In our Sunday services, Worship is participatory. If you ask the preacher, “Well, what did you think about the worship service today”, he might respond, “I don’t know, how did you do.” Worship is not something we sit back and consume, but rather something we engage in with our entire being – through praying, reading, listening, singing, preaching, partaking of sacraments, and/or fellowshipping with the saints.
Currently, we are preaching through both the books of Luke and Proverbs on alternating Sundays.
Luke is the longest of the Gospel accounts with a significant amount of “extra” material not found in the other synoptic Gospels of Matthew and Mark. This accords with Luke’s stated purpose in Luke 1:1-4: “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” So, Luke wrote in order to give an “orderly account”, based on the testimony of “eyewitnesses” so that the reader may have “certainty” about Jesus and the teachings of the early Christian community. Luke was a doctor by profession and his meticulous, somewhat scientific approach comes out in his writing. Luke also accompanied Paul as his personal physician during his missionary journeys and was well-known among early Christians. One of the most significant features of the Gospel of Luke is that it is Volume 1 of a 2-Volume Set with the second being the book of Acts, also written by Luke. The two volumes together provide an orderly and thorough history of the beginning of Christianity from Jesus’ birth in the small village of Bethlehem until Paul’s missionary trip to Rome to spread the good news of Jesus to the great capital city of the Roman Empire (and from there to the whole world). How did the people of God change from being predominantly one ethnic group in one small corner of the globe to an audience including all nations? These 40 or so years of history completely changed the world, and the epic story that Luke tells so thoroughly, eloquently, meticulously, and accurately gives the complete backstory of how this took place. And, the benefit we get is to see a vivid picture of the person and work of Jesus Christ – the author and perfecter of our faith, the Lord of all creation, the Savior of His people, the enigmatic personality whose authoritative words and perfect life transformed the world’s ethical and religious systems. It also contains the ultimate underdog story and the unexpected reversal of the lives of people who were considered to be the bottom of society, as Jesus explains, “Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last … For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 13:30, 14:11). And, finally we are provided models and lessons for the Church from its inception in Acts.
Proverbs calls us to the life of wisdom in our walk with God, in our daily life, and relationships with others. It gives deep and practical truth in concise and poetic form. It also shows us that wisdom is from God, which begins with our fear and knowledge of Him (Prov 1:7, Prov 9:10), and points forward to God’s ultimate demonstration of wisdom in Christ and the Gospel (Prov 1:23, 1 Cor 1:24, 1 Cor 1:30, Matt 11:19). In Scripture, Wisdom is two-fold: First, it is understanding and living according to the divine order that is sewn into the fabric of the world (Prov 3:19). And, second, it is simply the skill to live well (to survive and thrive, Prov 30:24). Wisdom calls out to us at all times, everywhere, in everything (Prov 1:20-22). Will we listen to her or to folly (Prov 9:13-16). It is learning to listen, to trust in God rather than ourselves that is the key (Prov 3:5-8).