This is my sermon for the 2nd week of our 4 week stewardship campaign. Our focus for this week was "Giving God our Worship."
This Sunday
is the day that sets the stage for one of the most religious days of the year.
In two weeks
people will get dressed in their Sunday best.
They will
prepare the meal…they will begin their annual pilgrimage.
Some will
pray…some will sing…some might even cry.
They will
gather in community and laugh and cheer and celebrate.
In 2 weeks
people will put on their favorite football jersey…
They will
prepare their favorite dips or appetizers…
They will drive
to the local bar or maybe a friend’s house…
They will
pray for one more touchdown or perhaps a last second field goal…
They will
sing “We are the Champions…”
Some might
shed tears of joy or sadness depending on the outcome.
They will
gather with family, friends and maybe even strangers…they will cheer…they will
give high fives…AND they will celebrate.
If you
haven’t figured it out by now I’m not talking about church. I’m talking about the religion of
football. In 2 weeks the religion of
football will celebrate their Christmas or Easter. They will celebrate the birth of a new
champion or mourn the loss of their team.
The Super Bowl is just 2 weeks away.
What if we
were to worship God like we watch football?
In some ways church has less obstacles.
God doesn’t
care what you wear to church. You can
wear a suit…pants…shorts…clean or dirty…it doesn’t matter. Try wearing a Bears Jersey to a Packers game
or worse a Cowboys jersey to an Eagles game.
You don’t
even need to prepare any food…we have cookies, coffee and the best meal of
all…the Lord’s Supper.
When you get
here…we have plenty of good seats.
We will
gather together in community, pray together, sing together, and we might even
cry together.
We have the
better party in all areas but one…the Super Bowl party has more celebration/excitement.
I want you
all to close your eyes for a minute and imagine this:
Imagine the
call to worship as a coach giving a pregame speech…and the players responding. Imagine the passion and energy…
Imagine
singing our opening hymn and feeling all the excitement you feel during the
singing of the national anthem.
Imagine
closing prayers with Amen and readings with Thanks be to God as if your team
just scored a touchdown.
Imagine
passing the peace as though your team just returned the opening kickoff for a
touchdown…you’re high-fiving people you’ve never met.
Imagine
taking communion and feeling full. Not
full because you ate too many hot wings or cocktail wienies…full because
nothing is more fulfilling than Christ.
Imagine
singing the closing hymn with the passion you sing “We are the Champions” as
you celebrate a Super Bowl victory.
Imagine how
different worship would be. Imagine how
exciting…how energizing worship would be.
Showing up
on Sunday should not be like crossing a chore off the to-do list. Sunday worship is not a task to be completed.
Last week we
talked about ways to improve our own personal relationship with God. Today we need to look at ways to improve our
relationship with God in the form of worship.
So because
last week went so well…let’s again share with someone sitting near you…What is
essential to worship in your eyes and why? Maybe it’s singing, prayers,
communion, the sermon or maybe the fellowship?
There is no right or wrong answer.
The second question…During what part of worship do you feel closest to
God?
Regardless
of your answers I pray that each of you consider how to improve your personal
relationship with God through worship.
Super Bowl Sunday
only happens once a year…but we have the opportunity to celebrate God every
Sunday in this space…in this community.
AMEN
