Passionate Worship -- FPC sermon excerpt
Come with me now, on a journey to the Washington National Cathedral.
This church is a massive stone structure, the sixth largest cathedral in the world, with a ceiling that rises 100 feet. You might think that worship in such a cavernous space would be cold and inhospitable, but this is not the case. On a sabbatical visit last fall, I find that the cathedral has discovered ways to welcome people warmly — something that every church needs to learn how to do.
The Sunday service begins with a stirring organ prelude, and then Sam Lloyd, the dean of the cathedral, offers a welcome to the gathered worshipers and talks briefly about the life of the cathedral in the week to come. He takes a minute to introduce the Scriptures that will be read in the service, and speaks of how we will all be shaped as disciples of Christ throughout the service of worship.
I find that Sam’s personal warmth takes the chill out of the limestone room, and his focus on the life of the cathedral puts me in touch with the human dimension of the place. I am impressed by his introduction of the Scriptures, which sets the stage for the readings and sermon, and his statement that the service has the power to transform us. For both members and guests, the value of worship is increased by his promise of spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth is at the heart of Luke 18:9-14, a story that Jesus tells about two men who go up to the temple to pray. One is a Pharisee, a devout Jewish worshiper. The other is a tax collector, the stereotypical sinner of first-century Jerusalem (Luke 18:10).
The Pharisee, standing apart from the crowd, says to God in prayer, “I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income” (vv. 11-12). He is doing everything right, from a law-abiding point of view. His problem, however, is that he is happy with the way he is. He is not looking for spiritual growth.
The tax collector, on the other hand, will not even raise his eyes to heaven. He beats his breast and says, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (v. 13). He is honest enough to know that his life is a mess, and that he is completely out of whack with his religious convictions. His strength, however, is that he is deeply unhappy with his current life, and desperate for transformation. He comes before God with a sincere desire for forgiveness and new life.
It is the tax collector, rather than the Pharisee, who practices Passionate Worship. He is the one with an intense longing for a connection with God.
The curriculum we are using for our small-group discussions was written by Robert Schnase, a bishop in the United Methodist Church. Schnase says that “Passionate Worship begins with our love for God, our desire to open ourselves to God’s grace, and our eagerness for relationship to God.” The tax collector clearly has a burning love for God, a deep desire for God’s grace, and a hunger to have a relationship with God.
That’s why Jesus says that the tax collector goes down to his home justified — which means that he is made right with God. The Pharisee does not, “for all who exalt themselves will be humbled,” says Jesus, “but all who humble themselves will be exalted” (v. 14).
This church is a massive stone structure, the sixth largest cathedral in the world, with a ceiling that rises 100 feet. You might think that worship in such a cavernous space would be cold and inhospitable, but this is not the case. On a sabbatical visit last fall, I find that the cathedral has discovered ways to welcome people warmly — something that every church needs to learn how to do.
The Sunday service begins with a stirring organ prelude, and then Sam Lloyd, the dean of the cathedral, offers a welcome to the gathered worshipers and talks briefly about the life of the cathedral in the week to come. He takes a minute to introduce the Scriptures that will be read in the service, and speaks of how we will all be shaped as disciples of Christ throughout the service of worship.
I find that Sam’s personal warmth takes the chill out of the limestone room, and his focus on the life of the cathedral puts me in touch with the human dimension of the place. I am impressed by his introduction of the Scriptures, which sets the stage for the readings and sermon, and his statement that the service has the power to transform us. For both members and guests, the value of worship is increased by his promise of spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth is at the heart of Luke 18:9-14, a story that Jesus tells about two men who go up to the temple to pray. One is a Pharisee, a devout Jewish worshiper. The other is a tax collector, the stereotypical sinner of first-century Jerusalem (Luke 18:10).
The Pharisee, standing apart from the crowd, says to God in prayer, “I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income” (vv. 11-12). He is doing everything right, from a law-abiding point of view. His problem, however, is that he is happy with the way he is. He is not looking for spiritual growth.
The tax collector, on the other hand, will not even raise his eyes to heaven. He beats his breast and says, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (v. 13). He is honest enough to know that his life is a mess, and that he is completely out of whack with his religious convictions. His strength, however, is that he is deeply unhappy with his current life, and desperate for transformation. He comes before God with a sincere desire for forgiveness and new life.
It is the tax collector, rather than the Pharisee, who practices Passionate Worship. He is the one with an intense longing for a connection with God.
The curriculum we are using for our small-group discussions was written by Robert Schnase, a bishop in the United Methodist Church. Schnase says that “Passionate Worship begins with our love for God, our desire to open ourselves to God’s grace, and our eagerness for relationship to God.” The tax collector clearly has a burning love for God, a deep desire for God’s grace, and a hunger to have a relationship with God.
That’s why Jesus says that the tax collector goes down to his home justified — which means that he is made right with God. The Pharisee does not, “for all who exalt themselves will be humbled,” says Jesus, “but all who humble themselves will be exalted” (v. 14).
posted by Henry Brinton | 8:03 AM
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