"Worship Celebrates the Christ Event"
Psalm 103 Matthew 28:1-10 1 Peter 2:1-10
April 19, 2009
I don't know about you, but I'm still in a celebratory mood from last week. This is the time of the Christian year when we can party - not "as if there's no tomorrow" but because there's a terrific tomorrow!
There's a terrific tomorrow because Jesus Christ came, died to forgive us, and dealt a death blow to death itself on Easter. And it's all heading to a feast!
That's why we worship. Although we're still getting the hang of it, worship is supposed to be a celebration! I think we were moving in that direction on Easter Sunday! So let us keep it going - and deepen our understanding of what celebration really is. Celebration is more than horns and funny hats with confetti (although it can be that!). Celebration is heart and soul aglow with joy! It doesn't deny the world's sadness but it doesn't accept the lie that sorrow is the last word.
Robert Webber put it simply. "Worship celebrates the Christ event."
We can learn a lot from 1 Peter 2:1-10 this morning. First off, this passage is the logical extension of Peter's command in 1:22. "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have a sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart."
In verses 1 and 2 Peter tells us to take out the trash that passes for living in a "dog eat dog world" and be like babies. He's not counseling that we be naïve or pouty. Peter thinks of how babies go for their mother's breast. That can be pretty ardent and focused! When we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, we have such longing. Let Jesus in - and you'll come to know what Peter means.
There's something counter cultural about this. Jesus was rejected as poor material upon which to build a life. But God has made him the central and most important stone! Christ leads us to a different kind of life -- and it's worth celebrating! It's worth celebrating because Jesus has given each of us a place in what he builds!
Peter says we're a "royal priesthood." Priests mediate between people and God to explain the Lord's ways and to pray to God for the life of the planet. That's who we are. Peter talks about our giving "spiritual sacrifices" in verse 5. We're to be priests to each other and to anyone who is looking for something better than what the world offers.
Spiritual sacrifices are what we give by helping one another live out our new life and identity. Verses 9 and 10 explain it memorably. These are thoughts worth learning by heart. If you are a Christ follower, this is why you're here.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
These words would have reminded people who knew their Hebrew Bible about a prophet who was commanded to marry a woman who cheated on him constantly. Hosea was commanded to name his kids "not pitied" and "not my people." That's pretty awful. But listen to how it turns out as God speaks.
I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one. 'I will say to those called 'Not my people';''You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.'"
Restoration! God loves restoration! That's worth a celebration! WORSHIP CENTERS PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEY HAVE SINNED -- AND KNOW THEY ARE RESTORED BY GOD'S LOVING CHOICE ALONE.
Worship can be a lifestyle of celebration in our everyday lives! Think for a moment. What would a lifestyle of celebration look like?
Celebration gets magnified when we get together - and that's what we're doing right now. As we begin to worship and praise God. Let it bring us to anticipate God's working in us! Let's become like those hungry babies and expect to find some nourishment on Sunday morning! Our service is designed to move like a good dinner party. We move from coming together with praise and prayer and then to seek to hear God's word. When we gather at Jesus' table we remember his love -- and we remember that these elements are a down payment for a terrific party yet to come!
We finish by saying good-bye to one another with hope and joy in our hearts. These four movements are planned into every worship service at Memorial Baptist. Dancing at parties is a lot more enjoyable when you know the steps. Move with the rhythm of worship. And let us celebrate Christ risen!
TAKING IT HOME: WORSHIP CELEBRATES CHRIST!
Learn it by Heart! Read over 1 Peter 2:9 slowly and carefully. Think about what it means. This is a good verse to know by memory because it tells us who we are and why we're here.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
· Which of the four descriptions of a Christian's identity speaks most clearly to you? Describe why?
· When you see "that" or "so that" in scripture is often describes purpose. So what is our purpose as Christians?
Worship Celebrates the Christ Event!
Thinking about the scripture passages we read on Easter Sunday how would you describe "the Christ event?" (Look at 2 Corinthians 5:21 for more guidance)
Celebrating with other people is a lot more fun and meaningful! Think of some ways a worship service is a celebration.
· Which parts of a service are best for you?
· Are there parts that you don't understand why they are there?
· Which parts do you need to learn how to appreciate more?
· In your opinion which parts need improvement? (Write these on a Worshiper Information Card and put it in the offering plate next week.)
