[Sunday Sermon] Church and Worship
“18 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. 19 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.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”
Worship began as humanity’s attempt to draw near to God after sin caused separation between humanity and God. In the Old Testament, sacrifices were acts of devotion aimed at restoring the relationship with God through the forgiveness of sins. Likewise, the church began as a community of those who confessed Jesus Christ as Lord, with its essence rooted in relationship with God.
The early church started in the upper room of Mark’s house, gathering around the Word and fellowship under the presence of the Holy Spirit. Over time, the church became officially recognized and grew larger, shifting toward a focus on buildings and forms. The Reformation was a movement to bring the church back to being centered on Scripture and faith. Even today, although the outward form of the church continues to evolve, its core remains unchanged: a community that worships God and offers their whole lives to Him.
As technology and society rapidly advance, the church’s forms and worship methods have also changed. Online worship and even worship within the metaverse have emerged. However, the church must still be a community that bears the cross and follows the Lord. The church must not cling to mere forms but must safeguard its essence—living as a spiritual offering, dedicating our entire lives to God. The Lord Himself established the church and promised that the gates of Hades would not overcome it.
The church must live in anticipation of the Lord’s return, remembering that He will repay each person according to what they have done. We are called to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and to offer our whole lives as spiritual worship. Although the path is not easy and sometimes demands sacrifice and devotion, it is the way to share in the glory with the Lord. Even amidst the rapidly changing times, we must stand firmly on the unchanging foundation of faith, aspiring to become a true church and true worshippers whose entire lives are offered to God.
Prayer: Lord, though we live lives where we cannot see even a step ahead, we trust in You who have established Your church and remain with it. Though we are weak and lacking now, transform us in You to become a church that reveals Your glory and believers who offer true spiritual sacrifices through their lives. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)