TXT3

On the right side of the txt3.tv website, there’s a spot where anyone can suggest a topic for a blog post. Today’s post tackles the first suggestion we ever received: Texting has nothing to do with the Bible, so don’t do it.

At TXT3, texting allows us to communicate to a large group of people and also allows TXT3ers to interact with the night’s speaker, to close the gap, so to speak, between the platform and the pews. Passive listening becomes active involvement.

Texting is a technololgy of communication, just like email, television, the internet, cellphones, telephones, radio, magazines, newspapers, and books, all of which have been used, both for good and for ill, to amplify the message of Christ.

Whether this suggestion was made as a lark or not, I believe there is a readily apparent similarity between texting and the Bible. Both are means of personal communication. God chose words, of all things, to communicate His love for us. We have a book, called the Bible, composed of smaller books. These books point to Jesus, whom John calls “The Word.” It’s hard to imagine Christianity minus the written Word, God’s text message to us.

Texting is simply another technological innovation springing from Gutenberg’s doorstep. The church has typically adopted new communications technologies to amplify Christ. At TXT3, we’re trying to do the same.

Can someone come to know Christ through 140 characters or less?
Probably not.
But can that 140 characters begin a relationship with another person that leads to following Christ?
Definitely.

Watch the Message

Each week after the TXT3 Experience, we’re going to give you a recap of the night. While we’ll provide information about what we used, from the videos to the songs to anything else, the main thing we want you to read is the first thing we’ll list:

How do I take what I heard and apply it to my life?

We’ll provide at least a few examples each week. Consider leaving a comment about how you’re incorporating these things into your life.

The Series: Blurry: Our perceptions of what the church is about have become blurry.
The Main Idea:  Worship is my response to the most important thing in my life.
The Text: Romans 12:1-2
The Message: Listen to it

Apply It

• Have Christian music in the background of your home all day long for a week. Allow God to use the music to focus you on worshiping Him.
• Place a bowl on your dining room table. Make it an “altar” in your home that you can lay down anything that God calls you to give as a holy sacrifice.
• Set your watch to “beep” on the hour and ask yourself “What is the most important thing in my life and how am I responding?”
• Memorize Romans 12:1
• Sacrifice some time this week to get away from the noise and take time to talk to God.
• Take a walk this week and pay special attention to God’s creation (Psalm 19:1). Spend that time talking with God.

Text Answers

We asked “What is worship?” These were the answers texted in:

• Between God and me.
• worship is when I connect with god through different means…music, reading, or staring at the amazing sky
• worship to me is spending time with god, communing with him
• Worship is praising God for the provisions he’s provided us with.
• Jesus
• Worship is expressing my love for God and opening my heart to his eternal LOVE for me.
• what is worship?????prayer
• enjoying Gods presence.
• praise!
• worship is praising god go EVERY way
• worship is an attitude that should go to God but mostly goes to movie stars, sports teams and cats
• I think worship is ANYTHING that draws you or others to focus on God.
• a group of 2 more gathered together to prais the Lord.
• praise to the lord
• praising god
• Worship is having an intimate relationship with God
• Praising jesus with others no matter what else is going on in your life
• worship is people acknowledging who God is and what He has done for us

Music

We Shine, Fee
Let God Arise, Chris Tomlin
From the Inside Out
Your Love Oh Lord, Third Day
Offering, Third Day

Other Video

The Gift of Worship

Used during countdown