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Showing posts from August 14, 2011

The Supreme Ambition of the Church

Scripture is clear: the supreme ambition of the Church is not edification, not missions, not evangelism, not nickels and noses. The supreme ambition of the Church (what a congregation treasures above all, and relishes) is the worship of God. In fact you should be able to say that about everything a congregation does. The supreme ambition of Sunday School, catechizing, mercy ministry, missions, evangelizing: is to draw children, teens, adults (and ultimately all creation) into the worship of God, through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit. If you’re asking, “Where does Scripture make this clear?” then here is a small sampling. “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD (Psalm 150.6)!” This concluding verse of the final Psalm charges all creatures and creation to worship God. “Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with singing” (Psalm 100.1-2). This Psalm begins with an edict for “all lands” that they “serve” the Lo