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The Assembly’s Liturgical Charge
Selected Scriptures
February 9, 2020
Lord’s Day Worship
Sean Higgins
The sermon starts at 16:35 in the audio file.
Or, Tearing Down Hellish Fortresses Together
Last Lord’s Day I presented a case for a minister’s liturgical charge. A minister of the Word serves the assembly not mostly by unleashing the truth on them but by equipping them with the Word and unleashing them. The goal of a minister in the weekly worship of the flock is to glorify God by representing God’s interests to the flock so that the body grows in maturity and the minister becomes less and less needed. I told you that I pray not to be a bottleneck for you to be more like Jesus, for you to have more joy, and for you to become more jealous-able. This was one swing at explaining the charge of a minister.
The other role that is explicitly printed on the order of service is that of the assembly. This appellation is of no small significance. The assembly is all of the disciples considered and connected together. The assembly is all the parts of the body. The assembly is the entire flock worshipping not merely as individual sheep, but as one. There are seats for the assembly, but these are not spectator positions. Those who are not ministering the Word are receiving the Word, but not merely as an audience. Worship is not done by one for all to Christ, but by all as one in Christ. There are some liturgies, and I suppose some practicalities, that undermine the reality of the assembly in worship, but those ought to be fought against consciously and consistently.
As a minister has responsibility, a charge, throughout the liturgy, so does the assembly. Considered together we are charged to worship, and our worship is a charge. The assembly’s liturgical charge will be our focus for this morning.
Consider these three passages.
When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:13–18 ESV)
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18 ESV)
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds (fortresses, NAS). We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:3–5 ESV)
None of these texts deals directly with the assembly together in worship, or with a specific liturgical pattern. But there is something that ties them together.
These passages share a perspective on the reality of two approaches of doing things. There are those who acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, who know wisdom from above, who take all their thoughts captive for Him, and there are those who do not receive Jesus as God’s Son, who are driven by hellish prejudices, who defend their position and set up the[...]
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By Trinity Evangel ChurchSelected Scriptures
February 9, 2020
Lord’s Day Worship
Sean Higgins
The sermon starts at 16:35 in the audio file.
Or, Tearing Down Hellish Fortresses Together
Last Lord’s Day I presented a case for a minister’s liturgical charge. A minister of the Word serves the assembly not mostly by unleashing the truth on them but by equipping them with the Word and unleashing them. The goal of a minister in the weekly worship of the flock is to glorify God by representing God’s interests to the flock so that the body grows in maturity and the minister becomes less and less needed. I told you that I pray not to be a bottleneck for you to be more like Jesus, for you to have more joy, and for you to become more jealous-able. This was one swing at explaining the charge of a minister.
The other role that is explicitly printed on the order of service is that of the assembly. This appellation is of no small significance. The assembly is all of the disciples considered and connected together. The assembly is all the parts of the body. The assembly is the entire flock worshipping not merely as individual sheep, but as one. There are seats for the assembly, but these are not spectator positions. Those who are not ministering the Word are receiving the Word, but not merely as an audience. Worship is not done by one for all to Christ, but by all as one in Christ. There are some liturgies, and I suppose some practicalities, that undermine the reality of the assembly in worship, but those ought to be fought against consciously and consistently.
As a minister has responsibility, a charge, throughout the liturgy, so does the assembly. Considered together we are charged to worship, and our worship is a charge. The assembly’s liturgical charge will be our focus for this morning.
Consider these three passages.
When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:13–18 ESV)
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18 ESV)
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds (fortresses, NAS). We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:3–5 ESV)
None of these texts deals directly with the assembly together in worship, or with a specific liturgical pattern. But there is something that ties them together.
These passages share a perspective on the reality of two approaches of doing things. There are those who acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, who know wisdom from above, who take all their thoughts captive for Him, and there are those who do not receive Jesus as God’s Son, who are driven by hellish prejudices, who defend their position and set up the[...]