Reformation Sunday
It is hard to encapsulate the change in corporate gatherings that came through the Reformation. But Romans 12:1-2 provides some key ideas:
First, the community gathering of God's mob is 'in view of God's mercy'/'because of God's mercy'. It is a gathering in response to God, not a gathering to create a response from God. In this sense, it is a gathering that bears the shape of what God has done in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Second, God's action claims all of the person of God - and this means it claims all of the community of God. It is an action that has complete consequence for all of life ('your bodies').
Third, God's action creates a response of 'worship' - of giving God what he deserves.
Fourth, God's action 'transform's - it changes people from sinners to servants, from corrupt to saved, from being selfish to being wholehearted for God. In this sense, it builds-up God's mob.
Fifth, this is all based on both access to, and growing in, the 'will of God' - he revelation in his word.
This, I reckon, is a reasonable summary of what the Reformation reclaimed for the gathering of God's mob... church!
Pray:
Father, thank you for your word that saves and gathers and changes. Amen.
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Some stuff worth reading...
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Reformation Sunday
You can catch yesterday's sermon here: narrabrianglican.org/resources/sermons-talks/
Next Sunday - roughly - is Reformation Sunday. At Narrabri Anglican each year, on Reformation Sunday, we have a 1662 Book of Common Prayer Lord's Supper service, and we use the Athanasian Creed. We remember where we have come from, and what God has done in returning us to his word and the good news of Jesus.
Each year, the sermon has a Reformation theme - we have looked at Martin Luther and John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli, we have examined the Anabaptists, and we have spent time in the Preface of the Book of Common Prayer.
This year, we are going to look at how we do our church services, and what it shows about what we believe. At this stage, I am thinking that our text for the sermon will be Romans 12:1-2... have a read of it...
Pray:
Father, thank you that you work in history to return your people to your word. Amen.
Sermons / Talks | https://narrabrianglican.org/resources/sermons-talks/
narrabrianglican.org
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Some music...
www.challies.com/articles/new-christian-music-for-your-playlist-and-your-church/
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Exodus 15
Songs litter God's word, and the lives of God's mob. But Mary's song (Luke 1:46-55) has such a strong semblance to the 'song by the sea' of Exodus 15 that we must not miss the connection. Both are sung at a moment of great salvation by God. Both refer to his greatness, his work, his holiness. Both refer to the work of his 'arm'. Both refer to his humbling the proud. Both refer to his commitment to the family of Abraham.
And Jesus - the one sung about by Mary - walks through life constantly praising and practicing God. He is what God's mob should be. But even more, he achieves what God's mob needs: a home where they will dwell with God. Just read John 14:1-6.
This means that, as God's mob now, we are to walk home, praising and practicing God, in such a way that the world is changed around us.
Pray:
Father, thank you that Jesus is both who we should be and what we need. Amen.
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