The first sermon in the ‘Liturgy for Life’ series.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 95
Introduction: Our teaching series to begin 2022 is called, “Liturgy for Life”. To understand the heart and goal of the series, we need to know what is meant be the word “liturgy”. It comes from a Greek word that meant, “a work of the people; a public work or service”. It came to be used to describe what Christians did when they gathered together publicly for worship. We use the word today to describe the order or pattern of the public worship service of a church. From this definition, we can make two key observations:
Every church has a liturgy. Some are elaborate, some are simple, but every church has a regular order/pattern to their worship. A church’s service order or liturgy will be shaped by what they believe about God and how to best lead people to worship Him.
Every person also has a liturgy. If we understand a liturgy to be an order or pattern built around what we worship, in this sense every person has a liturgy for life. We all have regular structures, patterns, habits that are ultimately built around what we worship, value and consider most important.
Our series will focus on 1) why we do what we do on Sundays at Trinity; how each part of our worship service shaped by the story of the gospel and the role each part of the liturgy can have in our formation and 2) how what we do on Sunday is meant to be a pattern and a model for our own daily personal liturgies.
1. The Reason We Are Here | Our services begin with “the call to worship”. As the first part of our service every week, the call to worship reminds us of the reason we are gathered together - to worship God. There are a lot of other reasons the bible gives for why we gather together, but Psalm 95 and other passages tell us that there is a reason that is primary. There is a reason that comes first. All the other reasons flow from it.
We do not gather first and foremost to follow rules or enforce rules/a moral code; not to ask God for what we want; not to learn new things about God; not to get direction from God; not to change our lives for the better; not feel inspired/better, not even to serve each other. Our first/primary purpose when we gather together is to worship God. In fact, if those other things are done without worship, they will actually lead us away from God, not to Him.
Verses 3 and 7 of Psalm 95 help us arrive at a simple definition of worship - Worship is recognizing and acknowledging who God is (v3 For is a great God; v7 For He is our God). Worship is recognizing and acknowledging the supreme worth, value, glory, importance, weight and greatness of who God is and how this is revealed in what he has done, is doing and will do in Christ. So, the call to worship is the ultimate reality check. Being called to worship is being called to recognize and acknowledge the most fundamental, basic and essential reality – who God is.
The call to worship not only reminds of the reason we gather as the church, it reminds us of the reason we are here at the most foundational level. It reminds us why we exist. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism begins its summary of the Christian faith, What is the chief (highest, primary and first) end (or purpose) of humanity? To glorify and enjoy God forever. Worship is not just the beginning, it is our end. A regular call to worship reminds us - God is not a means to an end, He is the end (the highest goal) of our lives.
2. The Way We Proceed | The call to worship doesn’t only begin our services or begin our daily liturgies, it provides us with the way we proceed into everything else we do. If we proceed into the rest of our Sunday gathering apart from a posture or attitude of worship, the rest of the service becomes lifeless and loses its power. Confession is shallow. Assurance is bland. Singing is ok – if the music is good. The sermon is more about the preacher than than “Today, if you hear HIS voice” (v7b), the benediction is just a way to say, “it’s over”. But in the presence of the God who is – as we recognize and acknowledge his sovereignty, glory, greatness, grace, mercy and compassion – every other part of the service is given a holy power.
We need to be called back to the reason God gathers us, to be called back to the reason why He made us - because we so often forget. We lose sight of who God is – our desires and problems become our greatest reality. Our desires can only be rightly directed and ordered; our problems only addressed when He becomes our greatest reality. It is then that our confession, the assurance of pardon, the songs we sing, the Word we hear, the bread and wine we take, the benediction we receive become invigorated and energized with the presence and power of God.
2. Why We Need It Every day | Verse 7 is a transition in the Psalm. In what seems like such an abrupt turn, we see how the call to worship is brought into the everyday. Psalm 95 is not just a liturgy for a gathered community in a worship service; it is a liturgy for “today”. Here is the thing we all must realize - every day we are called to worship; to give something the place of central value, importance and worthiness in our lives. If we don’t hear the voice of God calling us to worship every day and respond to Him, we will hear the voice of something calling us to worship and respond to it.
The lesson of Psa. 95:7-11 is that for Israel in the wilderness, the reality of God had little to no impact on their daily challenges, tests and trails. They worshipped him in the big moments (ie the Red Sea) but forget him in their daily struggles. When confronted with a test, they doubted God was really with them and were ready to return back to the gods of Egypt. Our hearts are not any different. Without regular rhythm of remembering who God is and adoring and praising Him, we turn to other “gods” to save us, provide what we need.
The Psalm invites us to remember the rest of this story. Instead of striking the people in judgment, God told Moses to strike the rock and out of the rock flowed life-giving water for a sinful and forgetful people. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, we are told “the rock was Christ”. The rock was foreshadowing of Jesus. Here is how God softens the heart that hard and cold to who he is - Every other “god” that call us to worship, says “if you sacrifice for me and give me what I deserve, I’ll give you what you deserve”. Only Jesus, the rock that was struck in our place says, “I sacrificed myself for you, I took what you deserve, so you can have what I deserve”.
Reflect or Discuss
What about this sermon most impacted you or left you with questions? How do experience our weekly call to worship? Be honest! How might it become more meaningful for you?
What difference might it make for you to remember the primary reason for a weekly worship service is worship? How might this impact the way you experience the rest of the service?
We can sometimes see a weekly or daily call to worship as vaguely spiritual but not practical. Consider the following list of examples of meditating on the reality of who God is for common struggles:
Fear – the Lord is my helper I will not be afraid what can man do to me?
Discontent – the Lord is my Shepherd, I lack no good thing.
Troubled – The Lord is a refuge in times of trouble.
Weary - Do you not know? Have you not heard the Lord is the everlasting God he will not grow tired or weary
Uncertainty - The Lord is King forever and ever
Inner wound, hurt – The Lord is near the brokenhearted, he saves those who are crushed in spirit.
What is currently your greatest personal challenge? How might God meditating and adoring God for who He is practically address this challenge? Find a passage of scripture or attribute/action of God that speaks to this challenge. If discussing as a group, have the group help.
Your Daily Liturgy
In this series, we will be encouraged to “take ownership” of our daily liturgies (patterns, habits). Saying, “I’m so busy”, “I go with the flow, “I just go about my day” are examples of not taking ownership of the shape and structure of our lives. How can the shape and pattern of my daily life be built around the gospel of Jesus Christ?
How can a call to worship become a regular part of your daily liturgy?
Why would it be important to include this as a regular personal habit?
How might it make a difference for how you experience the challenges of each day?
Some ideas include – finding simple calls to worship in Scripture to meditate on in the morning, using historic tools or prayer books, going outside to be in the stillness of creation and meditating on who God is, listening to a worship song focused on the adoration of God….
Also consider giving focused attention to the “A” in the A.C.T.S. method of meditating on Scripture (as we encourage in using our bible reading tool, CBR)
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