Honoring Christ In Our Bodies-Day 1
We Have a Problem We Recognize we have a problem though we have confidence that God can fix it … The mantra for the culture of our world today when it comes to dealing with difficult things is, “why do badthings happen to good people.” When we give into believing this false worldview we take the place of the entitled victim whenever we encounter anything that feels negative. The Scripture’s portrayal of humanity, on the other...
Honoring Christ In Our Liturgy-Day 10
Today, you’ve got one last lengthy reading assignment to do. You’re going to read the whole book of Revelation straight through. Well, at least from Chapter 4 to 22. Consider how John structures the whole apocalyptic letter. Revelation has long been understood as a difficult book to understand as it deals with the End Times through the lens of very difficult imagery. However, I would suggest that the study of eschatology (the end...
Honoring Christ In Our Liturgy-Day 9
God’s Rhythm in the Epistles Today, you’ve got a lot of reading to do. You’re going to read the whole book of Ephesians straight through. Consider how Paul structures the whole letter. It’s not just a bunch of verses, and great teaching, but it’s a book of worship. Its shape follows the pattern of how God calls, catechizes (teaches), and commissions us as the church to love God and others. Reading Ephesians in this way will cause us...
Honoring Christ In Our Liturgy-Day 8
Today, you’ve got a lot of reading to do. You’re going to read the whole book of Romans straight through. Yes, you heard me! Consider how Paul structures the whole letter. It’s not just a bunch of verses, and great teaching, but it’s a book of worship. Its shape follows the pattern of how God calls, catechizes (teaches), and commissions us as the church to love God and others. Reading Romans in this way will cause us to relate to...
Honoring Christ In Our Liturgy-Day 7
Today we read Christ’s Great Commission. Consider it in a new light. Consider the Great Commission in light of God’s rhythms of worship. Christ calls his disciples into mission the same way in which he created the world; in the same way he called Moses, and in the same pattern of Solomon’s Temple. Notice God’s pattern for worship again, and praise our God for his unchanging nature in worship and mission. Jesus appoints and appears to...
Honoring Christ In Our Liturgy-Day 6
God’s Rhythm in the Temple In the Old Testament Solomon’s Temple had 3 “spaces”: the outer courts, the inner courts and the Holy of Holies. The Outer Courts … this space was where the people were welcomed in, confessed their sins, received forgiveness and they were washed clean in the laver. The Inner Courts … this was where the priest alone would enter for the partaking of the lighted Word, the Table and the prayers. Holy of...
Honoring Christ In Our Liturgy-Day 5
God’s Order of Worship is present in how he deals with our sin corporately (together), but also in how we relate to God in worship individually. Meditate on Isaiah’s encounter with God today, and consider how God’s rhythm again can challenge us in how we relate to him when we’re worshipping with Christ’s church together, as well as when we are walking with the Lord in our daily rhythms. God’s character recognized (vv.1-4) Human...
Honoring Christ In Our Liturgy-Day 4
God’s Rhythm in the Law God’s people had been under the ruling and tyrannical Egyptian regime for over 400 years. Imagine the psychological and spiritual complexes that had taken root in the Israelite people after 400 years of oppression and slavery. During their times as slaves, Israel had fallen into idol worship, and they’d embraced in large part the Egyptian gods and their false sense of rule. After God delivers Israel from the...
Honoring Christ In Our Liturgy-Day 3
God’s Rhythm in Calling Moses was a covert Israelite masquerading as an oppressive Egyptian ruler until one day, in an act of angry justice, he murdered an Egyptian slave-master who raised his hand to harm a fellow Israelite. Moses was driven into exile for his act. He was driven away from Egypt, and was unable to be of any help to Egypt or the oppressed Israel. Moses fled into the land of Midian. He married, and accepted a simple...