[This is the manuscript from a liturgy I delivered at my church.  I hope this blesses you to read as it blessed me to write.]

Greeting and Preparation

Leader: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Hello, my name is Paul, and welcome to Liberti: South Philly. We are a community of people–people with struggles, doubts, addictions, and frustrations–who are still in the process of figuring out what it means to believe in this God we believe in, and relate to Him and others in a way that reflects that belief. This may be your first time here or your hundredth, but either way we want to welcome you all and we hope that your time here today is meaningful.

The part of the Christian faith we will be talking about today is that of community and relationships. Most likely all of us in here have our own sets of insecurities, uncertainties, and baggage concerning this topic. Our relationships seem to be the area that can frustrate us like no other; the area that it appears no amount of mere intellectual knowledge can change. It is often the source of our greatest joys, our deepest sorrows, and our most profound change.

As Christians we believe this frustration comes from the fact that we long for relationship at such a deep and existential level; and we long for it at this depth because the God we believe in is a God who exists in a community. The Christian doctrine of the Trinity tells us that our God is a God of relationship at the level of his very essence. Indeed he relates to us–all of us–constantly. Each day and hour of every week He relates to us.

But just as a husband relates to his wife every day throughout he week, but still sets aside time to intentionally draw near and relate deeply with her, so too does God set aside our time today–here, in this place in space and time–as a time of intimating with Him and communing with Him. In a moment we will stand and begin to sing, but this time is not simply the carefree tossing of sentiments and platitudes to the ceiling, nor is it simply some one-way communication. Do not engage in our time today merely looking for insight on how better to live life; nor further motivation to change your behaviors, nor more willpower to stop engaging in the things that haunt you.

No; today our God meets with us! He comes to us here and sings with us, hears with us, gives with us, and feasts with us. We invite you all to to come and partake in this dynamic experience of knowing. See and know His heart for you and this world more deeply. Commune with Him.

Call To Worship

Will you now hear and pray with me these words from Psalm 57 as our God draws us near and we ask Him to draw near to us?:

Leader: Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn.

People: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples, I will sing praises to you among the nations.

Leader: For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the clouds.

People: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.

—Psalm 57:8-11, NRSV

Prayer of Invocation

Father of us all — we thank you that you are a God of community: you both draw us to yourself as you draw us together as a people. You are a God in whom there exists a communion and fellowship that we long for: one of security, grace, constancy, and holiness. We long for that sort of connection with others and it frustrates us when it is fleeting. Forgive us and prepare us to receive you in this sacred space this morning, Father. Allow us to be bold enough to request you meet with us; allow this on the basis, merit, and authority of the blood of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whom we see how far you would go to relate to us. By your Holy Spirit, unite us to Yourself this morning and let us know You better. Amen.

Let us stand and worship our good God.

Songs of Praise

Call to Confession

You may be seated. Hear this gracious invitation from God…

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

— 1 John 1:8-9, NRSV

Prayer of Confession

We now enter into a time of confession. I imagine–with this topic, especially–many of us are probably already thinking ahead to the sermon portion of our time together today and imagining which of our problems, issues, insecurities, or shortcomings might be soon highlighted and summarily condemned. We might be fearing which our countless wounds will have salt poured into them today by the Word of God.

May I suggest that the God of the good news of Jesus Christ is a God who rather sees our wounds and dresses them? In confession, we present God with our deepest wounds: all those things and all that baggage that has already been brought up even in our brief time together so far. Each of us knows what these things are for us. May we present these to God, that we might with a clear mind and undivided heart hear his word for us today and in it find our hope, healing, and home. Pray these words with me:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Now take a few moments to silently confess your sins.

Silent Confession

Words of Encouragement

Look up and hear these words of encouragement as God responds to your confession:

Therefore, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

—from Hebrews 10:19-22

Now stand and sing once more for the freedom and joy found in God’s reconciliation of ourselves with Himself and with those around us.

Passing of the Peace

Sermon

Holy Communion

Offering

Benediction

[I hope this was meaningful for you. Go now in peace to love and serve the Lord]

This is a message I gave at Epiphany Fellowship on August 7th, 2009 in Philadelphia, PA.  The topic was Beauty.  The attached manuscript is the full manuscript.  It is 43 pages long and contains far more information than I was able to give in a 40 minute message.  It includes an appendix where every form of every word in the Greek and Hebrew translated as “Beauty” or “Beautiful” in the English Standard Version of the Bible is ordered by frequency and includes the literal meanings and lexical range of each word.  Here’s the outline:

_______________________

Eternity in Our Heart: The God of Beauty. the Beauty of God

1. Intro: the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen

2. The Text: Ecclesiastes 3:11-15

9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

3. What is Beauty?

4. What is Beautiful?

A. The Triune God is Beautiful

• - God the Father is Beautiful
• - God the Holy Spirit is Beautiful
• - God the Son is Beautiful

B. God’s Creation is Beautiful

C. Humans are Beautiful

D. Humans’ Creations are Beautiful

E. History is Beautiful

5. How do we respond to Beauty? We Contemplate & Enjoy

A. Contemplate

B. Enjoy: How?

• - Praise
• - Participate
• - Procalim

• - Produce

6. Conclusion: The Gospel is Beautiful

GENERAL OUTLINE:

“Faithful Forgiveness”: the Perseverance of Forgiving Saints

TEXT: Matthew 18:21-35

Intro:

• Forgiveness is an interesting thing.
  • Church talks much about it, but doesn’t seem to understand it well
  • I think it’s because the church focuses on the outward sign of sins more than the heart
  • Forgiveness, though, resides almost completely in the heart
  • This makes it more telling of our true state than other sins
  • This is an issue of security

The Big Picture of the Parable:

• Disciples: “Who’s the greatest in the Kingdom?”
  • They have some things right about the Kingdom in asking Jesus this question
  • but, they have some big things wrong
• So Jesus calls a kid to his side
  • Says, “only people like this kid are both in the kingdom and the greatest”
  • You guys aren’t acting like people that are in the kingdom at all.
• Jesus lays out a clear formulae for dealing with other wronging us.
  • Peter still doesn’t get it.  He’s looking for more legalism.
  • So Jesus tells a parable.

The Parable:

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

• There is a king with good news!
  • He wants restored standing with his servants
  • So he “preaches” this good news by placing the weight of punishment on the servant.
• Out of pity, he offers forgiveness
  • the servant doesn’t take it.
  • I don’t think the servant represents a Christian
• He is sent to live among the other servants
  • tries to get a debt paid by another servant
  • when he can’t he throw him in jail
  • The king hears about it
• He Throws the servant into the hands of the jailers into the eternal fire

What do we do with this?  Look back at the context more deeply.

• Jesus says this is an issue of security
• So what does it look liek to live properly in the Kingdom.
• Let’s look back.  Jesus uses the child to show four relational dynamics within the Kingdom.
  • (1) He gives Security: “woe to those who lead this child into temptation.”
  • (2) We fight sin: “if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.”
  • (3) He draws near in our fight: Parable of the lost sheep”
  • (4) We forgive others: “When your brother wrongs you…”
  • It seems that the believer who knows both the security and intimacy of Christ in their fight with their sin will ultimately respond by being willing to forgive others in light of their sin.

How do we know where we are in this?  how do we do it?:

• In relationship
  • the servants true colors were shown after leaving the King’s chamber
  • not on Sunday morning
  • relationships expose who we really are
• Forgiveness, then is a relational issue
  • it’s relational, not legal: it’s about restored relationship, not emotional passivity
  • it’s active, not passive: it requires sacrifice
  • it’s mercy, not justice: we trust God’s wrath, not our own

Conclusion:

• How do we “forgive from the heart”?
• The servant was put somewhere he could “pay all his debt”
• God has ordained two places where our debt can be paid
  • First place, Hell: it’s just and satisfactory
• Second place, the Cross
  • Where Christ took on the wrath due us for our debt
  • This purchases for us security, we then fight sin, and he draws near.
• Our hearts preach what they believe about God
  • when we don’t forgive, we are thinking the cross wasn’t sufficient to secure us
  • nor give proper wrath against sins against us
  • this is suppose to hearken us back to our own debt, and then to God
• So as it is in the parable, so it is even now
  • we have a king with good news who wants to be in restored relationship with us
  • will we not trust him?
  • repent and turn to your savior.

Intro: Proverbs 18:1

• it is foolish to do this alone

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1. Unity:

Ephesians 2:13-18

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

a. Jesus died for it:

• to bring both us and Glory to Himself (v.13)

• Why? To make peace, create one new man, and reconcile us (vv.15-16)

b. It’s necessary for God’s work (vv. 21-22)

in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

• To display his wisdom and Glory from the inside of us

c. It’s necessary for our work

• with Non-Christians (3:1,10)

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles . . . so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

• with Christians (2:13-15)

1. that we might grow together
2. yes, even in doctrine (4:13-16)

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

__________________________

2. Diversity:

Revelation 5:9-10

9 And they sang a new song, saying, ”Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

a. Jesus died for it (v.9)

b. It’s necessary for God’s work (v. 10)

• to establish His kingdom

c. It’s necessary for our work

• with non-Christians (v.9)

1. “ransomed from every nation” (no “men” in the Gk, emphasizing diversity)

1. His desire for diversity makes Evangelism possible! (Mt. 28:18)

• with Christians (v.10)

1. we will reign and rule together, in differing roles “kingdom” and “priests”

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3. Practical Stuff:

Romans 12:3-6

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

Ephesians 4:1-7

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

a. “walk”

b. “bearing with eachother”

• get thick skins

c. “eager”

• desire to do whatever it takes

d. Don’t forget about diversity! (v.7 – “but . . .”)

• It’s good (“purposeful” & “manifold” – many colored)

• Galatians 2:8-9 – it’s okay we don’t hang out with everyone

e. Not just race

• even just among our own differences person to person

• it’s gonna take time, sacrifice, tough skin

• what it means, what it doesn’t mean

__________________________

4. Worship:

Romans 12:1

“yourselves” (pl) as “a living sacrifice” (sing)

Proverbs 28:1

“when the righteous [pl] are as bold as a [sing] lion”

• “bold”: to trust, have confidence in, to be secure in, to make secure, to feel safe.

other verses with that word in it that have to do with worship:

• Psalm 28:7

• Psalm 33:21

• Psalm 82:8

v.1 – “Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!”

• Faithfulness and righteousness are the basis of His answer to us.
• Righteousness = will fulfill His promises. Duh. but righteousness? His faithfulness flows from His righteousness that He must answer us and be faithful to us because He loves righteousness. It is the fact that He cannot accept us as we are and must faithfully make us right with him, that He may answer

v.2 – “Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.”

• Our ability to approach God is based on His righteousness, not ours
• Also, this is a plea, assuming that God would be absolutely just to enter into His judgment on David.

v.3 – “For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.”

• I know this feeling

v.5 – “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.”

• In response to Satan’s attacks, what did David do?
• Remember – cognitive recall of Redemptive History on Earth
• Meditate – introspective dwelling on past grace in our lives
• Ponder – Thinking through connecting the two above things to see how God has brought you to this place. (Figuring things out)

v.6 – “I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.”

• Result – Praise & Longing (lust) for God.
• [side note: implication - parched land longs for God. It doesn’t say "I long for You like dry land for water" (although he does in Ps. 63). This is just interesting, Romans 8 - nature groans for redemption.]
• Selah – pause & consider

v.7 – “Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.”

• Even after praise & desire, the fight continues
• Because desire does not force God’s hand to move, but moves his heart to act for our good. Sometimes, that’s by not yet coming so we might:
  • a- long for him more
  • b- be able to relate to those unsaved
  • c- to know our helpless estate is like the unregenerate.

v.8 - “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

• Our trust in Him (faith) is the grounds of us knowing His steadfast love
• This is our part – faith. It is what we do in this. This is the key!
• The 2nd part of our part is surrender – the outworking of our faith – the practical side of faith
• It is in our surrender He shows us which way to go. We don’t do this to figure out God’s “will.”

Text:

• Psalm 143
• A PSALM OF DAVID.
• 1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
• give ear to my pleas for mercy!
• In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
• 2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
• for no one living is righteous before you.
• 3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
• he has crushed my life to the ground;
• he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
• 4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
• my heart within me is appalled.
• 5 I remember the days of old;
• I meditate on all that you have done;
• I ponder the work of your hands.
• 6 I stretch out my hands to you;
• my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
• 7 Answer me quickly, O LORD!
• My spirit fails!
• Hide not your face from me,
• lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
• 8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
• for in you I trust.
• Make me know the way I should go,
• for to you I lift up my soul.
• 9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!
• I have fled to you for refuge!
• 10 Teach me to do your will,
• for you are my God!
• Let your good Spirit lead me
• on level ground!
• 11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life!
• In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
• 12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
• and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
• for I am your servant.

[I gave this to a group of fourth graders (If I recall correctly) while I was a freshman in high school (or something like that).  I put this up just for novelty.  This certainly is not up to my standard theologically nor rhetorically.  But, I hope it edifies someone, somewhere, at sometime.]

1.    Icarus’ Story

a.    Tell the story – Add a lot of detail, pull them into the story

2.    Our inadequacies

a.    Tell of that cultures have stories/religions based around our inadequacies as humans

i.    Icarus

ii.    Buddha- must reach “Nirvana” before you can join Buddha

iii.    Old Testament- Sacrifices helped bridge gap between God and humans

iv.    Islam- “5 pillars of faith”-must do them in order to join Allah

v.    Hare Krishna- They must be worshiping until their God picks them up by hair

b.    Transition into illustrations

i.    Person gives you $80,000 Rolls Royce in appreciation, you give them a dime

ii.    North American will be destroyed, we all run to West Coast to swim to Hawaii

c.    Why do we have inadequacies?

i.    Our lives were perfect, until we screwed it up, now we have sin nature

ii.    Sin Nature- Not tendency to “do bad things”, but thoughts of individuality

iii.    In S.S., you learn Jesus is your friend BESIDE you, he should be IN you

3.    God Wants You

a.    Why can’t he have you as you are?

i.    He’s reaching out for us, but our sin keeps us from him

ii.    God and sin CANNOT be together, they are complete opposites

iii.    Read Psalm 49:7,8 – Tell how it relates to Roles Royce story

iv.    Read Isaiah 41:22a – Before we are saved, this is how God sees us

b.    Why can’t works help you?

i.    Read Ephesians 2:8,9 – It’s a gift.

ii.    Relate it to the Hawaii story

1.    how Jesus is a boat and everyone would rather swim

iii.    The gap between us and God is too large to bridge with works

iv.    It’s A natural assumption caused by the World and Satan – Read Rom. 9:31,32

v.    What’s the limit – A murderer can’t go to heaven but a cheater can?

c.    Do works help you “earn” forgiveness?

i.    Read Titus 3:4,5 we have forgiveness through mercy not right

4.    Do Works Matter at all?

a.    Yes – But you must be equipped to do them Read 2 Timothy 3:16,17

b.    Not just with the Word though, Read 1 Peter 2:24

5.    What if you just don’t care?

a.    Every feeling you have, God experienced on the cross –1 Pet 2:24 again and John 16:33

i.    He overcame the world and bore our sins – He became tainted for us

ii.    Accept him because he accepted you, not just to go to heaven or not go to Hell

6.    If Wax wings Don’t work, what will?

a.    Read John 14:6 – “Except through me” – Not through good works

b.    Read Ecclesiastes 1:14 – Are you chasing after the wind? Trying to reach the son?

c.    You don’t have to use your own wings – Use God’s

d.    Read Isaiah 40:31 – You can be on wings like eagles, not wings like Icarus.

e.    By . . . (Do invitation)

Verses:
7No man can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for him–
8the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough–
(Psalm 49:7,8)

24  But you are less than nothing  and your  works  are utterly worthless;  (Isaiah 41:22a)

8  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–  9  not by works , so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

31  but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.  32  Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by  works . They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.” (Romans 9:31,32)

4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
(Titus 3:4,5)

16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24) (emphasis added)

24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24) (emphasis added)

33″I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.   (John 14:6)

14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
(Ecclesiastes 1:14)

31but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:31)