The first time Jesus walked into church and started preaching, they knew He was different. He spoke as if He were the one who wrote the scriptures. Then, after He removed a demon from a man, the people wondered who He was and what in the world was going on. The Bible describes their mindset.

“And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee” -Mark 1:27-28, ESV.

People respect someone who is competent and confident without cockiness. If that person seems to have a real grasp of what is going on around them and can handle their business with assertive power and complete control, that person will turn heads. If they can humbly handle spiritual matters in the physical world and be truthful about it, they will pique the interest of everyone in their circle of influence and beyond. That is what Jesus did.

This was no ordinary church service. Jesus showed up ready to go to work. This, by the way, is the same Jesus who shows up at our church services every week. (where two or more are gathered…) So, why are our services so ordinary? Why are the people not experiencing His power and authority? Why is the gospel preached with no response? Why are people not being saved, delivered, healed, and changed?

Are you ready for the truth? Preachers live in such a way that they forfeit their authority in the pulpit. Their sin neuters their spiritual power. Furthermore, people come to church with little expectation that God will actually do something. I suspect little prayerful forethought is happening. Why would anyone invite someone to church? Nothing ever happens in the services. Church has become what we do with little to no expectations of what Jesus can do. Am I way off here?

The same Jesus who rocked a community is the same one who still can. Join me in praying for Jesus to show up and disrupt the ordinary. Let’s show up with some expectation of being with Jesus. Let’s be ready to react to make Hm known. Or we can just settle into an idiotic routine: meeting together, waiting on something to happen, and expecting it not to. -Pastor Mike

BTW, a professor wanted to stir things up, to make a point. He said, “If there are any idiots in this room, will you please stand up?" After a long silence, one freshman rose to his feet. "Now then, mister, why do you consider yourself an idiot?" "Well, actually I don't," said the student, “ I just hate to see you standing up there all by yourself.”