Sermon - Life Transforming Worship
Life-transforming worship. Living as Jesus lived
Reading Matthew 3:13-17
Introduction
In case you are concerned that you are going to get a second sermon on Baptism, let me put your minds at rest! The Lord told me to do that last week and I am waiting for the results of that teaching, in particular candidates for baptism. When I came to look at the Scripture Union Light material for today’s family service, I was surprised to see that the teaching about worship was drawn from Matthew’s account of the baptism of Jesus. If you were away last week I hope you will take time to listen to the tape or visit our web site to receive the teaching on baptism by immersion, what we term ‘Believers Baptism’.
Briefly this morning I want to look at what life transforming worship is, for worship is far more than singing songs, it involves every aspect of our life.
We are revealed as Christian and true followers of Jesus through our actions, for instance consider the folk who are coming up on our PowerPoint screen display today, nurses, fireman, policeman, astronauts, chefs or whatever we are, the fact is we are revealed for what we are by what we do! I can say I am an astronaut, but unless I commit myself to the training and take a trip in space and do things astronauts do, I am an astronaut in name only. The same was true of Jesus. His identity as God’s Son was revealed through what he did. He proved he was who he said he was by his commitment and obedience to his heavenly Father, and by his actions.
As we submit to Jesus as Lord of our lives this becomes true, transforming worship, which draws us into the very life and nature of who Jesus is, so that we might become like him. The Bible says in Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.” We renew our minds by a determined effort to be like Jesus. 1 Peter 1:15 says, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do…” The apostle Paul says in his letter to the Christians in
Like Jesus, we need to ‘Commit to Commitment’. (Matthew 3:13) He did not need to be baptised as I said last week, as he was sinless. Jesus went to the river
Commitment To Jesus redirects our lives and gives it focus. This is worship! What commitments do we need to make today, this week, so that we can be ready to express greater worship of our God and experience his blessing? It could be baptism; it could be joining the local church here at ABC, coming into as membership!
We are all members of the universal church the moment we believe, but there needs to be local commitment, the putting down of roots, however frustrating the church members or its pastor are from time to time. We need to be firmly within the family of God locally, there is no such thing as ‘Christians in isolation’. It just is not biblical! Jesus loves his church and so must we! The Bible says ‘Don’t stop meeting together’!
Our act of worship today could be expressed in the commitment of some of our finances, a regular amount on a regular basis. Our commitment today could be to stop doing that thing you know is wrong and is spoiling your life. Our greater worship today could be many things, but the question, ‘What commitments do we need to make today?’, needs to be answered in our own heart as we allow Jesus to challenge us and speak into our lives.
Like Jesus we need to ‘Seek to Serve’. (Matthew 3: 13-14) Jesus turns John’s expectations upside down. He comes humbly as a servant, to receive from his cousin. Jesus’ whole life involved humble service. He is the ‘Servant King’. Our worship should be expressed and seen in our service to God, and for God; it should be seen in the way we offer our gifts and talents for the service of God in our local church. The New Testament tells us in the letter of James “Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead put it into practice.” He goes on to say that faith without actions is a dead faith.
How can I serve with humility? By not thinking of myself more highly than I should, and submitting myself to serving at every opportunity in all humility, preparing to do the lowest task if necessary. I remember reading somewhere that one of the first jobs new students had to do when joining the Salvation Army training college many years ago, was to take their turn at cleaning the shoes of other students and staff. The bible says, “Do not be proud but accept humble duties.” Where can we take a further step forward in our service for Christ? We can answer the question in our hearts as we allow God to challenge us today.
We need to ‘Practise Obedience’. (Matthew 3: 14-15) Jesus didn’t need to repent of sin as I have said, but he models for us obedience to God’s plans and purposes. Perhaps we remember the words of Jesus when he said, “I have come down from heaven, not to do my will but the will of him who sent me.” Whose will is first in our lives? Whose plans are we following? How long will it take for us to learn that being in the centre of the Lord’s will for our lives is the happiest place to be? Jesus does not expect us to do anything he hasn’t already done himself! How can I practice daily obedience so that I’m not just informed about Jesus my saviour, but transformed by him? Answer in your hearts as you allow him to challenge you today?
We need to Invest in Identifying with Others as Jesus did. Matthew 3:15) In his baptism Jesus demonstrates his identification with me, ultimately fulfilled on the cross. My need he met there for me! Like Jesus I am called to live courageously as a Christian, investing myself in others by identifying with them in their needs. The bible says. “Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. Have the same concern for everyone.”
Who are the people I need to identify with today, this week? Who are those God wants me to empathise or sympathise with? The bible makes it clear that the answer is everyone, my immediate family, my Christian family, other believers and my neighbours. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy tells him that the believers must “…put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.” The Bible tells us in Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Who are the people I need to empathise and identify with, and in what situations? We need to answer this last question in our hearts as we allow the Lord our God to challenge us today.
Who Jesus is, is seen in who I am! Jesus waits to be revealed more and more in us as we ‘commit to commitment’, ‘seek to serve’, ‘practice obedience’ and ‘invest in identifying with others’. From this day onwards may it be so in all of us in an every increasing way, for as we do these things we will be experiencing life-transforming worship, worship that reveals us as true believers. This worship also transforms us in an ever- increasing way into the image of Christ Jesus for others to see and come to know!
This sermon has been prepared by drawing on the Scripture Union Light notes for February 2005.
27/2/05
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