Weekly "Call To Worship" Encouragement

We’ve been discussing the word gospel during the Bible class that Howard has been teaching. Howard reminded us that the Greek word gospel euangelion (yoo-ang-ghel-ee-on) was a word that Jesus’ audience was very familiar with. It was used as part of an imperial announcement of a new king or emperor. Gospel was also the good news of a military victory, a victory announcement.

Back in those days when the Greek city-states had a battle they would send the army out and wait for a word. If the battle was won, they would celebrate. If lost, they would pack in a hurry and flee, because they knew the enemy would be coming soon to claim its prize.

So picture it like a movie scene. The camera pans out to a dot on the horizon, zoom in, it’s a young man, running carrying a spear and a laurel wreath. The Dolby surround sound picks up his breathing. He comes into view from the city wall, the anxious eyes are fixed on him and they hear him yelling something (I’ll use English), it’s GOSPEL, GOSPEL, GOSPEL!! The crowd erupts into yelling and cheering because the army is victorious. 

Now I know many of you, if not most of you, have been to a sporting event and have cheered for your team, a touchdown, a homerun, a 3 point basket, a winning score. I know that at Seahawks games it is so loud, many wear ear protection. It was so loud during a certain Marshawn Lynch touchdown run that it was measured on the nearest seismic station and is known as the Beast Quake.    

This is our call to worship. We are gathered here this morning to celebrate a victory that we have in common, but that we can never achieve for ourselves. Jesus achieved this victory on the cross, by His death, burial, and resurrection. Our victory through Jesus Christ unites us and motivates us, and carries us forward to eternity. Let’s read about it.  

1 Corinthians 15:

50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

And the church says: Amen! I hope you are inspired because I want you to do more than say amen. I’m going to say Gospel three times and then I want everyone to stand and cheer! I know you can do this. Ready? Seriously, I want the neighbors to hear us. We have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

GOSPEL, GOSPEL, GOSPEL!!!!!

Church, life on this earth, can be a struggle, but please don’t be discouraged, please don’t give up. We are here to worship the one who has assured us victory. Let’s pray together.

Father in heaven, we give you praise. Thank you for fighting our battles, and thank you for the victory we have in Jesus Christ. Father we confess, that we forget this, and we get discouraged, and we feel, and act defeated. Father we repent. Help us to get back up, dust ourselves off and keep going. Help us Lord to stand firm, and help us to serve you knowing that our service is not in vain. Father we pray that our songs, our words, our thoughts, and our actions are pleasing in your sight. We worship you now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.