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‘A Worshipful Life’ STUDENT PASTOR JAKE BOESSLING CHRIST’S GREENFIELD LUTHERAN CHURCH
Ask yourself: What is worship? Most of you reading this article will be coming from different points of view and different religious expressions. I would like to shed some light about my experience with worship and how I see it lived out in my Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod context and would love to dialogue with you about how you view worship, too. A few questions: Is worship primarily us coming to God to offer him our heart in praise? Is worship us coming to Jesus to sing songs? Is worship God coming to judge us sinners? The only thing we can come to God to offer Jesus in our worship is our sin. We rebel against God and have done so since our conception. Our worship begins with Jesus coming to us, not us going to Jesus. In order to understand that concept, let me explain the word “liturgy” to you that my church body uses in their services. Liturgy can be thought of as the flow and structure of our worship service including the invocation, confession/absolution, singing, readings from God’s word, sermon, offering, prayers, Sacraments of baptism/ Holy Communion and benediction. Liturgy literally means “service.” But
Spirituality
whose service is it—God’s or ours? In worship, we come as beggars in need of being forgiven. Martin Luther, the German reformer in the 16th century, once wrote that we come to worship with an empty bag. We come to receive from God gifts of grace. But what gifts do we receive? What are the gifts that we receive in worship from Jesus? Let’s find out. Use a Bible you have or just Google these verses. • Read Matthew 18:20. What does God give in worship? His presence. • Read 1 John 1:9-10. What does God give in worship? Forgiveness of sins; grace. • Read Acts 2:42-47. or 1 Corinthians 11:2326. What does God give in worship? His body and blood. • Read 1 Peter 3:21-22. What does God give in worship? Salvation through baptism. • Read Nos. 6:24-26. What does God give in worship? His blessing, peace and favor. God gives to us in worship. Worship is first and foremost, God serving us. We receive. God initiates as we the people of God gathers. Let me explain this to you with the four dimensions of God’s call upon us to fill through a “worshipful life.”
September 2015
First dimension of worship: God comes to us. We receive. Second dimension of worship: We respond to God in praise and offerings. Third dimension of worship: Then we join together in the church/the body of Christ in fellowship. Fourth dimension of worship: Worship then goes out to others during the week as we offer our bodies as living sacrifices to love the community in Jesus’ name. “A Worshipful Life” is living in Jesus’ presence 24/7. Now, let’s read Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” What does this say about our worship? Therefore, in the fall, how will you live out “A Worshipful Life” throughout the week in where Jesus has placed you in the community? I would like to offer two suggestions on how to live “A Worshipful Life:” • First: When you go to worship, remember that Jesus is filling you up with His grace. Come picturing yourself with an empty bag. Let Jesus fill you up with His presence. Come with an empty bag and leave filled up with His grace! • Second: After worship, get involved loving people in Jesus name in Gilbert, Mesa and beyond. I am sure any of our local churches would be extremely
happy to help plug you into service this summer or fall. Just go to Google and type in Gilbert churches to see which one is closest to you. No matter how you serve, enjoy using your filled up bag from Jesus Christ to give some of that grace and forgiveness to others in the community. Enjoy living out your “Worshipful Life” into the fall! Jesus lives!
Spiritual Reflections Share your spiritual reflections The spiritual leaders of Gilbertarea churches, temples, mosques and other religious and spiritual gathering places are invited to contribute their Spiritual Reflections in essay format by sending their thoughts, enlightening insights and other writings of a spiritual nature to news@gilbertsunnews.com. Be certain to put “Spiritual Reflections submission” in the subject line. Include your first and last name, title and facility name, address, phone number and website. Spiritual Reflections are printed on a space-available basis, and submission does not guarantee print. The opinions represented in this column are those of the author and not that of the Gilbert Sun News.
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