Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Explore the joy of church participation, personal spiritual growth within the church, and the sense of belonging it provides.
Good morning, dear friends, and welcome!
As we gather here in this sacred space, I am reminded of the words of Henry Ward Beecher who once said, "The church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones." How true these words ring today, as we find ourselves in the midst of our own imperfections, seeking solace and guidance in the house of the Lord.
Indeed, we are not here because we are perfect, but because we are in the process of being perfected. We are not here because we have all the answers, but because we are seeking them. We are not here to put on a show of righteousness, but to learn how to live righteously. And so, we come to the heart of today's sermon, a meditation on Psalm 122:1, a verse that speaks to the beauty, purpose, and belonging found within the church.
"I was glad when they said unto me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.'" Psalm 122:1
This verse, in its simplicity and profundity, encapsulates the joy, the anticipation, the eagerness of stepping into the sanctuary, of being part of the church.
Indeed, we are not here because we are perfect, but because we are in the process of being perfected. We are not here because we have all the answers, but because we are seeking them. We are not here to put on a show of righteousness, but to learn how to live righteously. And so, we come to the heart of today's sermon, a meditation on Psalm 122:1, a verse that speaks to the beauty, purpose, and belonging found within the church.
As we gather in this sacred space, we are surrounded by the physical manifestations of the church. The stained glass windows, the wooden pews, the pulpit - all of these elements contribute to the beauty of the church. But the true beauty of the church goes beyond these physical elements. It's found in the hearts and souls of the people who make up the church. It's found in the love, the faith, and the fellowship that we share.
More than something to be admired: It’s something to be experienced. It's not just something to be seen, but something to be felt. It's not just something to be observed, but something to be lived. The beauty of the church is not just in its appearance, but in its essence.
The context: In Psalm 122:1, the psalmist expresses his joy at the invitation to go into the house of the Lord. This joy is not just about the opportunity to worship, but about the opportunity to experience the beauty of the church. It's about the opportunity to be part of a community of believers, to share in the love and fellowship of the church, and to grow in faith and in the knowledge of God.
More than the physical structure: It’s beauty is in the spiritual structure that is being built within each one of us as we come together in worship, in fellowship, in prayer. The beauty of the church is in the transformation that takes place within us as we engage with the Word of God, as we participate in the sacraments, as we serve one another in love.
Diversity: The beauty of the church is not just in the unity of the body, but in the diversity of its members. It's in the way that we come together, with our different gifts and talents, our different backgrounds and experiences, our different perspectives and insights, to form one body, one church, under one Lord.
Trials and tribulations: The beauty of the church is not just in the moments of joy and celebration, but in the moments of sorrow and struggle. It's in the way that we support one another in times of difficulty, the way that we comfort one another in times of loss, the way that we encourage one another in times of doubt.
Be doers: The beauty of the church is not just in the words that we speak, but in the actions that we take. It's in the way that we live out our faith, the way that we demonstrate our love for God and for one another, the way that we strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.
The future: The beauty of the church is not just in the here and now, but in the promise of what is to come. It's in the hope that we have in Jesus, the assurance of our salvation, the anticipation of our eternal home in heaven.
In Psalm 122:1, there is a sense of joy and anticipation that comes from being invited into the house of the Lord ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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