Aletheia

I will be the first to admit that I am stubborn. I love adidas and because of that, I never give Nike a chance. I refused to read/watch Harry Potter growing up because it was a huge fad that I didn't care to be a part of.  I don't like trying new foods. Get this. I never wanted to listen to Josh Groban because there was a girl at my high school who was in love with him and I didn't want to be associated with something she liked. I know. Horrible mistake. I like standing firm in my beliefs, which is a good thing, but am not typically open to doing something a different way. Don't get me wrong -- I have no problem with people doing things their way or hearing about it, but I'm just probably not going to change.

I did something for the first time that I should have done years ago. I went to Atetheia. Why have I never gone before? Because everyone was doing it. I don't like doing things because everyone else is. I secretly had wanted to go for a very long time. I wanted to see what the hype was all about.

Well, I went and loved it. The worship was fantastic. It was probably the most put together church band I've ever seen. The songs, while new to me, were meaningful and relevant. My favorite part, however, was the sermon. Expository preaching. Something I'd never really experienced before. It was really meaningful to me and I feel like I am way more likely to remember what I heard later and be able to sum up the sermon as well. I like understanding things more that I enjoy hearing pastors give their opinion on things. I like truth. I like learning the origins of words. When I go back and read Matthew 6:19-34 later on, I'll be able to remember what was said this morning.

I grew up in a church that definitely does not preach in this way. The service is started off with some hymns and then scripture, offertory, more scripture, prayer, sermon, prayer, hymns, sending. I often find it hard to see how the sermon relates to the scripture. Sometimes it seems like there is a sermon written on something "Christian" and then some scripture is thrown in to please the congregation. If I ever remember anything from the sermons, it's the fun little anecdote at the beginning. With that being said, I never disliked church, but it was definitely the music that was the made me enjoy it. For once in my life, it was the sermon.

So, if you are interested in trying out a new church, are interested in expository preaching, like the Sermon on the Mount, or just want to try something different, come out to Aletheia next Sunday. I'll be there :)