King of the Pews

Few things are more important in church than your seat. The location of your seat will largely dictate the outcome of your worship experience.

Super Christians might argue that it's about "having your heart right". It's not about the pew, it's about the worship. But you can't spell "worshiper" without "pew". Go ahead and try. Did you fail? Thought so!

This is why I sacrifice time with family, so that I may prophesy to you. God wants you to get the most out of your worship experience.

I'm a veteran all-star when it comes to seat selection. I know when to arrive in order to get a select seat. By now you should know that's towards the back and on the end.

Why? You control your destiny and you have freedom (see Church Seat Stagger). You reduce the risk of many avoidable problems and you beat the enemy to Cracker Barrel.

That's why I must confess that I backslid Sunday. I arrived at the perfect time, so good I was in the zone. When I walked in everything moved in slow motion. I was giving salutes and thumbs up. Pounding the Cephases like no one's business (the "rock").

I picked the perfect seat. Far side of the church, second to the last row, on the far left end.

There I was worshiping God for delivering me the sweet polyester like manna from heaven, when I made a rookie mistake. A family of five asked to sit with me. I scooted! This guy doesn't scoot. I gave them my seat and moved down and got stuck in purgatory.

Joel wept.

I was kicking myself in the bones for it when God showed me how much he loved me.

I wasn't able to make my rounds during the meet and greet, since I was locked in the middle like some kind of prisoner on murder row. But a friend who had a great end seat in the row in front of me had the freedom to mingle. A late family came in and stole her real estate.

She had failed to claim it with a Bible, phone, purse, or a used Klenex. By the time she came back the family had already nested and she was forced to retreat. It was so great! I laughed and laughed and then worshiped like never before. Passion 2013 didn't have anything on me.

Do you think that I place too much emphasis on church seating?

Well you are wrong, because Jesus cared (in so many words).

You can find it in Luke 4.

Jesus went back to his hometown of Nazareth and claimed that the Prophet Isaiah was writing about him. After Jesus said this he rolled up the scroll, gave it to the usher, and sat down.

People typically don't like to hear this kind of stuff from people they know. And after Jesus talked some smack, they wanted to kill him or test gravity with his body by throwing him off a cliff.

But what happened?

"He walked right through the crowd and went on his way" (Luke 4:30).

I'm not exactly sure where Jesus was sitting. But I'm pretty sure you have a good idea? What seat location would allow him to walk through a crowd and get on his way? That's right! Last few rows on the end.

The King of the Jews was also the King of the Pews.

Question:
Where is your favorite seat?