Terms of endearment are deeply rooted in Scripture. Two terms God calls us are his "vineyard" and his "temple." We are plants and stones stacked together into a royal dwelling place!In the OT, Israel was God's beloved vineyard (land). Land was the symbol for the nation. God loved the land . We (the church) are God's tender vineyard. (1 Cor 3:9) Keep your roots watered and planted in fertile soil so that you may grow and produce a good crop. The means of grace God gives us to water and nourish our roots are prayer, His Word and His Sacraments...use these helps and grow.
In the OT, God resided in the temple most holy place....now, we are his temple...he resides in us individually and corporately. Temple and mission are deeply connected. In the beginning Solomon had a universal vision that all nations would come to the temple and worship. "The nations shall flow into it (the temple)." Isaiah 54 tells us to enlarge the temple, "stretch out your tent"---make it bigger--the nations are coming in. The church is a house of prayer for all nations.
Mission: What might God be calling me to do to "pull up the cords" and expand the kingdom? By God's grace we are going to do something about the brokenness in the world. Find places where God' love is needed, go and be the temple shekinah glory there. Be the temple presence "organically" as well. Constantly keep your eyes open for need. We are launched out into the world to extend the borders of God's tent.
Community: We are stones stacked on one another...God's temple stones builded together. The rule for church life is let all thing be done for "edification" of the body. An edifice is an architectural term. We are to be building up one another...not tearing down. The greatest tragedy of the OT was the destruction of the temple. When you mistreat your fellow Christian you are sinning against the temple of the Lord. It is an act of sacrilege. We are being Babylonian invaders committing acts of sacrilege when we bite and tear down one another. God takes His church very seriously. The essence of sin is ME, ME, ME...the essence of love is OTHERS, OTHERS, OTHERS. Stay connected and involved in others' lives. No one is perfect, but we can walk alongside one another as we find a common purpose and live together in mission to advance the kingdom of our Lord.
We are God's vineyard and God's temple in worship, mission and community. Sunday is the first day of the week where we are prepared for the week ahead through participation in covenant renewal worship. God calls us, forgives us, feeds us and sends us out. We are to spring forth being intentionally missional, united in Christ and empowered by His Spirit. He is with us every step of the way.
Praise the LORD!
Sermon Notes from Sunday, May 8, 2010
Pastor Rich Lusk
Trinity Presbyterian Church
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