Christian Ministry in Digital Culture. Meditation, Prayer, Singing in the Psalms

Transcription

1 Christian Ministry in Digital Culture Meditation, Prayer, Singing in the Psalms

2 Meditation

3 The importance of meditation is announced in Psalms 1, and seen often in the Psalms: Two key points: First is that it is a way of inwardly talking to oneself and God about the word of God. Second, its regularity, day and night

4 Psalms 77:1-12 provides a model for meditation:

5 In Psalm 77, what is meditation? Seeking the Lord Remembering the word of the Lord and songs about Him Asking questions about the Lord Appealing to the Lord Remembering the mighty deeds of the Lord

6 idiscipline: Meditation Add time for meditation to your Google calendar, or download a timer app such as Routine Deck to your phone. Begin a tiny habit of simply journaling or blogging a verse that you read or memorized that day, keeping the blog private. After a month, seek to expand the meditation, perhaps making it public Wordpress.com Blogger.com

7 Track your hourly activities for 1 week 1 week = 168 hrs, 1 year = 8,760 hrs, 70 Years = 613,200 hrs Time Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 12 am 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm

8 Prayer

9 The New Testament teaches regular prayer. Pray for enemies (Mt 5:44) Not to be seen (Mt. 6:7) Ask in faith (Mt 21:22) Always pray and not lose heart (Lk18:1) With fasting (Acts12:12; 13:3) Constant (Rom 12:12) Devoted in marriage (1 Cor 7:5) At all times in the Spirit (Eph 6:18) Give thanks and make requests to God (Phil 4:6) Steadfastly, for others (Col 4:2-3) Earnestly, night and day (1 Thess 3:10) Without Ceasing (1 Thess 5:17) Intercessions for all people, rulers (1 Tim 2:1-2) W/o anger (1 Tim 2:8) In response to suffering (James 5:13) For the sick (James 5:14) Self-controlled and sober-minded (1 Peter 4:7) For sins of fellow Christians (1 Jn 5:16) In the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20)

10 Psalms 8 Jesus uses prayers from the Psalms 16 and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, "'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?" (Matt. 21:16 ESV) Psalm And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46 ESV) Psalm Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. (Lk. 23:46 ESV) Psalm I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.' (Jn. 13:18 ESV) Psalm Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." (Matt. 26:38 ESV) Psalm But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.' (Jn. 15:25 ESV) 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." (Jn. 2:17 ESV) Psalm This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world." (Matt. 13:35 ESV) Psalm Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. (Lk. 10:19 ESV; cf. Matt 4:6) Psalm "'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet"'? (Matt. 22:44 ESV) Psalm Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? (Matt. 21:42 ESV)

11 The Psalms are like the Lord s Prayer Our Father: express confidence and trust in God. Hallowed: praise the power and holy presence of God Kingdom: ask for the rule of God in our lives Will: ask for God s word in our life Bread: Petition and thanksgiving for the care of God Forgive: Ask for forgiveness Lead not: Prayer for protection Deliver: Prayer to overcome the wicked one(s) Psalm 23: I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 8: Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 110: Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power Psalm 119: Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Psalm 136: he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 51: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Psalm 91: "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Psalm 25: Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!

12 What are best practices for a life of prayer? Seek solitude (Mt 14:23; Mk 1:35; Mk 6:46; Lk 5:16) Pray regularly in a variety of ways: briefly under our breath, at length with focus, in conversation, in contemplation Pray the Lord s Prayer? intimate, reverent, submissive, dependent, contrite, careful Pray the Psalms, and like the Psalms, with Jesus example in mind

13 idiscipline: Technology helping prayer Reminds us of times for prayer Online Psalters provide 30 day prayer cycles Blocks digital distractions from prayer Connects us to prayer needs of others

14 Singing

15 Two key verses on singing in the New Testament. Why do we sing according to these verses? And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Eph 5:18-21 ESV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16 ESV)

16 Why do we sing songs related to our faith? Worship Expressing Gratitude Encouragement Speaking to one another for teaching and warning Evangelism Teaching those who aren t yet Christian Spiritual Discipline Learning and hold on to the word of/about Christ, being filled with the Spirit (the fullness of God, maturity in Christ, Cf. Eph 1:23; 3:19). Singing should discipline us to dwell on the words, and to mature in Christ.

17 Jesus sang at the Passover feast. This is likely the Hallel songs Psalms And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matt. 26:27-30 ESV)

18 What do we learn about singing from Psalm 118?

19 Lessons from the Psalms about songs Songs express joy and thanksgiving (James 5:13; Psalm 7:17; 147:7), but also sorrow, fear, and confidence: they are for all seasons of life. Should be done regularly and not only in formal setting Psalm 92:1 A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath. Psalm 149:5 Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. It connects/unites/harmonizes the individual with the congregation (Psa 130; Psa 123; Psa 136).

20 How does our digital culture impact our singing? It often diminishes congregational singing Andy Crouch, The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday steps for Putting Technology in its Proper Place (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2017). Amplification can cause the individual/band to eclipse the congregation in singing. It can distract from New Testament emphasizes about singing It can overemphasize entertainment and technology in singing

21 What are the best way to sing with technology for spiritual discipline? Use technology to be filled with the words and to dwell on them, including the Psalms Use technology to focus on singing each to God and for each other.