PILLARS OF THE CHURCH: WORSHIP
FALL CELEBRATION & COMMUNION
Series of Four Sermons
©Thomas B. Cundiff
Note: a few years ago a read a series of sermons oqarnOTE:
titled "Pillars of the Church".....not sure who I should give the credit. Not even sure
I have identified the same four pillars!
Exodus 14: 19-31
The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt Israel
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, ‘Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt
The Pursuers Drowned
Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.’ So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
Thus the Lord saved Israel Israel Israel
Matthew 26: 26-30
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’
When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives .
I. Introduction
One of the most memorable of all Old Testament stories is Moses parting the waters of the great Red Sea . Within this story is the image of an angel of God standing behind the Israelite army struggling to flee the oppression of the Egyptian Pharaoh. Another image is a bright pillar of cloud standing between the oppressive army of Egyptians and the starving, struggling and hopeless Israelites.
I can only imagine the Israelites coming to the shore of the sea unable to cross to safety….and the Egyptian army coming from behind. They are cornered. Will this be the end for the chosen people of God?
Then enters Moses who might resemble someone like Charlton Heston[1] – dramatically stretching out his hand over the sea driving back the winds, parting the waters creating dry land. The Lord God, backing up Moses in the pillar of cloud between the army of Egyptians and fleeing Israelites, defeats Pharaoh in leading the Israelites across the path that has been forged through the sea toward the promised land. Of course the Israelites are happy….an understatement. They were so overwhelmed with joy they could do nothing else but give glory to God for saving them. Reading
“I will sing to the Lord…..the Lord is my strength and my might, my salvation, and I will praise him and exalt him…the Lord is his name.” ((Exodus 15: 1-3 edited)
To take an analytical/theological look at this story: This miraculous crossing of the sea is twofold:
(1) to demonstrate God’s timeless, powerful presence not just for the Israelites but for those who are faithful to God….you and me…..and
(2) to induce the Israelites (and you and me) to remain faithful in reverence and worship of the Lord.
So today I begin a series of sermons on the pillars of in the church – essential components in doing ministry as Christ’s church. This first pillar is worship. Just as the Israelites turned to God in worship and praise for helping them cross the sea, we turn to God in worship and praise for helping us through the seas of struggles and stresses and strains we experience in our lives.
II. The First Pillar, Worship
Worship, offering praise and glory to God for all God has done for us, is the heart of what we do each and every week.
Giving glory to God and listening for God’s word to guide us in living our lives is the central activity of the church. When worship falters, the church falters. When worship thrives, the church thrives. When we actively engage in participating in worship, our lives thrive.
Without worship we lose God’s spirit breathing upon us. Worship is God’s Word touching and teaching and encouraging and supporting and inspiring us to move forward – through rough seas in life toward the promised land of God’s Kingdom found here on earth as in heaven.
From our church Mission AND PRAISE!
The one thing we are called to do consistently is gather together to thank God for blessings received. It could be a good week for us. It could be a week like the Israelites experienced trying to outrun the tyranny of the Egyptians. It could be a week of challenge in facing illness, medical tests, financial issues, challenging decisions. Worship brings us to God and lets us know we are not alone. God is always with us holding us, caring for us, nurturing us, loving us. Worship is sacred time to remember that God is always behind us and in front of us; above and beneath us – always beside us – willing to part waters of seas of anything that might be disturbing us… giving us a clear path toward the promised land.
As we begin another program year in the life of the church, let’s remember one important thing: Worship is a collective endeavor.
In our scripture from Exodus Moses parts the sea not for an individual but for the entire Israelite community. In our western world it is so easy to think in terms of this being “my world”, or “my life” or “my problem” or “my relationship with God”. While we may approach God personally, God supports and communicates to us collectively. We know God through the care and compassion of those sitting around us. We know God because we are a community of faith….celebrating God’s bringing us together as Christ’s church.
While some may have no choice but to worship alone in front of a television or radio, God calls us to worship consistently – and together!
Worship is the pillar of hope and strength that assures us we can, together, get through anything.
Personally: I do a lot of worrying. I worry about getting things done. There is always some new challenge or decision to address…and I worry about these tings…..I worry about my own health in being able to do what I want to be doing in ministry….yet after all these years of ministry; the important things always get done! God gets us through the rough patches in life…..
A prayer comes to mind, I forget the author, who gets up every morning and prays: “Help me, Lord, get through this day”….ending each day with the prayer, “Thank you Lord for getting me through this day”.
Worship brings us together and becomes the heart of all we do as Christ’s church. Worship is the pillar of support we receive knowing we are never alone—and God will help us get through ever kind of day!
IV. Conclusion
As we begin another year in the life of our beloved church, let us worship and pray and receive communion—knowing God is always going to be with us. God will keep us safe. God will continue to feed our souls with wisdom in how to live our lives. Together, God will always show us his love and care and compassion and support.
Let’s continue to celebrate being consistently together in worship. May God continue to bless us – feed us – breathing into us his spirit.
May God continue to bless us as Christ’s church.
May God continue to bless our worship….in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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