Last Sunday, we began a seven week sermon series on the Letter of Ephesians in which the Apostle Paul teaches us about seven key ways to have a varsity level faith. The first key way is through weekly worship. Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians with words of worship:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ..." - Ephesians 1:3a
What a way to begin a letter! Instead of starting with the usual, "How are you doing?" "I've been meaning to write to you." "How's your church doing?" Paul begins his letter with words of worship. It sounds like Paul is trying to tell us something here. Worship is important!
Worship can be inspiring, moving, and deeply touching, and at times, it can make us laugh when we least expect it. Just think about the bulletin bloopers that get forwarded in emails. I shared two of my favorite bulletin bloopers during my sermon this past Sunday.
"Ushers will eat latecomers."
"Please do not heave during the organ postlude."
Pastors are known to get a little tongue-tied during their sermons. For example, just a few months ago, I referred to one of our youth as "Harrison Ford."
One of my home pastors was known to use the word, "lesbians" when what she really meant to say was "Lebanese."
During an ordination service several years ago, I could swear that as our Bishop was laying his hands on one of the ordinands, he said something about "aardvarks."
During a children's sermon, a child said that the reason his father doesn't attend church is because he likes to sleep in on Sunday. That father never lived that one down! By the way, I'm sure a whole book could be published with funny things kids say during children's sermons.
Now, why would anybody decide to not attend worship when they might miss out on all kinds of spontaneous worship bloopers? Worship is too important to miss! It's our opportunity to worship our Creator and Redeemer!
And besides, it would just be awful if you miss church one Sunday and later that week, someone says to you,
"You missed a good one this past Sunday. You won't believe what the preacher let slip during his sermon!"
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