Graphic Design & Preaching

I think the future of preaching will involve pastors being both linguistic artists as well as visual artists... It wouldn't surprise me a bit to see graphic design as a part of a normal pastor's job description in the next 10 years.

I believe that we're in a massive cultural shift from a written-word based culture to an image-based culture. Obviously this is not an original idea, but it's true nonetheless.

There's been a historical progression:

Oral Culture --> Written-Word Culture --> Image-Based Culture

It's with this understanding that I'm utilizing my newfound freedom after finishing my master's degree to learn photoshop & delve into digital/graphic design. I think that the informational mediums of culture don't dictate the message, but they do dictate the method.

The message will always be the same: Jesus the Messiah, the perfect Son of God, died and was raised to life for the salvation of each and every person in the world.

But the methods of communicating this message will continue to evolve and shift... Thus, the role of the preacher as a word-poet (I believe) will also shift to include that of an image-creator as our culture continues to be formed and evolved by technology and image-based media.

God Is the Initiator

God always initiates relationship with us... I read this during my devotional time yesterday:

Zechariah 1:3 (New International Version)

³ Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty.

You see, Israel was unfaithful to God. It was Israel that broke the relationship. Even so, God initiates reconciliation and new relationship. God even makes a promise to Israel. God's faithfulness always trumps our unfaithfulness.

Here's what this reveals about the nature of God:

1. God initiates.
2. God pursues.
3. God is faithful.
4. God is forgiving.
5. God is unfair (in a good way).

The life-changing principle from all of these truths about God is that God always takes the first step. He's reaching for us right now in this moment. He never stops reaching. He has always been and always will be calling us (people) to Himself.

And if we can understand and internalize this, the very fabric of every moment can be altered to make it a God-moment. Something filled with divine potential and bursting with joy.

Let that truth marinate in your soul today.

The Sunday Rewind

• The Christmas spirit is flowin' at NCC these days! Our Stewards did a decorative overhaul at NCC, and the place looks great!
• Totally digging our current series, "Do You Hear?" as we look at what we really need to be hearing this Christmas season.
• For each message I've been utilizing a Christmas carol as a jumping off point, and yesterday we used "O Come All Ye Faithful" and talked about true worship.
• True worship is making Jesus the very center of our existence.
• Brian and the band really sounded excellent yesterday as we worshiped together and did a great mix of regular worship & Christmas songs. So thankful for a great worship leader that we're blessed to have lead us into God's presence.
• We had our annual society meeting after church, and it was awesome to look back at 2009 and see all that God has done. We got our 2010 leaders voted in without any hitches. So glad we don't allow stupid political distractions to happen @ NCC.
• It's so important to stop and reflect on a regular basis on all that God does, because we can forget when we don't take time to reflect and remember.
• In 2009, we've seen 19 salvations and 7 baptisms @ NCC! Praise God!!!
• I'm definitely pumped to be blogging again. It's been way too long!
• Now that my master's degree is finished up, I am going to be on an absolute rampage. Awesome things are in store for NCC, and I have more time & energy than ever to put into ministry.
• Phrase to note: WNL = Whole 'Nutha Level.
• Keep WNL in mind, because that's where everything is going @ NCC!

Bloggin Hiatus

Well, I've come to the conclusion that there's WAY too much on my plate right now with the intensity of finishing my master's degree, so one of the things that's going to have to go for now is blogging. It's a bummer, because I've blogged consistently for close to 3 years now, and I consider it a part of my life and ministry.

So what that means is that I'll taking a blogging hiatus to focus on the main priorities right now: Following Jesus, being a husband & father, pastoring New Community, and finishing up my master's program.

Look for my blogging to return with a vengeance around Christmas.

I'll still be twittering, so you can keep up with the smaller stuff over at my twitter page.

This Sunday @ NCC

This Sunday @ NCC we're kicking off the most exciting series of the fall: Game Day!

Have you ever wondered what church was really all about? Have you ever thought that church was way too complicated? Have you ever tried to find God, but had to work through all of the church stuff first?

In this series we'll be looking at the 3 things that help NCC accomplish the main thing, and how YOU can get into the game. Jesus is calling everyone to get off the bench, because there's no such thing as a bench-warmer Christian.

Join us this Sunday for a message called, "The Main Thing," where I'll be sharing about the main thing that guides everything that NCC does. It's not one thing among many, it is THE main thing for our church!

See you there @ 10:45am!

Get info & directions at NCC's website.

The Sunday Rewind (Finally)

• So sorry for not updating the blog in FOREVER... school started, lots going on at NCC, remodeled kitchen, etc... But we're back!
• Sunday was a very cool Sunday for a few reasons.
• I twittered on Saturday night that you would see something you had never ever seen before @ NCC on Sunday... Well, I actually wore a suit to preach in!
• I ended up taking the suit off on stage to reveal ragged clothes underneath... the point? We need to be authentic with God & others intead of trying to cover it up to look good.
• My computer completely died about 3 hours before service started. I lost EVERYTHING. Thus, there was a mad scramble to get the bulletin and everything else remade for the morning.
• Despite that, I really felt that the worship was AMAZING. Brian and the team led us in some awesome worship to God, and NCCers responded with loud and authentic singing to God! The new song that Brian intro'd as a response to the message was fantastic!
• It's so funny, because I have received a TON of positive feedback from this series on the 10 Commandments, possibly more positive feedback than any other series I've done.
• We were once again out of parking, despite our expanded lot! That's just amazing! What're we going to have to do to make more space now??
• Next Sunday begins a HUGE series on how we do church at NCC called "Game Day". I'm pumped. You should be pumped too. Don't miss it!
• Well, I'm finishing up the on-campus portion of my master's degree this week in Anderson, Indiana, so I better get back to work. Blessings on your week!

Ryland's New Trick