Recently we had another test service for our new service that will begin in September.  In this service we focused in on Isaiah 40:31

but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faint.

 

This verse is a very powerful verse that deals with trusting in God.  In order to get the mood set right we decided to call our local gym and asked if we could borrow one of their elliptical running machines.  We then asked our Senior pastor if he would be willing to run the whole service (approx. 1hr15min).  After agreeing to do it we set up the elliptical on the front and off to the left in front of the stage.  We worshipped together and watched one video that showed a bunch of movie clips of people running including Forrest Gump (Run Forrest Run), Grease, Rocky, Dodge ball, Chariots of Fire, and Princess Bride all done to the Rocky theme music.  We then watched another video that I have posted on here through You Tube showing the Boston Marathon with A song by Jason Upton in which he sings Isaiah 40:31. 

Jennifer preached a great practical sermon on running.  In the beginning, she invited people to come down and grab a sandal or to write on the bottom of their own shoe with sharpies we had placed on the seats.  She really got us to think about our lives using the analogy of running.  Her points included that in running we have to stay on course, we have to find running partners, and we have to stay in shape.  For each point she gave us a series of questions that we could think about. 

The questions that really got me were to think about your running partners, are they encouraging you or are they degrading you.  She spoke about how in Boston that close to the end of the Marathon that people reach the Boston University campus.  At one section they have frat row where most of the fraternities are drinking and making fun of people.  Where Jenn would stand was close to the last mile.  She would look for people’s name written somewhere on their body and cheer their name.  These people would hear her and feel encouraged.  The other question that got me was on getting in shape.  She asked which areas in our lives are we strong and which areas are flabby.  What a great sermon. 

The best part was each time I would get off track I would look up and see our Senior pastor Craig Curry running.  That was really encouraging and helped to drive the points home.  To end the service Jenn lead us in a body prayer.  We stretched different areas of our bodies and as we stretched them she would pray for the stress in our necks, the weight on our shoulders, the people our hands touch, and the placed our legs take us.  She remarked that the notes that we wrote on the bottom of our shoes would soon wear away so the prayer was that whatever obstacles we wrote would go away and everything positive that we needed would soon be ingrained in us. 

This was a great service.  I love engaging all the senses in a service and am looking forward to thinking of our upcoming services as we begin to plan out the rest of the year.  Do you have any ideas of things that have worked for you?  

Cheers,

Lance