Passion and Integrity

This is the answer to the Final Jeopardy question, "What is necessary to have a meaningful worship service?" It applies to all parts of the service from the music to the welcome to the message. I am honestly convicted and ashamed of some of my previous preaching and worship leading efforts because I was missing one or both of these qualities. The question now becomes, "What do we mean by Passion and Integrity?"

Passion. This occurs when I communicate not just what you could know, but what you should know. In fact true passion is unleashed when I am convinced that in order to live in God's will this is something that you must know. This also applies to things that you should do or be. Regardless of the purpose of the message, the key is to relate it in such a way that the audience is convinced that I believe this is absolutely required for the Christian life. I am to the point now where I do not have time for "good sermons." I want to hear what is urgent, what is necessary, what is required for life and fulfillment. The passage and points may not change, but the delivery will.

Integrity. Lest you think I am just looking for a good showman who can drum up the necessary delivery to make an exciting sermon, let us now look at Integrity. Quite simply, integrity is displayed when you show me that you do believe as much as you are telling my I need to believe. Integrity occurs when God has already been teaching you what you are attempting to teach me. It is highlighted by personal testimony, not just catchy quotes and cute stories. Integrity brings the spirited power that will cause transformation to pass from you into me. Some speakers are gifted enough to fake passion, but you cannot fake integrity; at least not for long. God is never fooled, and no worship time will accomplish His full work while the messengers are lying. And, that is exactly what we do when we demand passion from others that we have not already lived out ourselves.