It's time to eat!
Michael Brown
in Worship, Evening Service
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5 Comments
Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answer 65 asks, “Since then we are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits by faith only, from where comes this faith?” It answers: “The Holy Spirit works it in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and confirms it by the use of the holy sacraments.” I sometimes wonder how many Christians really believe that. One of the main reasons why the evening worship service has been greatly neglected in our day is because of a generally low view of preaching and the sacraments. Who wants to sit through another boring sermon when one can get a bigger “blessing” in a small-group Bible study, personal devotions, or, to be very honest, something interesting on TV?
But if the worship service really is the Divine service, that is, the holy event in which God condescends to us and meets us in his preached and visible Gospel, then surely Christians would not want to miss this. If it is true that "faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ" (Rom 10.17) and it is "the preaching of Jesus Christ" that strengthens us (Rom 16.25), then the preached Gospel is the lifeline to our sanctification. What other reasonable response is there but to heed God's call to worship in the evening as well as the morning? It is as if God is announcing to his people, "It's meal time for your soul!" He calls us to Mount Zion for a family meal twice each Lord's Day so that we have a foretaste of heaven, our minds renewed, our hope built up, and our discipleship advanced. Why on earth (literally) would we want to miss that?
In the Divine Service, both in the morning and evening, a meal has been prepared for us. We take our seats at the table while he who came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10.45) feeds us and nourishes our souls.
Reader Comments (5)
"Who wants to sit through another boring sermon..", I think that is the exact problem. It is not that preachers need to be more entertaining as though Church were a comedy club. A major problems with todays preaching is not that it does not tickle the ears enough (like Joel Osteen). But that it does not deliever enough of the Gospel.
There is nothing 'boring' about the Gospel, it is 'exciting' beyond all measure. If preachers give their memebers sermons saturated with the Gospel they will be coming back for more and more. Rom. 1:16 says it nicely, because it is the power of God to do something to move hearts and souls. In essence it is the power of God to change the world.
No one wants to sit through a lecture about nothing, no do we wish to hear a sermon about nothing.
What do you think Pastor Brown?
Redpooba,
Generally speaking, yes, I think you are right. Yet, it is also true that no matter how faithfully the Gospel is preached, the means of grace will always compete with things like the Super Bowl. There is an ongoing amount of education and re-education in the making of disciples. I wish it were as easy as convincing people that the Gospel is better for their souls than what is on TV.
The funny thing about this photo is its contrast from the church. The people in this photo are all white, around the same age, and generally look like they are in the same tax-bracket. That is how it typically is in the world. We gravitate toward others who look like us. Consumer preferences, cultural practices, and politcal parties are the sort of things that unite us. But not so in the Kingdom of God. It is one Lord, one faith, one baptism that unites us. We stand united in the truth we confess and come to a common table where people of different races, ages, and socio-economic backgrounds are members of one family. Meal time in the church is like no other!
Pastor Brown, I really appreciate your comments above. I love the mosaic of our assembly as we remember the principal melody upon which the chorus stands. (Okay, I'm not sure if that makes sense, but I've been listening to music all day as I work!)
Nice motif, Sunny! It does make sense. It is not only a meta-melody, but a melody that is for the church. It is a melody that the world does not know.