I remember a church that was scolded by annoyed neighbors and law enforcement for “worshiping too loud.”  The church facility, which at the time was located just on the edge of a residential neighborhood was no stranger to the volume slide on their audio board.  The complaint made the local news, and while I cannot remember the final outcome, one thing was certain… this church loved Jesus out loud!

Aside from sometimes exceeding their allowed decibels, the church was quite active in the neighborhood reaching out to those who did not know Christ, and the ones that were without basic needs such as food, holiday gifts, and even a ride to church.  Their ministry is still active today, and they’ve even been blessed to move to a property close to the interstate where they must only compete in volume with everything from Hondas to Freightliners.

Isaiah 58:10-12

New Living Translation (NLT)

10 Feed the hungry,
    and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
    and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
    giving you water when you are dry
    and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like an ever-flowing spring.
12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
    Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
    and a restorer of homes.

This church today still serves as a lighthouse to those who seek refuge from their raging sea.  Their ministries are known across their entire region and state lines.  This was accomplished through a reputation for “loving God, and loving people.”  This is what God calls us to do… to be active, visible, and LOUD, not cowering in the corner.

By amplifying God’s Word and His love, we are spreading the Gospel to those with an ear to hear.  Whether we hit the streets and doorsteps of our communities, or being the crazy Pastor who preaches from the rooftop of the church so that the neighbors can attend service from the comfort of a lawn chair… get noisy.  Get the Word out!

Questions to ask yourself…

  1. Have you ever found yourself timid or shy when the time comes to get loud for Jesus?
  2. Do you ever push the limits to get the Word of Christ out to the lost?
  3. Have you ever had a creative way to minister the Gospel that drew special attention?

 

COMPOSED BY: MARK T EWING