Word@Work Luke52 - Luke 4:16
Published: Thu, 03/04/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
STRONG IN THE WORD
Luke 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. (NIV)
Why go to church? Some say it is mainly to worship and fellowship, others feel it helps family bonding and still others say it is to learn from the Bible. These are all reasons to join a congregation. But it is helpful to see what 'church' meant for Jesus. Every day, the Jewish family would get together, recite a part of God's law to remind the adults, and teach the children, who they belonged to. Every Sabbath they would attend the Synagogue to hear the scriptures explained, and to pray. On feast days they would go to the temple to sacrifice and worship. That was normal life for Jesus' family. These were not optional activities; they were part of the DNA of being a Jew.
Those practices became a template for the New Testament church but with some very important differences, because the Old Testament was looking forward to Jesus - who would become the centre-point of worship. The temple worship, which focussed on access to God through sacrifice, was redundant when Jesus became the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. So, the church grew out of the synagogue model - with its emphasis on hearing God's Word explained. In addition, prayers and songs of worship became part of relational fellowship; as did the 'breaking of bread' (the reminder of Jesus' sacrifice). 'Church' was not so much what they did but an expression of who they were.
Although today's church has many culturally appropriate forms, the Acts 2:42 agenda of teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers is still essential for church to be church. None of these elements can be disregarded without compromising our identity in Christ: and receiving God's Word through teaching is foundational. Without it, the church will become a self-centred, sentimental, power grasping club, assuming that it exists for us and not for Christ.
Jesus had none of those delusions, although many religious leaders did! He simply explained that God's Word pointed to Himself, and validated His authority. Perhaps that is why so many people starve themselves of the Word; because it upsets their personal image. They become spiritually anorexic while enjoying a lighter diet of inspiring company and a personalised feel-good factor. Of course, that is the route to spiritual illness. I trust that your commitment to receive Word@Work will be matched by a daily eagerness to let God feed your soul, so that you will be strong against temptation and full of godly wisdom as you go to work each day.
Prayer: Father God. Thank you for wanting to instruct and inspire us. Forgive me when I think that I can manage well enough without joining with others around Your Word, to strengthen my faith and fellowship. May I take fresh delight in regularly meeting with the church, and may I always remember that the church is for Your glory and not my convenience. Help me to find a special identity at work with others who love Jesus, making time to study the Bible together and to pray. Please help me to value Biblical fellowship wherever I can find it, especially if my work involves travelling. Please help me to choose to build this into my identity as a Believer in the Lord Jesus. In His Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Why go to church? Some say it is mainly to worship and fellowship, others feel it helps family bonding and still others say it is to learn from the Bible. These are all reasons to join a congregation. But it is helpful to see what 'church' meant for Jesus. Every day, the Jewish family would get together, recite a part of God's law to remind the adults, and teach the children, who they belonged to. Every Sabbath they would attend the Synagogue to hear the scriptures explained, and to pray. On feast days they would go to the temple to sacrifice and worship. That was normal life for Jesus' family. These were not optional activities; they were part of the DNA of being a Jew.
Those practices became a template for the New Testament church but with some very important differences, because the Old Testament was looking forward to Jesus - who would become the centre-point of worship. The temple worship, which focussed on access to God through sacrifice, was redundant when Jesus became the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. So, the church grew out of the synagogue model - with its emphasis on hearing God's Word explained. In addition, prayers and songs of worship became part of relational fellowship; as did the 'breaking of bread' (the reminder of Jesus' sacrifice). 'Church' was not so much what they did but an expression of who they were.
Although today's church has many culturally appropriate forms, the Acts 2:42 agenda of teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers is still essential for church to be church. None of these elements can be disregarded without compromising our identity in Christ: and receiving God's Word through teaching is foundational. Without it, the church will become a self-centred, sentimental, power grasping club, assuming that it exists for us and not for Christ.
Jesus had none of those delusions, although many religious leaders did! He simply explained that God's Word pointed to Himself, and validated His authority. Perhaps that is why so many people starve themselves of the Word; because it upsets their personal image. They become spiritually anorexic while enjoying a lighter diet of inspiring company and a personalised feel-good factor. Of course, that is the route to spiritual illness. I trust that your commitment to receive Word@Work will be matched by a daily eagerness to let God feed your soul, so that you will be strong against temptation and full of godly wisdom as you go to work each day.
Prayer: Father God. Thank you for wanting to instruct and inspire us. Forgive me when I think that I can manage well enough without joining with others around Your Word, to strengthen my faith and fellowship. May I take fresh delight in regularly meeting with the church, and may I always remember that the church is for Your glory and not my convenience. Help me to find a special identity at work with others who love Jesus, making time to study the Bible together and to pray. Please help me to value Biblical fellowship wherever I can find it, especially if my work involves travelling. Please help me to choose to build this into my identity as a Believer in the Lord Jesus. In His Name. Amen.
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