The Husband
- Mark Lauterbach
- Sep 16, 2008
- Series: Church Meeting
The church is the bride of Christ. He loved the church and gave himself for her says Paul, in calling husbands to do the same. He died to make her holy and he washes her with the Word. He nourishes and cherishes her as well.
This last Sunday we took that image and relaed it to our Sunday meeting. What happens when we gather? Our heavenly husband, who bore our sin on the cross, calls his bride together each Sunday. As she comes, he is present to nourish and cherish her. He does this through the ministry of the Word, and sacrament, and prayer, and song.
But he also does so through the service of people in the details of Sunday. There are babies to care for, and children to teach. There are greeters at the parking lot and at the door. There are ushers to take offerings and air conditioning to turn on and off. What they do is not a necessary evil. It is not a "chore" -- those details serve to accent the significance of our gathering. Done well, they make the ministry of the Word effective.
We want to honor those who serve each Sunday. Serving is not a chore. Changing diapers is not just a duty. It is an expression of Christ's care -- it reveals his rich grace.