Monday, Jul 28, 2008

TWG - July 28, 2008

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TWG - July 28, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Leviticus 12; Psalm 63; Acts 17:16-34

Today is July 28, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. Together we are strong. As we walk though the word together we help each other grow.

It was a wonderful weekend. Saturday we had a joyous celebration of Don Zimmermann’s life. Thanks to all who helped put that on. It is a great thing to remember the life of those who love the Lord. Sunday we had a great time of worship – John’s brother Phil who is in an Army band was with us and played the clarinet. It was just a wonderful time of worship. We talked about “building up your Spiritual Quotient.” An essential of the Christian life – grow! After the service we went to Dave and Barb’s for our Discovery Class Potluck. What great hosts, and what a lot of fun. But the day wasn’t over yet. Susan and I headed to the Sanctus Real Concert where I handed out 300 flyers about our upcoming David Harsh concert! I put a picture of the youth at the concert posing with GI Johnny on the Blog at http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com. Check it out.

This week’s theme verse is Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together. The Old Testament Jews gathered together on the Sabbath - their day of rest and worship. Christians assemble together on Sunday, the Lord’s Day - our day. Do you have a “theology of worship?” Do you have a guiding principle for how you celebrate the Lord’s Day? You should. You should think your way through the “Lord’s Day” and you should be able to pin to your refrigerator some salient truths about how God wants you to worship. The first truth worth putting on your refrigerator magnet is this: God doesn’t want you to miss church (negative) or God wants you in church (positive). That much is obvious from this passage. While many in the early church preached, taught and evangelized on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and every day, Sunday is the “default” Day of Worship for the Christian. The Sabbath is observed by the Jew because it points back to the “Seventh Day” when God rested from his work of creating the universe. The first Christians were Jews and they kept meeting on the Sabbath with their fellow Jews in the synagogue, but they added a new day to their worship experience – The Lord’s Day! In Acts 20:7 we see that they had a regular habit of meeting on the first day of the week to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. That ought to become part of our “Lord’s Day Theology.” And don’t forget the preaching. In this passage Paul preached until the wee hours of the morning! In 1 Cor 16:2 Paul commanded them to take an offering on the Lord’s Day. The Lord’s Day is observed by Christians because it points back to the day of Resurrection when Jesus “rested” from his work of redeeming the universe. Ever since that earth shattering event, Christians have gathered on Sunday! The Lord’s Supper is meant to be taken “in remembrance of me!” That is what Sunday is all about… a day to stop and ponder the cross; A day to pause and focus on spiritual things; A day to celebrate the joy and wonder of the resurrected Christ. We ought to assemble together on the Lord’s Day because “we are the church!” And as the church we have a responsibility to set aside some time to magnify the resurrected Savior Jesus Christ. That’s what it’s all about.

Dear Lord Jesus: I will worship you. I will honor you by honoring your day. I will set aside Your Day to worship, serve and honor you. Please forgive me for taking the day for granted to be used commonly as a day of recreation or a day of work. It is Your day, and I choose to keep it in remembrance of You!

My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 10:54 AM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

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