Thursday, June 19, 2014

Emmaus City Liturgy | Sunday, June 15, 2014 – Covenant & Kingdom VII: God Transforms Sordid Stories into Redemptive Tales

Emmaus City Church Liturgy Covenant and Kingdom First Sermon Series Part 7 Worcester MA Acts 29 Soma Missional Communities

Emmaus City Liturgy – Celebrating Jesus and Being Part of His Story


For previous Covenant & Kingdom liturgies, click on the links below:


These posts will feature the themes, verses, hymns and songs (audio and lyrics), and prayers we enjoy together each Sabbath gathering. Key notes from the sermons will also be included.

Curious to know more? Want to spend some time with us? Don't hesitate. Contact us and come join us. In the meantime, enjoy the readings and listening to the songs below.

WORSHIP THROUGH CELEBRATION, REFLECTION, SONG, AND PRAYER

 Celebration Moment 

“Sabbath-keeping is more than time management. It is a fresh orientation of time, where we think with holy imagination about how the arc of our moments and hours and days intersects with eternity. ‘Teach us to number our days aright,’ Moses asked God, ‘that we may gain a heart of wisdom’ (Psalm 90:12). Teach us that this is not just another day of the week, but the day that the Lord has made. … For only those who number their days aright gain wise hearts. Only they become God’s sages: those calm, unhurried people who live in each moment fully, savoring simple things, celebrating small epiphanies, unafraid of life’s inevitable surprises and reverses, adaptive to change yet not chasing after it. Able to pray with those who pray.” – Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God
 
  Welcome and The Lord’s Prayer
From Jesus in Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy.
May Your Kingdom come, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us today the food we need, and 
Forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from evil.
(For Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.)


Prepare our hearts, O God.
Help us to receive.
Break the hard
And stony ground.
Help our unbelief.

Plant Your Word
Down deep in us.
Cause it to bear fruit.
Open up our ears to hear.
Lead us in Your truth. 

Show us Christ. (2x)
O God, reveal Your glory
Through the preaching
Of Your Word
Until every heart confesses
Christ is Lord. 

Your Word is living light
Upon our darkened eyes,
Guards us through temptations,
Makes the simple wise.

Your Word is food
For famished ones,
Freedom for the slave,
Riches for the needy soul,
Come speak to us today. 
(Repeat Chorus) 

Where else can we go, Lord?
Where else can we go?
You have the words
Of eternal life. (4x) 
(Repeat Chorus)


WORSHIP THROUGH HEARING, LISTENING, AND DISCUSSING

 God with Us // Covenant and Kingdom VII
  God Transforms Sordid Stories into Redemptive Tales
  
Often times in stories, a hero is presented for the audience to cheer for, but someone else ends up stealing the show. Take Star Wars, for instance. While the tale is about the Skywalkers, most people remember Han Solo as their favorite, the shoot-first smuggler and "stuck up, half-witted, scruffy looking nerfherder." Or with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, while Frodo is the one who carries the ring, Strider, the ranger from the North captures our interest despite the hobbits' suspicion, causing Frodo to say "I think a servant of the Enemy would look fairer and feel fouler."

In similar ways, while Joseph's story takes up Genesis 37-50 in the first book of the Scriptures, Judah becomes a fascinating character in the narrative. Here's what his father, Israel, has to say about him as we near the end of his story:

Israel blesses Judah – Genesis 49:9-12

9 Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? 
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
 nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
 until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. 
11 Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,
he has washed his garments in wine 
and his vesture in the blood of grapes. 
12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

This blessing seems fit for a great son, with declarations fit for a king. And yet, when we begin with Judah's story, we find someone very different.

Growing up attending a legalistic religious school, chapters in the Bible like Genesis 38 were usually looked at in two ways. It was either looked at as funny, smirking and sarcastically laughing at it like adolescent boys because how in the world could such a chapter be in the Bible. Or it was looked at as frightening, as in how do adults use "the Good Book" to teach kids about God when you have to maneuver around wicked men, semen spilling, pagan prostitutes, incest, adultery, and vowing self-righteous vengeance through burning at the stake.   

And yet, this is the beginning of Judah's story. I've never heard anyone preach on this passage, no less preaching on Father's Day with Judah as a great example considering God Himself took the lives of two out his three sons because they were so wicked. But instead of considering this "funny" or "frightening," I think Judah's story helps us get real with a God who isn't distant from or bewildered by stark sin, but can step into even the most sordid situations to change a heart.


1) Covenant: Walking with Judah Means Being Counted with a Family Who Needs Grace

Judah proposes to sell Joseph – Genesis 37:26-28
26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.
28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt. 
Judah has two wicked sons that are so wicked, God takes their lives; he sleeps with a pagan prostitute,  his daughter-in-law in disguise who he impregnates; and then he threatens to kill her – Genesis 38

Genesis 38 continues the whole-Bible theme of God using the most unique and unlikely characters to reveal the wonder of His redemption. Judah takes a Canaanite wife and has three sons by her. The first son is so wicked that God puts him to death; the second, Onan, refuses to fulfill his obligation as a brother-in-law in providing the continuation of Tamar's family and inheritance, probably because he doesn’t want to diminish his sons’ inheritance, and is also put to death by God. Later, after Judah has grieved losing his own wife, he goes looking for sex with a friend. 

Because Judah didn't give his third son to Tamar as he should have, Tamar dresses in disguise as a prostitute to tempt Judah himself to do what none of his sons could. Judah sees her, mistakenly thinks his daughter-in-law is a pagan temple prostitute, impregnates her, and orders her death when he later discovers she is pregnant. However, she has his belongings from their rendezvous and the road and he relents declaring Tamar "more righteous" than himself.

 In this story, we have three characters dealing with their situation in three distinct ways:

 1) Onan – He doesn't like the authority put over him. It's his responsibility to listen to his father to help continue his sister-in-law's family, but instead, he has sex with Tamar, but pulls out in order to not impregnate her. He'll only do so much, but he doesn't need to fully listen to his father, fully help his sister-in-law, or fully serve anyone else. He's more interested in what he gets out of it and protecting his own.  So he acts like he's being obedient and following the rules, but he has his own agenda in order to keep what's owed him instead of having to share with Tamar.

2) Tamar – She has been wronged multiple times. She had a wicked husband who gave her no children, so her first marriage was a disaster. Then the man who is supposed to redeem the situation by giving her children takes advantage of her. He has sex with her, but pulls out in order not to be responsible for her or her kids. Then he dies. Instead of praying to God for help or approaching Judah to see if his third son will do what Onan wouldn't, she decides to take control of the situation for herself. So she puts on a new face to get from Judah what she deserves. She's not going to wait for justice to be given. She's going to take what she thinks she's owed.

3) Judah – He is the son of Jacob, the one who received the covenant promises of God Himself, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is a family man who seemingly loved his wife and had three sons. But after two of his sons don't turn out well and his wife dies, he figures he's paid his dues. He doesn't need to serve Tamar anymore by having his last son continue her family line. And he can go away after a traumatic turn of events to have fun with a friend and get some action on the side. He's been faithful long enough. A little secret sin won't hurt anyone as long as they don't know about it.

More than likely, each of us can best be described by one of the above in how we react to adverse situations in our own lives:

  • Are you like Onan? Do you disregard authority when it asks more of you than you're willing to give? Do you pull out when things get uncomfortable, or when you're asked to do something that benefits someone else more than you? Are you only willing to be obedient or listen so much or so far, but then do your own thing when it comes down to it?

  • Are you like Tamar? Have you been taken advantage of and harbor pain and bitterness? Do you feel like you're owed something by someone? Instead of waiting on God's justice, do you go out seeking ways to get what you think you deserve from others? Do you take things from them only to reveal later that you thought they owed you?

  • Are you like Judah? Have you been "religiously faithful" for a long time and it's worn you down? Do you feel like you've done the obedience thing long enough and it's not really worth it much anymore? Do you put on a good face for others, but secretly keep some secret sins on the side, figuring what people don't know won't hurt them? Do you retaliate with religious zeal when you find out others have messed up or deceived you?

Another key question to ask is not only who are you more like, but who do you tend to judge the most? 

In considering who we are like and who we like to judge, we see how quickly we can turn away from God's grace and His ability to step into our own sordid stories and the stories of others to bring His grace. We can instead try to cover up or ignore our faults and write our own judgments for those who sin differently than we do.

We need to remember Onan, Tamar, and Judah's story is the story of the family God made promises to, the family whose story He chose to step into and reveal His redemptive plan. And if this is true, than this family's story is our story if we receive God's grace through His great plan. 
"If you say: I believed in God, I trusted God, and He didn't come through, you only trusted God to meet your agenda." 
– Timothy Keller

  
2) Covenant & Kingdom: Walking with Judah Means Welcoming in Sacrifice and Restoration to Shape Your Life

Judah promises to protect Benjamin – Genesis 43:8-9, 15
8 And Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.
9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. …
15 So the men took this present, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They arose and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.
Judah gives his life away for Benjamin and Israel's sake – Genesis 44:30-34
30 (Judah) “Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy's life,
31 as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.
32 For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ 33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”

As we later see, Judah begins to live out of a redemptive tale after his secret sin is revealed by Tamar and his grandsons are born. Now he is humbly serving others more than himself  

  • Here is the Covenant blessing Judah realizes: being part of this family means he is connected to them and his actions are not his own. He is in relationship with God and them. They give him his identity and he begins to live for them instead of himself. Judah chooses sacrifice over selfishness. Instead of asking for someone's life, like he did with Tamar, now he lays his life down for his brothers.

  • Here is the Kingdom paradox Judah demonstrates: restoration comes only when he surrenders to others and the One who can  bring true redemption. God is working in Judah what He plans to do through Judah. Judah is learning true righteousness by being in right relationship with the brother he wronged and the family he loves. He is taking responsibility for others and representing the heart of not only his younger brother who now rules over him with grace and generosity, but ultimately the Servant King who will one day come through Judah's family.

By giving up his own agenda, Judah will be given power that will last forever through the Lion of Judah who will come through his "illegitimate" grandsons.

"We serve a gracious Master who knows how to overrule even our mistakes to His own glory and our own advantage." 
– John Newton

  • Do you view your life as your own to do with as you want?
  • Who might God be revealing to you that you could instead choose to sacrifice for?
  • Where is there need for restoration in your life?
  • Do you trust that God offers forgiveness and reconciliation for you? If He can give that to you, do you see where He might want to bring forgiveness and reconciliation through you?


3) Kingdom: Walking with Judah Means Seeing the Humility of King Jesus Birthed in You

Judah receives a great blessing – Genesis 49:9-12
9 Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
 He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, 
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
 until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
11 Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,
 he has washed his garments in wine
and his vesture in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.

The firstborn of Judah and Tamar's illegitimate twins is Perez, from whom will come Boaz, who marries Ruth, a Moabite. Boaz and Ruth will be the ancestors of David, from whose line will come Jesus the Messiah (Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:5).

This is a stunning work of God's redemption. Jesus, God in human form, chose to come from Judah's family. So through Judah's line, people have continued to give him honor and obedience, even though Judah was a man of dishonor and disobedience. But God didn't give up on Judah. He wanted to fill him up with His mercy and cleanse him with His blood. 

How did God do this for Judah? Through Jesus. 
How can He do this for you? Through Jesus.
How? Because Jesus is the true and better Judah who lays down his life for His Father and his brothers and sisters so that they might be reconciled to each other and filled in a time of famine.

There's no rewind. There's only redeem. 
Do you see the possibilities of what God can do in you and through you? 
How could God shape your life like He shaped Judah's, from a sordid story into a redemptive tale? 

WORSHIP THROUGH COMMUNION AND SONGS 
2011 A.D. 


In my place, 
He stood condemned.
He who knew no sin
Became sin for us
That we might become
His righteousness. 

Bearing all my sin and shame,
The punishment and blame.
He conquered the grave
That we might become
The heirs of grace. 

In my place, Jesus died,
The spotless Lamb
Laid down His life.
The wrath of God was satisfied.
In my place, Jesus died.
(Repeat Verses 1 and 2, Chorus) 

Bridge
 Nail pierced hands, bleeding side,
His body bruised, my God crucified.
A crown of thorns, dying cries,
His flesh was torn,
My God crucified. 
(Repeat) 

Hallelujah, what a Savior! (4x) 
(Repeat Chorus)


 Glorious Grace
By Austin Stone Music
2014 A.D. 

God I need You, I need You, I need You,
Every breath, every pulse of my heart.
Christ have mercy, have mercy, let mercy abound,
I need you, I need you now. 

God pour out Your grace, glorious grace
That I would be held by Your perfect embrace!
I am undeserving, You are high and worthy,
\All of my praise for this glorious grace! 

God I’m longing, I’m longing to see You,
In Your presence all darkness will fade.
Shine Your glory, Your glory, let glory surround,
I’m longing to see You now. 
(Chorus Repeat) 

Bridge 
God Your grace like rising seas
Has swallowed death and sin in me!
Out of darkness into light
My soul You woke, I’m raised to life!
Glory to my God who saves,
Jesus Christ, my glorious grace!
Glory to my God who saves,
Jesus Christ, my glorious grace! 

God I worship, I worship, I worship You
For Your glory, my all in all.
You are worthy, You’re worthy, You’re worthy
I worship, I worship You.
God I need You, I need You now.



WORSHIP THROUGH SENDING

Apostles' Creed
390 A.D.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. 
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, 
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died and buried. 
He descended to the dead. The third day he rose again from the dead. 
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
And He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayer of Mission

Benediction 

"The LORD your God is in your midst, a Mighty One who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you by His love;
He will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17

Next Sermon series: Facets of the Gospel I: Redemption


– Sully
 
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Location: Worcester, MA, USA

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