Church Clap

Smitchell   -   September 9, 2025

 

Gimme that God Almighty
That good ol’ Bible
That old school doctrine
Gimme that truth for the body
Ain’t nothing new about it
But it’s still full of power

Preach the gospel, and stand back
Look for change lives not for hand claps
Love people well, Oh they can’t stand that
The church just a church when the word is where we stand at

This song may not be your style. Maybe its artistry doesn’t speak to you the way it did to me, but you can still appreciate that it is a heart cry for the things that matter: an Almighty God who is more than just our buddy; His Word, and the timeless truths that, in the words of this song, are “still full of power.”

What captures our hearts is old. 200 years separate us from Jesus’ earthly ministry and His first disciples, and at least another two millennia stand between them and the patriarchs. Forms change, fashion shifts, but truth doesn’t. That’s been coming home to me ever since God told me a month or so ago, “Start reading old books.” I’ve been struck by how relevant these classics are, from the early centuries after Jesus’ Ascension through the Middle Ages; these writers get it. They aren’t hard to read, either.

This journey’s helped frame more recent publications for me. It’s giving me context for our current ministry and broader trends in the contemporary Church.

I’ve also realized that we sometimes move forward by going back. — back to the things that have stood the test of centuries, not just decades. Now, I write that last line only after asking God an honest question: Am I turning into a cranky old “get off my lawn” kind of guy? He didn’t tell me yes, so I don’t think so. I find further evidence in the way 2012’s Church Clap and the more recent, 2025 Dusty Bibles have reached into my chest and made my heart ache with longing. Sometimes, we need a reminder about the basics, the good stuff that lasts.

So, I suggest that we periodically turn to the Psalms for worship and as our prayer book. It was good for Jesus and his human ancestors. It will be good for us, too

So, as we gather and pray together, shall we not sometimes do so in this manner?

• Begin with worship, a public reading of Psalms 8, 24, 95, and 103, for example
• Break into groups or solitary prayer, and continue with prayers of thanksgiving and trust, praying through Psalms like 27, 34, 46, 62, and 136
• Lift up Jesus, and minister to Him, by praying into a Christ-centered celebration of Him as God’s King. Psalms 2, 72, and 110 would serve well, especially for the sections that help us appreciate the fullness of Jesus, who is kind, loving, compassionate, and slow to anger, but is also King!
• Conclude with communion and a benediction from Psalm 67.

Try it — with a small group, or as part of a retreat or Bible study — and see if it doesn’t impart life to you.

Pastor Steve