An audible is when a quarterback in football calls out a change in the programmed play right before the ball is snapped. Perhaps churches should let the living, resurrected Jesus be our quarterback and call out audibles during worship meetings.

Letting Christ call audibles would transform church meetings. They would no longer be a predictable routine, following the exact same format week after week.

If a football team will allow its quarterback to change plays at the line of scrimmage, why won’t churches allow the living, resurrected Jesus to make last-second changes in the Sunday morning program? (I can’t think of any good reason not to allow Jesus to make audibles, can you?)

So how does the living Christ make audibles? He prompts someone present in the meeting to say or to do something that isn’t on the program. I believe this happens often, however, the traditional Sunday morning format that is controlled by one man in the front of the room, has trained Christ-followers to sit passively and to ignore the audibles (promptings) of the living, resurrected Jesus. The Bible calls this “quenching the Spirit” and commands us not to do it. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:19.)

Christ called audibles can chance church-as-usual into the dynamic New Testament concept of ekklesia. Perhaps we should begin to encourage Christ-followers to listen to and obey Christ’s audibles in church meetings. “”Do whatever He tells you.” –John 2:5

“Only silence within yourself makes your inner tunes audible.” ―Kristian Goldmund Aumann,

“A Christian’s heart for God should be like a teakettle on a flaming stove burner—hot to touch, visibly steaming, and audible.” ―Elizabeth George