Each week pastor Paul Tripp tweets out a weekly reminder of what our gathered worship is designed to do for us. Consider this one.
Corporate worship is designed to fill your heart so full with the glorious glory of God, that there is no room for it to be controlled by the pursuit of the lesser glories of the world around you.
As we hear God’s word preached and raise our voices together in songs of worship, we are helping one another realign our values with God’s values. We are helping one another kick over our idols and “seek first the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33).”
This Sunday in the Gospel of Luke we come to an extended section of Jesus’ teaching often referred to as the Sermon on the Plain, and he begins by pronouncing who is truly blessed and who is to be pitied (“woe to you who…”). As he does, Jesus turns the world’s values upside-down, exalting the things the world despises and rejecting the things the world admires most.
The world urges us to live by the motto (to quote the famous song by Queen), “I want it all. I want it all. I want it all. And I want it now.” Jesus invites us to sing, “Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine inheritance now and always.” Jesus promises us that the happiness of the former will be fleeting, while the happiness that comes through Him endures forever. But how quickly we forget. That’s why we will gather this Sunday.
Kenny Clark will be preaching Luke 6:17-26 for us this Sunday and Walt Harrah will be leading our sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And let’s ask the Lord to lead us further into unshakable and lasting joy this week among the happy company of those Jesus calls truly blessed.
See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!
Song Link of the Week
Almost Home by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa
The promised land is calling
We’re almost home
And not a tear shall fall then
We’re almost home
Make ready now your souls for that kingdom come
No turning back, we’re almost home