"
Seeing the Unseen Christ in Worship" Sermon Transcript for June 10, 2001By Reverend Mike Beck
As I mentioned at the beginning of the service, we begin today our 50-Day Spiritual Adventure, "Seeing the Unseen Christ". And one of the ways in which the unseen Christ is made known to us is in worship. I remember a message that John Elliott preached a little over a year ago. And I’m sure I’m not quoting his figures exactly, but he made reference to a survey done of persons who regularly attended worship asking them to recall the last time they meaningfully sensed God’s presence through their time of worship. And over 50% of those who responded said they couldn’t recall a time recently in which they had sensed the presence of Christ in worship. How sad that is! And what an awesome responsibility Reverend Dan and I feel as each week we work to plan and prepare for worship hoping that through what is done you will be able to connect with God to be able to see the unseen Christ.
Now there’s nothing wrong with either of these quotes. I’ve used them. We, out of habit, use them. But, friends, when we make comments like, "That was a nice service" or "Preacher, that was a good sermon", again, there’s nothing wrong with those comments, except they miss the point of genuine, authentic worship. In my trip to Nashville a couple of weeks ago I...every three months trip to keep my voice functional...I had taken along with me some worship tapes containing both hymns and choruses. And I listened to them going and coming in the car and had a powerful time of personal worship doing so. And I came to the conclusion on that trip that on this first Sunday in which we talk about "Seeing the Unseen Christ in Worship" there was no way I could adequately convey that through just the linear media with words. That somehow or other, the power and emotion contained within music, had to be a part of today’s message. So during the next twenty-five minutes, we’re going to use five pieces of music, both great hymns and contemporary choruses. And one of the by-products of this time of worship in a church that has multiple worship styles, would be that those who worship best with old, familiar hymns might gain an appreciation for choruses. For those who worship God best through choruses, that they would appreciate more fully the power of the words of the great hymns of the faith.
And I ask you in these moments to do this. Focus on the Christ who is among us. Shut out your neighbor. Let the words of the hymns and songs that will be on the screen speak to you. For so often, friends, when we sing we focus on the tune and we miss the words. Focus on the words this morning. Some of you may want to quietly sing along. You’re welcome to quietly do that. Some of you may want to close your eyes. Some may feel led at times to raise your hands in praise. I want you to experience worship now. Our worship is a way of telling God we love Him. So would you worship God and tell Him in this opening song right now. Tell Him that you love Him. Let us worship.
I LOVE YOU LORD
I love You Lord, and I lift my voice.
To worship You, oh my soul rejoice.
Take joy my King, in what You hear.
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.
I love You Lord; I love You Lord.
I love You Lord, because You first loved me.
I love You, I love You....Lord
We love Him, because He first loved us. Genuine worship should evoke in us feelings of awe and majesty and the omnipotence of the God who created all of the universe. And yet He is a God that loves us enough that He is right here with us now; and He cares about us with an infinite love. I invite you to reflect on the awesome holiness of God as we listen to this familiar hymn.
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Holy, holy, holy. Lord God almighty.
Early in the morning, our songs shall rise to Thee.
Holy, holy, holy. Merciful and mighty.
God in three persons. Blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.
The whole earth is full of His glory.
Holy is the Lord!
Holy, holy, holy. All the saints adore Him.
Casting down their golden crowns, around the glassy sea.
Cherubim and seraphim; falling down before Thee
Which wert, and art, and evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy. Merciful and mighty.
God in three persons. Blessed Trinity!
Let me put that applause in context for you. For I have sung those words, "Holy, holy, holy" in the presence of 50,000 men gathered in a stadium. And friends, there are times that we must be still and know that God is God. But I want to tell you, when we finished singing those words with 50,000 other men there was no way not to have some emotional response. That applause rang up to God as a fragrant offering of love on behalf of those men that were worshiping there. Emotion must have a part of worship if we are ever to genuinely worship. I hope you’re noticing now one of the main points I’d like to make this morning. This is a sermon. I want you to notice the direction that true worshiping takes. For when we gather for worship because the pastor or worship leaders are up here, we sometimes mistakenly think that worship goes this way. It’s going out from us to you. Dead wrong. In fact it might be best if the sermon was preached from the back and you couldn’t even see the preacher. For worship goes this way. It is our offering up and directing our worship to God. As I was looking at those words, "Blessed Trinity", visually on our alter, those gold embossed symbols--Father, Son, Holy Spirit...worship goes this way. From us to God. Worship is not coming to church for what you can get. Worship is coming to church to give your praise to almighty God. There’s a chorus many love to sing, "Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing. Power and majesty, praise to the King!" In the quiet of this moment, offer to Christ the praise and the glory that He is due as we listen to this wonderful chorus.
SHOUT TO THE LORD
My Jesus, my Savior.
Lord there is non like You!
All of my days, I want to praise,
the wonders of Your mighty love.
My comfort, my shelter,
tower of refuge and strength!
Let every breath, all that I am,
never cease to worship You..
Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing.
Power and majesty, praise to the King!
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar,
at the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand.
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.
You see if you’re starting to forget about what’s on your schedule for the rest of the day or what we’re going to have for dinner, but your getting centered in on God, you’re entering in to worship. And when we focus on God we’ll be reminded of His faithfulness. It will cause us to thank Him for our blessings. And when we remember His faithfulness, we’ll be given the strength to trust in for whatever it is we’re going through that’s hard in this very moment. So as we worship God now through listening to this great hymn, focus on nothing but how God has been faithful to you and give Him thanks for He is a faithful God.
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not.
As Thou has been, Thou forever shall be!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest;
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness;
To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love!
Great is Thy faithfulness. Great is Thy faithfulness.
Morning by morning, new mercies I see.
All I have needed, Your hand has provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Pardon for sin, and a peace that endureth.
Thine own dear presence, to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow.
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.
Great is Thy faithfulness. Great is Thy faithfulness.
Morning by morning, new mercies I see.
All I have needed, Your hand has provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness. Lord unto me.
Bob and Martheta, He’s been faithful, hasn’t he? And there in that hospital room right now in St. Francis, God is going to be faithful to Patsy Vandivier and to the family as they wait. Worship is directed toward God, but then a fascinating thing happens. A part of that image of God gets reflected back on us. And when the image of God gets reflected back on us, it’s intended to bring response. We’re not going to play this song but I want you to listen to the words of one of the songs that helped me worship on my way to and from Nashville. The words went like this....
When the music fades, all is stripped away
And I simply come.
Longing just to bring,
something that will bless Your heart.
I’ll bring You more than a song,
For a song in itself is not what You have required.
(See worship is not just about our feeling good. And the song leader said, "Lord, in worship....")
You’re looking into my heart.
Tho I’m weak and poor,
everything I have is Yours.
(And then he said something that just struck me to the core. He said...)
I’m coming back to the heart of worship,
and it’s all about You.
It’s all, Lord, about you. That’s why in the official United Methodist Order of Worship the offering is at the end. For we have worshiped and we want now to give something back to God in response as a part of the worship. And I ask you, as we listen now to the closing hymn, "How is God wanting you to respond to His love right now in this time of worship?" Pray the words as we listen to them together:
TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
Take my life and let it be,
consecrated Lord to Thee
Take my hands and let them move,
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be,
swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice and let me sing,
always, only for my King.
Take my silver and my gold,
not a might would I withhold.
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my will and make it Thine.
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own.
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my life and let it be,
consecrated Lord to Thee.
Would you stand for the benediction. Friends, we have gathered together as the people of God in worship. And I pray that you have seen the unseen Christ through our worship today. Go forth now from this place to let your lives be consecrated more fully to Him. Reflect the image of God’s love to others. And know that the unseen Christ is with you. All of God’s people said. Amen.
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