Chip Stam, Director of the Institute for Christian Worship at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary publishes a weekly Worship Quote. You can get on his list at wqotw.org. Here it is for this week:
Today’s WORSHIP QUOTE presents three brief passages from the Gospel of Matthew. We know that all of Jesus’ teachings are true and good and perfect; but these three have somehow been referred to as great–the Great Confession, the Great Commandment, and the Great Commission. What do these familiar texts tell us about Christian worship?
CHRISTIAN WORSHIP: THE GREAT CONFESSION
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
–Matthew 16:13-20, NIV
CHRSITIAN WORSHIP: THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
–Matthew 22:34-40, NIV
CHRISTIAN WORSHIP: THE GREAT COMMISSION
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
–Matthew 28:16-20, NIV
I am so excited about using lifewayworship. It is a great asset to our very small but growing church. Perfect timing with our pianist away with family for the first time off in over a year. The help desk has walked us thru this process step by step. Thank you to all involved.
In Jesus Name Irene
My number is adding this experience to my story.