OKLAHOMA CITY — “Affirming the Religion is that this weekend. Ugh!” I stated underneath my breath.
Don’t get me incorrect. I at all times take pleasure in this annual gathering of believers from throughout the U.S. that occurs simply throughout city from my home.
I find it irresistible after I get there, I ought to say. Inevitably, Affirming the Religion falls within the midst of a jam-packed schedule, and this yr was additional chaotic.
Individuals in Affirming the Religion 2025 take heed to Wesley Walker’s class, “Deeper Simplicity.”
I spent the week wading by way of protection of the White Home Ukraine blowup, a nonprofit getting DOGE’d and un-DOGE’d and dealing on our personal nonprofit’s transition to new database and human assets methods.
Then, early that Saturday, I drove my daughter Maggie to a voice competitors (the place she earned a superior rating) and rushed her again dwelling so she might prepare for 2 performances of “The Little Prince” at Oklahoma Christian Academy, the place she was a pupil director.
Within the health club of the North MacArthur Church of Christ, church members take heed to Trey Morgan throughout Affirming the Religion.
In the meantime, my spouse, Jeanie, drove our different daughter, Lucy, to the Oklahoma Metropolis Fairgrounds for a dance competitors (the place Lucy earned an award titled “All of the Feels,” no matter which means).
I watched the livestream of Lucy’s solo earlier than I jumped again in my automobile and headed to the North MacArthur Church of Christ. As I pulled into the parking zone, I remembered that I hadn’t but written the questions for the following day’s Bible Bowl apply.
Tim Pyles speaks about “Deeper Relaxation” in the course of the 2025 Affirming the Religion gathering in Oklahoma Metropolis.
That must wait. It was time to Affirm the Religion. So, I just about dragged myself into the auditorium — and heard Tim Pyles preach on “Deeper Relaxation.”
“We relaxation not as a result of there’s nothing else to do. We relaxation as a result of there’s every little thing else to do,” stated Pyles, minister for the Damaged Arrow Church of Christ in Oklahoma. In entrance of an auditorium full of greater than 1,000 souls, he talked about Jesus’ apply of withdrawing from the crowds and spending time alone together with his Father.
“We’ve been programmed to put on exhaustion as a badge of honor,” Pyles stated. By following Christ’s instance, Christians can extra successfully resist the “tyranny of the pressing.” Relaxation is “an act of resistance” in opposition to a world that equates enterprise with success.
I stated to myself, “Wait. Is the Lord telling me I ought to have stayed dwelling and rested in the present day? Or perhaps I simply shouldn’t beat myself up if I can’t do all of it.”
Trey Morgan speaks on “Training the Method with the Household” in the course of the Affirming the Religion convention.
I did stick round for a couple of of the courses that adopted. Trey Morgan, minister for the Sundown Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas, talked in regards to the challenges of scheduling youth sports activities and different actions for his 4 sons round Bible research, outreach and discipleship. There’s a couple of 2 % probability that your kids will get an athletic scholarship to varsity, Morgan stated, however there’s a one hundred pc probability they’ll stand earlier than God.
Wesley Walker offered a category on “Deeper Simplicity.” Too many Christians — preachers included — battle in opposition to the thought of a easy life, stated Walker, minister for the Woodson Chapel Church of Christ in Nashville, Tenn. In workers conferences, ministers typically discuss their packed talking schedules, as if “the busier I’m, the extra necessary I’m.”
Wesley Walker speaks on “Deeper Simplicity” to a standing-room-only crowd at Affirming the Religion.
He used a line from the Previous Testomony prophet Haggai, who repeatedly requested God’s kids to “think about your methods.” On the time, many followers of God had restored homes of paneled wooden whereas the Lord’s temple sat in ruins.
Walker recalled a truism from a couple of a long time in the past: “If you wish to present me the place your priorities are, let me see your checkbook.”
Now, maybe we should always ask, “Can I see your schedule?”
It’s really easy for me to overpack mine, particularly as a result of I can label a lot of what I do as “ministry associated.” However even within the blur of holy duties, I can lose sight of Christ. It’s attainable to run so quick that you could ignore the truth that you’re probably not getting anyplace.
@christianchronicle OKLAHOMA CITY — Tune chief Myron Bruce “referred to as an audible” earlier than main “It’s Nicely with my Soul” throughout this yr’s Affirming the Religion seminar. After minister Tim Pyles preached in regards to the holy significance of relaxation — and our want for it — Bruce led a verse of “Be Nonetheless and Know.” The North MacArthur Church of Christ hosts the annual convention. #churchofchrist #affirmingthefaith #northmacarthurchurchofchrist #churchofchrist #acappellaworship ♬ authentic sound – The Christian Chronicle
Affirming the Religion’s theme this yr was “Deeper,” and I’m grateful for the deep dive into relaxation. Typically, it looks like God tells me simply what I would like to listen to simply once I want to listen to it. I simply should pay attention.
After Pyle’s sermon, track chief Myron Bruce stated he was “calling an audible.” Earlier than we sang the track on this system (“It’s Nicely with my Soul”), all 1,000 of us joined our voices in Psalm 46:10: “Be nonetheless and know that I’m God.”
“Nonetheless.” That’s an exquisite phrase.
It offers me All of the Feels.
Among the many freebies on the 2025 Affirming the Religion had been 728b stickers from Myron Bruce’s Singing With the Spirit ministry.
ERIK TRYGGESTAD is President and CEO of The Christian Chronicle. Contact [email protected], and observe him on X @eriktryggestad.
A research Bible produced by World Bible Faculty opens to a passage in Matthew 5 that describes Jesus’ withdrawal to quiet locations to hope.
