Finding Faith and Contentment in Liturgical Worship
Summary
In today's service, we explored the beauty and depth of liturgical worship, aiming to demystify it for those who might find it intimidating. Liturgy, often misunderstood, serves as a structured framework that allows the Holy Spirit to move powerfully within the confines of tradition and history. It is not about containing God but about reigning in our own tendencies to stray, keeping us corporately united in worship. Our service is theocentric, focusing on God rather than on human entertainment, culminating in the sacrament of communion, which is central to our worship experience.
We delved into Psalm 37, addressing the age-old question of why the wicked seem to prosper while the righteous suffer. This psalm, written by King David, reflects on the apparent success of evil in the world and reassures us that ultimately, righteousness will prevail. David's life experiences, from facing lions and giants to fleeing from King Saul, illustrate that despite life's challenges, God remains faithful to His people. The righteous, those who live with active faith, contentment, focused desire, and a submitted will, will never be forsaken.
In a world where morality is blurred and Christians are increasingly marginalized, it is tempting to envy the wicked and compromise our values. However, we are reminded to maintain our faith and trust in God's ultimate justice. Our faith should be active, manifesting in our daily actions, and accompanied by contentment with our circumstances. We are encouraged to delight in the Lord, trusting that He will fulfill our heart's desires when they align with His will.
As we partake in communion, we are reminded of the mysterious presence of God in the elements, a sacred moment that strengthens us to live out our faith in the world. We are sent out, nourished by the Word and the Table, to be Christ's representatives in a world that desperately needs His love and truth.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Role of Liturgy: Liturgy serves as a structured framework that allows the Holy Spirit to move within the confines of tradition, keeping us united in worship. It is not about containing God but about reigning in our own tendencies to stray. This structure helps us focus on God rather than human entertainment, culminating in the sacrament of communion. [00:00]
2. The Question of Prosperity: Psalm 37 addresses the age-old question of why the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. Despite life's challenges, God remains faithful to His people. The righteous, those who live with active faith, contentment, focused desire, and a submitted will, will never be forsaken. [34:41]
3. Maintaining Faith in a Corrupt World: In a world where morality is blurred, it is tempting to envy the wicked and compromise our values. We are reminded to maintain our faith and trust in God's ultimate justice, living with active faith and contentment. [42:44]
4. The Importance of Contentment: Contentment with our circumstances is crucial. We are encouraged to delight in the Lord, trusting that He will fulfill our heart's desires when they align with His will. This contentment allows us to bloom where we are planted, focusing on character over worldly success. [50:04]
5. The Power of Communion: As we partake in communion, we are reminded of the mysterious presence of God in the elements. This sacred moment strengthens us to live out our faith in the world, sending us out to be Christ's representatives in a world that needs His love and truth. [01:28:16]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Liturgical Worship
- [03:15] - The Three-String Worship
- [06:45] - The Role of Liturgy
- [10:20] - Theocentric Worship
- [14:00] - Opening Prayers and Intercessions
- [20:30] - Liturgy of the Word
- [25:00] - Psalm 37: The Prosperity of the Wicked
- [34:41] - The Struggle of Good vs. Evil
- [42:44] - Maintaining Faith in a Corrupt World
- [50:04] - Contentment and Trust in God
- [01:02:52] - The Nicene Creed
- [01:10:00] - Liturgy of the Table
- [01:20:00] - Communion: A Sacred Moment
- [01:28:16] - Sending Blessing and Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 37: This passage addresses the question of why the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His people.
#### Observation Questions
1. What is the main purpose of liturgical worship as described in the sermon? How does it help in focusing on God rather than human entertainment? [00:00]
2. According to Psalm 37, what are some characteristics of the righteous that ensure they will not be forsaken? [42:44]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of communion in the worship service? What is its significance? [01:28:16]
4. What examples from King David's life were used to illustrate God's faithfulness despite life's challenges? [50:04]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the structured framework of liturgy allow the Holy Spirit to move within the confines of tradition and history? [00:00]
2. In what ways does Psalm 37 reassure believers about the ultimate triumph of righteousness over wickedness? [42:44]
3. How does the sermon suggest believers should respond to the temptation to envy the wicked in a corrupt world? [42:44]
4. What does it mean to have a "submitted will" according to the sermon, and how does this relate to trusting in God's plan? [50:04]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own worship experience. How can you engage more deeply with the liturgical elements of the service to focus on God rather than human entertainment? [00:00]
2. Psalm 37 speaks about the righteous not being forsaken. How can you cultivate an active faith, contentment, and a focused desire in your daily life to align with this promise? [42:44]
3. In what ways have you been tempted to envy the success of those who do not follow God's ways? How can you shift your focus to trust in God's ultimate justice? [42:44]
4. The sermon emphasizes contentment with our circumstances. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with contentment. What steps can you take to find joy and satisfaction in your current situation? [50:04]
5. Communion is described as a sacred moment that strengthens believers. How can you prepare your heart and mind to fully experience the presence of God during communion? [01:28:16]
6. Consider a time when you felt God was silent in response to your prayers. How can the message of Psalm 37 encourage you to remain faithful and trust in God's timing? [50:04]
7. The sermon calls believers to be Christ's representatives in the world. What is one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate Christ's love and truth in your community? [01:28:16]
Devotional
Day 1: The Framework of Liturgy
Liturgy serves as a structured framework that allows the Holy Spirit to move within the confines of tradition, keeping us united in worship. It is not about containing God but about reigning in our own tendencies to stray. This structure helps us focus on God rather than human entertainment, culminating in the sacrament of communion. Liturgy provides a rhythm and order to worship that can deepen our spiritual experience and connection with God. By participating in liturgical worship, we align ourselves with a historical and global community of believers, joining in a chorus of praise that transcends time and space. [00:00]
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you embrace the structure of liturgy to deepen your personal worship experience this week?
Day 2: The Paradox of Prosperity
Psalm 37 addresses the age-old question of why the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. Despite life's challenges, God remains faithful to His people. The righteous, those who live with active faith, contentment, focused desire, and a submitted will, will never be forsaken. This psalm encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate justice and to remain steadfast in their faith, even when circumstances seem unfair. It reminds us that God's perspective is eternal, and His justice will prevail in His perfect timing. [34:41]
"Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb." (Psalm 37:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively trust in God's justice when you see the wicked prospering around you?
Day 3: Faithfulness in a Corrupt World
In a world where morality is blurred, it is tempting to envy the wicked and compromise our values. We are reminded to maintain our faith and trust in God's ultimate justice, living with active faith and contentment. This involves a daily commitment to align our actions with our beliefs, resisting the temptation to conform to the world's standards. By focusing on God's promises and His faithfulness, we can find the strength to stand firm in our convictions and be a light in a dark world. [42:44]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to resist conforming to the world's standards and instead live out your faith boldly?
Day 4: The Gift of Contentment
Contentment with our circumstances is crucial. We are encouraged to delight in the Lord, trusting that He will fulfill our heart's desires when they align with His will. This contentment allows us to bloom where we are planted, focusing on character over worldly success. By cultivating a heart of gratitude and trust, we can experience peace and joy regardless of our external circumstances. Contentment is not about complacency but about finding satisfaction in God's provision and purpose for our lives. [50:04]
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." (Philippians 4:11, ESV)
Reflection: How can you practice contentment in your current situation, and what might that look like in your daily life?
Day 5: Communion as a Sacred Encounter
As we partake in communion, we are reminded of the mysterious presence of God in the elements. This sacred moment strengthens us to live out our faith in the world, sending us out to be Christ's representatives in a world that needs His love and truth. Communion is a time to reflect on Christ's sacrifice and to renew our commitment to follow Him. It is a powerful reminder of our unity with Christ and with one another as the body of believers. [01:28:16]
"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 10:16, ESV)
Reflection: As you prepare to take communion, how can you more fully embrace the presence of God in this sacred moment and let it transform your daily walk with Him?
Quotes
Good morning. Welcome to our friends and family service. This is a kind of unique service today. What we're going to do throughout the service, we're going to pause and they'll scream like this will come up. And then I'm going to explain why we do what we do. A lot of people are intimidated by liturgical worship. And so we're going to try to demystify that for you a little bit. I was raised, just so you know, Southern Baptist. Later I was Methodist. Later I was Evangelical Free. So I couldn't hold the job was the problem. But my heart always kind of leaned toward the history of the church. And what liturgy is about, we call it three -strings worship, is word. We believe the word of God contains all things that pertain to life and godliness. We believe that it's without error in its original autograph and all of that. So the word of God is essential. [00:04:27] (60 seconds)
Our service is divided into two parts. The first part is known as the Liturgy of the Word. And it includes all of our opening worship music. It will include, coming up, four readings. Old Testament, New Testament, Psalm, and Gospel. And usually those who are knit together in the prayer we pray at the beginning is known as the Collet. And that Collet really sort of incorporates the theme of the service and collects us, if you will, and helps us to channel our worship in a corporate way, in a corporate direction. So this first part, all the way up until we take the offering, is known as the Liturgy of the Word. The Sermon will be in there and all of that. So that's sort of the intellectual, the mind piece, if you will. And then at Communion, we'll share the piece. And that launches us into the second half of the service, which is the Liturgy of the Table, meaning Communion. And it's sort of a deeper, more spiritual thing. We encounter the mystery of God and Communion, that God is somehow mysteriously present in that sacrament. And so it's a shift, if you will. We're having heard the Word of God preached, heard the Word of God read. We've dwelt on that. We've done our creed. After all of that, then we move into this time of Communion with God. And that's the goal of the whole service. It culminates here at the altar with us sharing in Communion, in Communion with God and with one another. [00:21:07] (105 seconds)
Cheaters get ahead, and they never seem to suffer the penalties for their bad behavior. While the guys playing by the rules, well, they never seem to get a break. In fact, one of the great struggles for people down through history is this question. Why do bad people prosper and good people suffer? Turn in your Bibles to Psalm 37. A question really comes up a lot in our lives individually. [00:36:27] (35 seconds)
Why do dead -beat dads get away with neglecting their responsibilities? Why do guys who falsify travel reimbursements never get caught? Why do business executives in a large company pay themselves six -figure bonuses, and the government just bails them out when the company goes bankrupt? Why do bad people seem to always get away with everything? Those questions have been asked from the earliest days of recorded history. In fact, the oldest book in the Bible, Job asks, why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? They spend their years in prosperity, and they go down to the grave in [00:37:01] (48 seconds)
Yet they say to God, leave us alone. We have no desire to know your ways. Who is the Almighty that we should serve Him? What would we gain by even praying to Him? And to make it worse, we seem to get no answers when we pray. God, I've tried to live a Christian life, and yet when I prayed that you would heal my daughter, save my business, restore my marriage, you were silent. Where are you, God? Why do people who don't even profess Christ, who don't even pray for your intervention, why does their child get to live? Why do they prosper? Don't you care? Are you even paying attention? [00:37:49] (49 seconds)
Psalm 37 is a powerfully emotional poem written by King David, and he asks these very questions. He's looking back over the years, he's kind of reminiscing, and he states that what eventually becomes apparent to everyone is that bad people seem to prosper while good people lag behind. And it's not like we want the evil guy to suffer, but we can have wondering why God allows him to just keep getting away with it. In other words, what good is being good? [00:37:56] (37 seconds)
It feels like we're in the middle of the Super Bowl sometimes, and the referees have taken a break. Nobody seems to be enforcing the rules, and to make matters worse, we live in a corrupted culture where lines of morality have really, really been blurred. [00:39:33] (19 seconds)
A few decades ago, a person could be a devout believer, and largely because of that, because they were a member of a church, they were well -respected in the community. In fact, it was expected that well -respected people were church people. Back then, the culture revered morality, but I have to tell you, those days are gone. [00:39:53] (25 seconds)
It's tougher and tougher to be a Christian in this culture. And soon the day will come when it will not be possible to be admired as a citizen and a Christian at the same time. Christians are being demonized. [00:40:14] (16 seconds)
It's tempting to envy evil, and it's tempting to compromise so that we too can be successful. But the problem is that we as believers are too Christian to really enjoy sinning, and we're too fond of sinning to really be Christian. And we're caught in that awkward in -between place. [00:40:21] (23 seconds)
There's a strong temptation for all of us to compromise, especially when we see the wicked prosper. That's why David wants not to become envious of the wicked. And he gives us a very good reason for it. In verse 10 of chapter 37, it says, that for evildoers are going to be cut off. But those who wait upon the Lord, they're going to possess the land. Evil people may seem to have the advantage, but David is telling us that ultimately, good will win out. [00:41:36] (36 seconds)
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