The first letter of Guitar ‘G’ reminds me of Jesus words - Go do as I say – SERVANTHOOD
I say servanthood because when I think of the Servanthood I think of obedience, obedience to the word of God. Go do as I say!

How is your servanthood string? Are you doing what the Lord has commanded. For example; Are you loving God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength - are you really?

Are you loving your neighbour as yourself? Are you serving in love, is this church? As yourself ‘Does this string, in my life or in the life of this church, need tuning, stretching?

The second string of Guitar is U Unite be as one…
UNITY we all know the famous prayer in John 17 – Father may they be one as you and I are one. Unity is precious to God. Unity always has its expression in relationship; whenever a relationship with a spouse – relationship between the father, Son and Holy Spirit; relationship with fellow believers, Unity is mentioned or inferred. Unity is so important so much so that in Colossians 3:14 it says the love we have will bind everything in perfect unity.

How is your or this church’s unity string ? How desirous are we in our welcome and willingness to work, worship and pray with other Christians? True, much improvement has been seen here in Swift Current in the last few years but there is still much to be done.

The third string is ‘I’ In my name pray
The use of the letter I is not without meaning for I am called – every I ‘here’ is called, called into a relationship with God – and PRAYER is at the heart of our relationship with God.

It is through prayer that our relationship deepens, to the extent that we are drawn to greater faithfulness. Jesus prayed more than any, and he often would say I only do what my Father in heaven tells or shows me.

Do you only do what God tells you? Do you know what he asks of you? Do you know His purpose for your life?

If not may I ask how is your prayer string these days…? Jesus knew our tendency that is why His urging is so regular to pray.. and not to give up.

The fourth String is ‘T’ Teach my ways
As a church, I know it may come as a surprise to some but faith classes do not end upon confirmation.

DISCIPLESHIP - our desire to grow in faith and understanding so that we can grow in faith and practice is so important. It is necessary. When I was an apprentice in a factory the manager did not sit me at a machine and tell to make something. No I went to college first then I went into a training workshop it was three years before I found myself on the shop floor with the rest and even then I was supervised for a further year.

Likewise as a police officer. I did not receive a uniform then be told to walk the street and keep the Queen’s peace NO I went to police college and other training – it was over a year before patrolling on my own and a full 2 years to serve my probation.

Why is it then that we think we can live the Christian life without attending Home groups, Bible Studies or doctrine classes? Who do we think we are, God’s gift to mankind? Know it all’s – Jesus calls us to continue to learn about him and to apply our learning by living the Christian life in our factory, home or business.

How is your discipleship string? Are you learning and applying your learning?

'A' is the fifth string Alleluias sing - WORSHIP
Psalm 149 says Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song his praise in the assembly of the saints. How is our worship. Worship should bring us into the centre of God’s love, not scurrying for the door. What is your approach to worship – do you say Praise the Lord! a new song to sing to the Lord, or stubbornly refuse to sing tunes you don’t know or like?

True Worship issues forth from the heart, it pours out from the soul of our being. How is your worship string? Do you want to praise the Lord? If not why not? what holds you back? Ask yourself ‘When you sing, do you sing to God or do you sing because everyone else is singing?’

The sixth string is ‘R’ R each the others – OUTREACH
This Gospel imperitive is found in Matthew 28. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

How is our sixth string? As an individual or as a church? Have we led anyone to faith recently, and taught them to obey all that Jesus commands? Is there room for improvement?

These six important aspects of church life are important and we neglect them or fail to tune them to our detriment - All six are important and if tuned in love they provide for fruitful growth not only in God’s Church but especially in His Kingdom.

Anyone can pretend to be a Christian - even a whole church can – JUST LIKE THIS GUITAR – it looks like a guitar – if feels like a guitar but if it does not put itself in the hands of a musician it is useless –

Likewise even if it does put itself in the hands of a musician but refuses to have six strings or allow itself to be tuned it’s effectiveness is limited.

We are called as a Church to have Six finely tuned strings Servanthood – Unity – Prayer – discipleship – Worship and Outreach. All six and, to allow The Lord to play His love song through us.

We must remember too, that it is Jesus’ Church not ours, we are but strings on his guitar, he is the master musician.

Are you allowing God to play his love song through you? As a Christian or as a church which of these strings do we tune well – what is out of tune – what strings are missing?

These are important questions to grapple with as we begin our journey through Lent and begin to think about a parish plan for the future. May God bless you as you seek to resonate His love song.

“Dance then wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the dance said He, and I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be, and I’ll lead you all in the dance said He”

Amen