Psalm 122:1-4 (Message)
When they said, "Let's go to the house of God,"
my heart leaped for joy.
And now we're here, O Jerusalem,
inside Jerusalem's walls!
Jerusalem, well-built city,
built as a place for worship!
The city to which the tribes ascend,
all God's tribes go up to worship,
To give thanks to the name of God—
this is what it means to be Israel.
When they said, "Let's go to the house of God,"
my heart leaped for joy.
And now we're here, O Jerusalem,
inside Jerusalem's walls!
Jerusalem, well-built city,
built as a place for worship!
The city to which the tribes ascend,
all God's tribes go up to worship,
To give thanks to the name of God—
this is what it means to be Israel.
In a sense, we Christian worshipers symbolically re-enact this passage of Psalm 122 every Sunday.
With great joy, we gather back together, from all our different locations...back to "Jerusalem," to worship God together.
A great friend of mine in ministry began a church a few years ago that was based first on the involvement of all members in small discipleship groups, or "cells" in the old, organic, Wesleyan language.
He told me, "most churches think backwards...that the primary existence of the church is Sunday worship, but really that time should just be a weekly gathering of the disciples who've been out studying, worshiping and serving all week long."
I think he was right on...Jerusalem is not where we live and breathe...but it's a place of great joy that we need to enter regularly...so that we can continue to be the "body" of Christ, first and most importantly, in our homes, jobs, schools...all week long.
Worship is fun because we are united with our friends and extended families. We see people we love, care about and are connected with...and we share that odd church-word, "fellowship," together.
But even more importantly, it's sacred because we focus our hearts and minds, and offer all that we are to something greater than ourselves. We open ourselves, with thankful hearts, to God.
This Sunday morning...."gathering day," may our hearts "leap for joy" just like the heart of the Psalmist.
"All the tribes go up for worship...this is what it means to be Israel..."
And what it means to be the Church.
Prayer: May we rejoice at every opportunity for worship and to "go into the house of the Lord." We pray for hearts that are prepared to worship during this season of Advent.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.
Tomorrow's Scripture: Romans 13:11-14
With great joy, we gather back together, from all our different locations...back to "Jerusalem," to worship God together.
A great friend of mine in ministry began a church a few years ago that was based first on the involvement of all members in small discipleship groups, or "cells" in the old, organic, Wesleyan language.
He told me, "most churches think backwards...that the primary existence of the church is Sunday worship, but really that time should just be a weekly gathering of the disciples who've been out studying, worshiping and serving all week long."
I think he was right on...Jerusalem is not where we live and breathe...but it's a place of great joy that we need to enter regularly...so that we can continue to be the "body" of Christ, first and most importantly, in our homes, jobs, schools...all week long.
Worship is fun because we are united with our friends and extended families. We see people we love, care about and are connected with...and we share that odd church-word, "fellowship," together.
But even more importantly, it's sacred because we focus our hearts and minds, and offer all that we are to something greater than ourselves. We open ourselves, with thankful hearts, to God.
This Sunday morning...."gathering day," may our hearts "leap for joy" just like the heart of the Psalmist.
"All the tribes go up for worship...this is what it means to be Israel..."
And what it means to be the Church.
Prayer: May we rejoice at every opportunity for worship and to "go into the house of the Lord." We pray for hearts that are prepared to worship during this season of Advent.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.
Tomorrow's Scripture: Romans 13:11-14
2 comments:
Aw, man, I loved the quote from your friend about how backwards the church can sometimes be! I was fortunate enough to have been mentored by two great guys who instilled this belief into me. I have never heard it put quite so elegantly, though...
"most churches think backwards...that the primary existence of the church is Sunday worship, but really that time should just be a weekly gathering of the disciples who've been out studying, worshiping and serving all week long."
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