Loving Worship
Year A - 2019-2020 • Sermon • Submitted
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There was a couple, visiting in Korea and they saw a father and his son working in a rice paddy. The old man guided the heavy plow as the boy pulled it.
"I guess they must be very poor," the man said to the missionary who was the couple's guide and interpreter.
"Yes," replied the missionary. "That's the family of Chi Nevi. When the church was built, they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money. So they sold their ox and gave the money to the church. This spring they are pulling the plow themselves."
After a long silence, the woman said, "That was a real sacrifice."
The missionary responded, "They do not call it a sacrifice. They are just thankful they had an ox to sell." (Bishop Ray W. Chamberlain)
INT RODUCT ION
Sacrifice feels like a bit of an archaic word. We don’t bring animals into the temple or build an altar in the
wilderness to atone for our sins. But sacrifice is one of the main themes of the Lenten season. Fasting, or giving up
Sacrifice feels like a bit of an archaic word. We don’t bring animals into the temple or build an altar in the wilderness to atone for our sins. But sacrifice is one of the main themes of the Lenten season. Fasting, or giving up something, is a form of sacrifice. We sacrifice something in order that we may create space to hear God more clearly. We remove things that might be hindering our walk with God so we can learn more about our dependence on God. And, of course, the entire walk through Lent is a journey toward the cross, which represents the ultimate sacrifice for the whole world.
something, is a form of sacrifice. We sacrifice something in order that we may create space to hear God more clearly.
We remove things that might be hindering our walk with God so we can learn more about our dependence on God.
We are currently living in a season of sacrifice. We cannot gather as a church inside the building, but we are looking for other ways to keep community. We are forced to give up many of our activities during this time. You cannot go out to eat, you cannot go shopping at the mall, you cannot do a lot of things.
And, of course, the entire walk through Lent is a journey toward the cross, which represents the ultimate sacrifice for
the whole world.
But sacrifice is not meant only for the Lenten season; it is supposed to be part of the regular life of a disciple. In fact, Paul says in the text today that our bodies are to be presented to God as living sacrifices. Worship is embodied in us and in the ways we sacrifice our lives daily for the kingdom of God.
fact, Paul says in the text today that our bodies are to be presented to God as living sacrifices. Worship is embodied
in us and in the ways we sacrifice our lives daily for the kingdom of God.
This Romans passage is about worship being embodied.
This Romans passage is about worship being embodied.
1. This Romans passage is about worship being embodied.
The idea that worship isn’t just about a spiritual realm but is also about what happens with my body is relevant.
While a spiritual act of worship—or “true and proper” worship—might feel a bit mystical in tone, our bodies are not mystical.
bodies are not mystical.
Worship is not just something that happens “out there.” I usually say out there beyond the four walls of the building, but look at us. We are worshipping out there, outside our building. Worship is something that happens within us and the ways in which we use our bodies.
ways in which we use our bodies.
Paul seems to be expanding on the idea of the Shema, that prayer that all Jews pray, which is found in Deuteronomy
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your being, and all your strength.
soul, and strength. It is an act of worship to use not just your spirit but also your body in worship.
Loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength. It is an act of worship to use not just your spirit but also your body in worship.
“Heart” and “soul” focus on a more spiritual side of worship, but “strength” seems to emphasize that our physical bodies are part of worship.
physical bodies are part of worship.
Jesus also expanded more deeply on this issue of worshiping with our whole selves in when he said,
27 He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
“Mind” is not in the original Deuteronomy text, but Jesus seems to expand the commandment to communicate that all of our being, every part of us, are involved in the worship of God.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all
your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.”
i. “Mind” is not in the original Shema text, but Jesus seems to expand the commandment to communicate
that all of our beings, every part of us, are involved in the worship of God.
Jesus also talks about loving your neighbor, which Paul talks about later in our text as well. Ultimately, being a living sacrifice encompasses caring for others. Worship encompasses every part of us.
being a living sacrifice encompasses caring for others.
Living sacrifices are also embodied in the body of the church, the body of Christ
Living sacrifices are also embodied in the body of the church, the body of Christ
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FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT MARCH 29, 2020
2. Living sacrifices are also embodied in the body of the church, the body of Christ
It is important to note that, even though we often want to individualize this passage, the text is always in the plural.
plural.
This is a message not just for us as individuals but for us, as an embodied community of faith.
“Brothers and sisters, present your (plural) bodies”—these are all plural words.
Community is generally the place where daily sacrifice happens.
Community is hard right now as we have entered into this time of uncertainty and worry about catching this virus. But, here we are, trying to keep community even if it is from a distance. We are still singing and praying together. We are giving our tithes and offerings. Next week, Lord willing we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper. We might be doing things differently today, but we are still worshipping in community.
Living in community with others is difficult, and in order to make it work, we often have to give up what we want, in order to live harmoniously with others.
we want, in order to live harmoniously with others.
This is probably why Paul reminded the believers not to think more highly of themselves than they ought. Look there at verse 3
3 Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you.
Other translation use the idea of sober judgment for being reasonable. It is the idea of being fair. Why? Because not everyone is at the same point in their journey with Christ.
ought. Thinking you are better than others is a quick way to dissolve community.
Thinking you are better than others is a quick way to dissolve community.
Thinking you are better than others is a quick way to dissolve community.
If you think you are better than others even in your own home, you begin thinking you don’t need to clean up after yourself or you don’t need to contribute.
clean up after yourself or you don’t need to contribute.
Take these ideas and place them on a larger scale within a faith community. It is difficult to live in community with arrogant people who think they are above the work needed in the community. There is that common thought that someone will do it. Who is that someone? Is it the pastor or is it that person who does everything? Is that right? No, we are all called to be involved.
with arrogant people who think they are above the work needed in the community.
Selfishness creates discord, not community.
When you think of yourself with humility, you are able to serve in life-giving ways.
This enables us to be free to give without expecting a return from others.
Humility enables things to run smoothly.
Humility cultivates community.
Community is where each of us is able to use our gifts.
Look at what he says there beginning in verse 4
4 We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. 5 In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. 6 We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. 7 If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. 8 If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful.
romans 12:4-
People are different and have different gifts. Community is the place where those gifts are able to be used. It takes a sacrifice to use our gifts, at times.
People are different and have different gifts. Community is the place where those gifts are able to be used. It takes a sacrifice to use our gifts, at times.
used. It takes a sacrifice to use our gifts, at times.
We have to put ourselves out there.
We have to have a willingness to serve in ways that, while we may be gifted, we may not be comfortable.
Often our gifts line up with our passions, but they don’t always line up with our comfort zone.
We may have a gift of leadership, but we are hesitant to use it—maybe because others are already leading or maybe because we’ve never had the opportunity. At times, it takes sacrifice to push ourselves to use our gifts.
leading or maybe because we’ve never had the opportunity. At times, it takes sacrifice to push
ourselves to use our gifts.
We have to take the time to know what our gifts are.
It takes time, energy, and sometimes trial and error to find where our gifts are. This can be a painful process of sacrifice.
process of sacrifice.
Allowing and encouraging others to use their gifts can at times be a sacrifice on our part.
If we are great at teaching, and someone else is as well, we may have to take the time to mentor them and even step out of places to give others a chance to use their gifts.
and even step out of places to give others a chance to use their gifts.
We have to forego our jealousy of the gifts of others.
There are times that we look upon others’ gifts with envy. Community helps us learn to celebrate the gifts of others instead.
gifts of others instead.
When one person uses their gifts, it benefits everyone in the community.
Gifts edify and build up the community.
Most of our gifts are not meant to be hoarded or are impossible to hoard.
It’s difficult to be a leader without people to lead.
It’s difficult to be an encourager without people to encourage.
Community gives us the space and the opportunity to use our gifts.
Being a living sacrifice is about sanctification. Those who follow after Christ exhibit qualities of a living sacrifice.
Being a living sacrifice is about sanctification. Those who follow after Christ exhibit qualities of a living sacrifice.
Copyright © 2019 The Foundry Publishing. All rights reserved. Permission to reproduce for ministry use only.
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT MARCH 29, 2020
3. Being a living sacrifice is about sanctification. Those who follow after Christ exhibit qualities of a living
sacrifice.
Paul explains that sincere love is an expression of a living sacrifice.
Love is a key component to a sanctified life.
Love is what enables us to care well for the community of faith.
Love helps us serve with humility.
Love helps us use our gifts well.
Sincere love means it’s genuine and earnest.
We are authentic in our love toward others.
Listen to his words:
9 Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. 10 Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other.
Romans 12:9-
This connects us back to the embodiment of worshiping Christ.
This connects us back to the embodiment of worshiping Christ.
We love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves.
Love is so emphasized that it is mentioned again in how we must be devoted to one another in love.
This reemphasizes the ways that we celebrate the gifts of others and live in community.
When we look farther on in the context of our passage, we also see more examples of exhibiting love.
Blessing others, even those who persecute us.
Rejoicing and mourning with others.
Living in harmony with one another.
Not repaying evil for evil.
Living at peace with others.
Feeding your enemy and giving them something to drink.
Overcoming evil with good.
These further examples of exhibiting love are consistent as well with “love your neighbor as yourself” in , which leads into the story of the good Samaritan.
27 He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
, which leads into the story of the good Samaritan.
This idea of embodied worship is fleshed out fully by loving your neighbor well.
This idea of embodied worship is fleshed out fully by loving your neighbor well.
Love is the ultimate example of sacrifice.
helps illustrate the qualities of love, many of which involve sacrifice.
We know through the loving relationships we have with others—whether children, a spouse, or another person—that love almost always involves sacrifice.
person—that love almost always involves sacrifice.
While love might be the most emphasized part of a living sacrifice, several other qualities are listed as well.
Hate what is evil and cling to what is good.
Honor others above yourselves.
Keep your zeal for the Lord.
Be joyful in hope.
Be patient in affliction.
Be faithful in prayer.
Care for others through hospitality.
We need that kind of living sacrifice now more than ever.
Out of the overflow of our love for God, we worship God by caring for others.
Out of the overflow of our love for God, we worship God by caring for others.
Ultimately, all of the above qualities are ways that we worship God with our embodied lives.
Worship is not relegated to music, or an hour on Sunday morning, but is part of the lives of those who follow Jesus.
Jesus.
We worship God with our very real, embodied lives and with the ways that we love and care for those around us.
us.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
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FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT MARCH 29, 2020
CONCLUS ION
Worship can sometimes be a difficult concept to grasp, in much the way that sacrifice can feel archaic. But the way we worship is through the way we live. Are we loving God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength? Are we loving those around us? When we care and love one another well, we are offering our lives as a sacrifice to God.
way we worship is through the way we live. Are we loving God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength? Are we
loving those around us? When we care and love one another well, we are offering our lives as a sacrifice to God.
Journeying through Lent is not just about the practice of fasting; it’s also about adding spiritual practices. Many people used to fast from food in order to use the money for the poor. This is still a good practice. As we learn to love and care for those around us more, we learn to love God and worship with our lives.
Many people used to fast from food in order to use the money for the poor. This is still a good practice.
As we learn to love and care for those around us more, we learn to love God and worship with our lives.