wake. Whether signaling the start of a battle, a king’s arrival, or a holy moment, the sound of a trumpet commanded the eyes of people. Similarly, the word "behold" in Scripture serves as a verbal trumpet. When we encounter it in the Bible, it’s like a divine interruption, telling us to stop, look, and give our attention to what comes next.

In worship, both personally and corporately, our lives should echo this sense of holy interruption. When we declare God’s goodness, it should be like the sound of a trumpet, a “behold” that stops everything and turns hearts and minds toward Him. As we draw attention to God, we must remember that He’s not impressed by our outward displays or performances. As 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us, God sees beyond the surface and looks straight at our hearts. 

This means that our worship, or our “trumpet blast,” must be authentic. Are we truly focused on God, or are we simply going through the motions? Just as a trumpet blast demands attention, our worship should be a genuine reflection of our love and reverence for God—something that stops the world around us and says, “Behold, this is worth your focus.”

The Lord can snag our attention in a variety of ways. He can speak to us through the written Word of Scripture or direct words to us during our personal, private worship time; He even orchestrates people and circumstances in our daily life through which we can learn to recognize His will and voice.

Though easy to get caught up in the “hype” of corporate worship as a religious or emotional exercise, believers should see and experience further into the spiritual realm. Our realization of who God is and what He can do should lead us to prioritize our own character and identity in light of the Gospel. 

Let our worship be like the sound of a trumpet, saying, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), proclaiming the truth about who God is and the Life we can now live because of Jesus.

## Reflection

1. Consider a recent moment where you felt unsuccessful. How might God's definition of success from 1 Samuel 16 and Colossians 3 change your perspective on that experience?
2. Think about the areas where you lead or influence others (like a “trumpet” player in the Kingdom of God). What changes might you need to make in your leadership, service, or personal life to prioritize your heart over hype?

## Prayer

_“Lord, I pray that my worship would be like a trumpet blast—a bold, attention-commanding declaration of Your greatness. Help me to live in a way that says “behold” to the world around me, pointing them to You. Let my focus be on honoring You with a sincere heart, not just going through the motions. May my life be a true reflection of Your glory, drawing others to stop and see how amazing You are. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”_

# Day 5: The Definition of Success

_by Simon Netznik_

## Scripture

> "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." —Joshua 1:8

## Application

That’s it! That’s God’s definition of success: read the Word, and do what it says. In today’s world, the definition of success is often wrapped up in numbers—followers, income, grades, and even objective beauty standards. There’s a pressure to constantly do better, trying to build up our own pride.

There’s a difference between God making us successful by the world’s standards, and Him establishing our plans as we are walking in service to Him. We have the choice to submit our plans, our lives, to Him, and let Him do the work of renewing us to be more like Him. In doing so, Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” When we commit our actions to the Lord, it means we are entrusting our efforts and intentions to Him. This commitment isn’t a one-time decision, but an ongoing process. It involves daily surrender, where we place our ambitions, dreams, and even our fears into God’s hands, trusting that He knows best. This isn’t about passivity; it’s about active engagement with our faith.

In practical terms, this looks like inviting God into our decision-making processes. Before launching into a project or making a big move, take time to pray and seek God’s guidance. Ask Him to align your desires with His will. It also means being willing to adjust your plans as God leads, even if it means stepping away from something that seems promising by worldly standards. Paul says it this way in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

True success isn’t about hitting every goal; it’s about obedience and faithfulness because of our belief in who God is. As you pursue your goals, remember that God is more interested in your character than your achievements. He is more pleased with a humble heart committed to His ways than with a trophy case full of accomplishments.

The success that truly matters is rooted in faithfulness to God, doing what He has called you to do with excellence, and leaving the results to Him. As you walk in this kind of success, you’ll find peace and fulfillment that no amount of worldly achievement can offer.

## Reflection
1. What does it mean to "meditate on [the Book of the Law] day and night," and how can this practice be realistically integrated into our daily routines? How does continuous meditation on scripture impact our decision-making and actions?
2. How does the biblical definition of success in Joshua 1:8 challenge or align with your understanding of success based on contemporary societal standards? In what ways do you see the tension between God's definition of success and the world's definition in your own life?
3. Proverbs 16:3 and Colossians 3:23 shift the focus of why we labor. Reflect on the balance between actively pursuing goals and waiting for God's guidance. How can we maintain an active and engaged faith while being patient for God’s direction? Are there areas in your life where you struggle with this balance?

## Prayer

_“Thank You for Your Word that defines true success. Help us meditate on Your teachings day and night, transforming our actions and decisions. We commit our plans to You, trusting You to guide our steps. Teach us to balance ambition with reliance on Your will and find joy in faithfulness rather than worldly achievements. Grant us wisdom to work wholeheartedly for You and peace as we align our plans with Your purpose. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”_

# Day 6: Focused on the Truth

_by Simon Netznik_

## Scripture

> “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

## Application

“Guys, I have bad news.” This was the text message I received the day a family member attempted suicide. Fortunately, their life was saved and I am glad to still know them today. Having never dealt with the topic of suicide on a personal level, I was stunned at the thought that they would choose to attempt to take their own life. This got me thinking about my own purpose: despite my flesh being “hostile to God” (Romans 8:7), Jesus seeks to give us new life and breath in the spiritual.

It’s often when we receive unexpected and distressing news that we are reminded of our own vulnerability. While life is unpredictable, worship leaders get to share the best Good News of all - the Hope and Life of the Gospel! As servants are entrusted to leadership roles at our churches, we navigate the highs and lows of life while influencing others in service, online, and at work or school.

As our churches and cultures become more integrated, it’s crucial to remember that our message remains one of hope and grace. The key message of Hope in the Gospel is that despite our sin and our unworthiness, God’s love for us is steadfast and unchanging. We should seek to understand this in our own lives as we share this Hope with others.

Even in times of pain and confusion, we are called to share the unchanging truth of God's love. Worship leaders and teams have the unique privilege to point others to Christ’s comfort and strength through the beautiful medium of music. Our ministry can be a source of hope and encouragement, demonstrating that even in life’s darkest moments, God’s grace is sufficient.

Our natural inclination might be to feel hopeless or to question our worthiness in the face of our struggles. However, the Gospel assures us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This profound truth highlights that God’s grace is not based on our circumstances or our performance, but rather on His character, His unconditional love, and His sacrifice.

## Reflection

1. Are there areas where you need to realign your focus on God's grace rather than personal success or struggles? How have those areas affected your ability to lead others in your tribe, small group, or worship?
2. In what ways can the Gospel’s message of hope and grace remain a stable foundation amidst the unpredictability of life? How can we help others see the consistency of God’s love despite the changes and struggles they face?

## Prayer

_“Lord, thank you for the Life and Resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. I submit my entire life to you, because you have spiritually regenerated me. Help me and those in my circles to be worship leaders, influencers, servants, and ultimately children of Your Kingdom. Empower us with Your unchanging love to be salt and light in a world that feels otherwise bleak and hopeless. I make myself fully available to You.  Strengthen us to use our platforms both at church and online to point others to You, remain humble, and be focused on Your truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”_

# Day 7: Going Through the Motions is a Form of Worship

_by Matt Bonnett_

## Scripture

> “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” —Matthew 15:7-9

Application

Worship, by its own definition, is the ascribing of worth to an entity, idea, value, or purpose. In every gathering of the body of Christ, worship takes place. The concern posed here in the Gospel of Matthew isn’t about whether worship is taking place or not, but whether the target is the right one. Throughout the years of ministry, I have seen worship that is aimed properly, and God uses it for His glory (Ephesians 2:10) because people are doing what they are doing with excellence (Colossians 3:17) with the sole purpose of making much of Jesus and pushing forth the life-changing narrative of the gospel. Conversely, I have also seen remarkably talented teams that have put forth a product of musical excellence, but the substance was less about the glory of God and more about the talent and treasures of men. This fine line of purpose and drive is the catalyst for the scripture in Matthew restated from the book of Isaiah – we can go through the motions, use our talents, and never be swayed by the message our music is bringing to the gathering week in and week out. We walk in information and talent instead of transformation and authentic leadership. All this posturing begins with our hearts and where we see our role as leaders of worship within our ministry service.

As someone who has suffered from leading out of my talent, I can craft a very meaningful service, put all the right parts together, execute it with skill and professionalism, and walk away empty while simultaneously leading my people to an empty expression of corporate worship simply because I never took the time to prepare my heart to lead – instead I prepared my talent alone – I completed my function/role without it ever touching my heart. While I could skillfully play and sing, I did not lead out of an overflow of transformation of my heart because I was more concerned about getting it right and doing it well than letting the message of the music permeate me before I led others. The biggest difference here was when I was transformed by the music I was leading, I invited people into that transformation – when I wasn’t, I just invited them to sing. Sunday comes every 7 days and that relentless schedule can many times cause us as leaders and worshippers to fall into the motions of worship and forget that transformative worship is what reflects God’s work in us and through His people.

As leaders, we can guide others based on the limits of our personal investment and understanding. When we prepare well and allow the music we lead to transform us, we sing and lead out of an overflow. When we prepare poorly and lead out of skill and information alone, we have talent but lack the power of God’s personal work in us – leading us to lead well with our lips and instruments, but our hearts are far from Him. As you consider your role in worship today, ask yourself – How can I be better prepared to lead out of a spiritual overflow instead of through my skills alone? God honors those who seek Him and when our skill is centered in His transformative work in our lives we will lead others well because of His work in us, not just our talents.


## Reflection

1. In looking at your leadership, can you identify days where God was moving mightily through you and other days where it just felt like you were going through the motions? As you look at that contrast, what were some of the defining differences in your personal preparation spiritually leading up to those leadership opportunities?
2. Consider your personal preparation for leadership – do you spend time developing your craft and deepening your spiritual understanding? How much time do you take to spiritually digest a Scripture or song and apply the truths of what it teaches through the lyrics to application points in your life?
3. Romans 12:1-2 calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds – How do you allow that principle of personal growth to be an anchor for your leadership week in and week out?

## Prayer

_"Lord, would you place within me a burning desire to love your Word, to love its truth, and to reflect it in my personal opportunities for leadership. I do not desire to lead with my lips and my heart be far from You. I desire for my heart to be deeply aligned with your purpose for me and for the church, which requires me to know You before I ever know the music I have the privilege to lead others in. As I prepare to skillfully lead, would you draw me deeper into the spiritual transformation necessary to sing and play out of an overflow of what you are doing in me so that as I lead others, I do so with an authentic understanding of You, Your sanctifying work in me, and Your love for Your bride – the Church. In Jesus’ Name, Amen"_

# Day 8: Chew it Up, Swallow the Meat, Spit Out the Fat

_by Simon Netznik_

## Scripture

> “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

## Application

A mentor told me, “You can have ‘no money’ and still have a church. You can have ‘no worship team’ and still have a church. But you can’t have ‘no people’ and still have a church.”

To clarify the double-negative, he was explaining that our church – as well as the worldwide Church – is comprised of people, not buildings or physical resources.

I’ve had the privilege of visiting countless churches, and either served or led within a wide variety of worship styles (from liturgical hymns to urban Gospel; Pentecostal Holiness to Methodist and Lutheran; suburban family settings to inner-city youth; from house churches to a 12,000 seat stadium; even multi-faith services). Since my family “church-hopped” growing up, it’s been a natural part of my journey to explore this spectrum of cultures and preferences. I struggle to find any one doctrine or denomination that I would claim as my home base.

I asked the same mentor how I’m supposed to tell what is true or what to believe when there are so many preferences, so many options, so many pathways. You may have shared this feeling of being “saturated” when scrolling social media, choosing a political candidate to vote for, or even trying to decide what to order off a long restaurant menu.

His advice was, “Take a bite, chew it up, swallow the meat, and spit out the fat.” He was using this as an illustration to say that no one is perfect, and no church or small group is going to do everything just the way you like it. While it is good to expose ourselves to a wide range of influences, we must compare everything we hear to Scripture and ask the Lord to show us that which is true.

Biblically, the mission of every Bible-believing church is the same: to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The culture of worship in a body of believers is first shaped by the heart posture of its people, as the Word of God is taught from the pulpit, taken home into families & small groups, and then lived out as a community of disciples.

Consider the early church as described in Acts 2:42-47, where believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Their unity, shared resources, and love for one another led to growth and a strong witness to those outside their community. Their example shows us that the heart of worship is not in ritual but in relationship with God and with each other.

## Reflection
What drew you to be part of your church? How have your church experiences shaped or impacted your relationship with God over time? Are there any lingering hurts, thoughts, or fears about church that are preventing you from going “all in?”

Identify 2-3 opportunities where you can practically apply the principles of unity, shared resources, and devotion to teaching and prayer from Acts 2:42-47 at your job, school, or home. How could you reflect the early church’s example of living out their faith?

How can you cultivate a sense of community and shared mission among your family, small group, or Young Adults ministry?

## Prayer

_“Lord, thank you for the blessing it is to be part of a local church. As a part of your church, I ask for your guidance as we navigate the diverse expressions of faith and worship that are present within our small groups and Young Adults ministry. I forgive any believers and church members who have hurt me, whether they did it on purpose or inadvertently. I commit to rely on Your strength alone and steward the resources you’ve given me to be a positive testimony for others. Please use me to help people know You, through both communion with You and community with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”_