The Priestly Duty of Proclamation

by Laura Springer, M.Div., Th.M., Ph.D. 

Key Verses: Matthew 5:13-16; Luke 10:11; Romans 1:16-17; Colossians 4:2-6; 1 Peter 3:14b-17

Key Idea: The priestly duty of proclamation accurately and clearly declares Jesus as the one crucial message in a world filled with polarizing passions.

We live in a world of polarizing and passionate causes. There are many good things to say. But there is only one necessary thing to say: Jesus is Lord, and only Jesus saves. Every official word we speak must center on this good news, and this good news must be the measure of all we declare. Unless the good news of Jesus is our primary concern and message, everything else about church is meaningless.

Make sure the message is accurate and clear. Eternity is on the line, and eternity gives meaning to life. Therefore, our message about Jesus must be accurate and clear. Our proclamation is accurate when it flows from our immersion in Scripture. The message is clear when spoken in the languages and cultures surrounding us. But accuracy and clarity are still not enough. We must proclaim Jesus with gentleness and grace to respect the hearers without ever compromising the truth about Jesus.

Focus on Christ in all things. Everything about us is all about Christ, or it should be. We learn to focus on Jesus by reflecting on his glory in straightforward, correct ways and sharing what we know with others. When everything around us prioritizes human concerns, we proclaim Jesus. When those around us speak against us, we proclaim Jesus. Therefore, let us focus on Christ and choose to be ready with his truth no matter the surrounding circumstances.

Live Christ in every direction. Worship is life; it is not merely a gathering on Sunday morning. Our everyday actions and regular words shine the love and glory of Jesus in ways that others will understand. Whole-life worship speaks through the cultures and languages surrounding us and tells the truth about Jesus clearly and accurately.  As whole-life worshipers, we immerse ourselves in his Word in the company of our brothers and sisters so our lives and words might proclaim and portray Jesus wherever we are. We help one another become whole-life reflections of Jesus so we may influence others toward Jesus’s Kingdom, proclaiming and portraying him at every favorable moment. We hold one another as friends and siblings, knowing each other well enough to help one another be better proclaimers. As priests of God, we proclaim the good news without hesitation through every aspect of life, work, and speech to make known God’s gift of life in Christ.

The good news of Jesus is eternally weighty, and our proclamation of that good news ought to be driven by that weight, moved forward by God’s intention, and focused on Jesus. Jesus, our Great High Priest, Savior, and Lord, is our primary message and the perspective through which we understand the polarizing passions that fill our culture. Therefore, let us take every favorable moment to proclaim and portray him. Let us place his Kingdom above all other concerns, evaluating all we do as priests by his measure. Let us center our declarations on Jesus, align our lives with Jesus, and measure our success by Jesus. Let us be a community of passionate, worshiping priests who proclaim him out of our deepening knowledge of him and toward his glory.

The Priestly Duty of Praise

by Laura Springer, M.Div., Th.M., Ph.D. 

Key Passages: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 40:5; 150:1-6; Malachi 11:10; Colossians 3:16-17; Revelation 5:6-10

 

Key Idea: Praise is our description of God proclaimed for his glory in ways that build up fellow believers and point outsiders to him.

Musical praise is great, but it is not enough. Bands and choirs, drums and organs are some of the tools we use to praise God together. But if we make any one of them a requirement, we are missing the most important thing about praise. Praise is declaring and displaying the truth about God so that others might see his glory and praise him now and forever. 

We praise God to bring him glory. Praise describes God to God for his glory. It is an intimate and awe-filled proclamation of our love and respect for him, sometimes in words and always in action. Praise is our duty as priests, for his greatness and love compel us. It is our joy because God has given us more than we can describe. Because we take praise seriously, we spend time in his presence, enjoying his Word and talking with him about life. We praise him when we are gathered and when we are alone. We praise him when we are going about our daily lives and when we are learning about him as we study his Word together. 

We praise God to build up fellow believers. Praise describes God before our fellow believers so all might grow to love and serve him better. It declares what we know to be true about God from our study of Scripture. It models love for God across generations and cultures, across styles and preferences. It shapes how we see and treat one another. It helps bind us together as God’s family, sisters and brothers working together to carry out our priestly sacrifices of praise.

We praise God to point outsiders to Jesus. Praise displays God's grace and goodness before outsiders so they might give him glory. It declares the truth about God in regular words and displays God’s greatness in regular actions. Praise uses character, emotion, and action to form a setting in which outsiders might turn toward God and hear the good news of Jesus.

Praise does not need a band, though bands are great. It does not need a choir, though choirs are great. Praise has one basic ingredient: our love for God. Our love for him is our response to his love for us, and praise is our decision to show that love through trust and obedience. It is our ongoing decision to be his priests and to carry our sacrifices of praise into his presence whenever and wherever. It is seeing the universe and its people as the creation of our glorious God and living out that glory in every action and word.

The Priestly Duties of Christians: Introduction

Key Passages: Romans 8:26-30; Colossians 3:16-17; 1 Peter 3:14b-17

Key Idea: Since Christians are priests with a duty to declare the truth in worship, testify to the truth in public, and talk with God truthfully about everything, let us immerse ourselves in his Word of truth and serve wherever we are with our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Our identity is in Christ, our Great High Priest, and our duty is to him. He has called us as priests, and our service is toward him. Each Christian has the responsibility to carry out the priestly duties belonging to this call, beginning with resting our identity in Christ alone and focusing on him. Then we are ready to carry out the primary duties of praise, proclamation, and prayer.

Priests have a duty to praise. Praise is God-directed action that glorifies him by declaring the truth about him in the presence of others. Praise often uses words; sometimes the words are set to music. Whether words, music, or actions, worship is always toward God and often for the benefit of others. It is the overflowing that happens when whole lives are filled with God’s Word, and that indwelling Word goes out into the body of Christ, proclaiming Jesus and challenging our siblings to become more like him.

Priests have a duty to proclaim. Proclamation is ready testimony before our siblings and the world about what we know to be true about God. For many of us, proclaiming Jesus has some hurdles, for, in addition to our general nervousness, there are real enemies out there. But we need not fear, for in Christ we are secure. When we immerse ourselves in his Word and focus on him, we are able to focus on being Christ’s holy temple and kingdom of priests in the world. We are able to remain ready with his truth when questions or opposition arise. Our job as priests is to follow Christ and proclaim him, being willing to suffer for doing good while maintaining a gracious and gentle demeanor, for our protection is in his capable hands.

Priests have a duty to pray. Prayer is simple, honest talk with God about ourselves, others, and the world. Now, having a simple, honest talk with an invisible God can be tough. It can become a mere ritual or slip into neglect. Yet it remains one of our foremost duties as priests of God. We can pray well by relying on the Spirit and immersing ourselves in the Bible. We must rely on the Spirit, for he intercedes on our behalf with groans of concern when we simply do not have the words. Alongside the Spirit's prayer on our behalf, our own immersion in Scripture infuses us with God's truth, which the Spirit uses to reveal the things for which we ought to pray.

The first priority of priestly ministry is keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, our Great High Priest, and immersion in his Word is one necessary way to do this. But we must not stop there, for action must follow. As we gather, may the indwelling Word pour forth in praise that glorifies God with the truth and disciples our fellow Christians toward a deepening relationship with Christ. As we disperse into daily life, may the indwelling Word pour forth in behavior and speech that proclaims Jesus and reflects his grace and mercy. In all of this, let us talk with God about everything, for Jesus abides in us, and we abide in him.

Church as God’s Kingdom of Priests

Key Passages: Exodus 19:5-6; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 5:9-10
Additional Passages: Hebrews 4:14-16; 9:11-12; 12:1-2

Key Idea: Our identity is from Jesus, our great and sympathetic High Priest, and in him, we are all called to ministry as priests of God.

Where does your identity lie? Is it in parenting, having a career, or serving in a position in church ministry or leadership? As believers, our identity is found in Christ alone, and he calls us priests.


Jesus is our high priest and the way into the eternal Holy of Holies. He is the one and only author and finisher of our faith and has made us and will make us his kingdom of priests. Indeed, the people of God are a kingdom of priests that began with Israel (Exodus 19:5-6) and continues to the church (1 Peter 2:9-10) and into eternity (Revelation 5:9-10).

The people of God are a kingdom of priests that began with Israel (Exodus 19:5-6). God commanded his people Israel to remember all he had done for them and the way his gracious works shaped their identity. Out of all the nations, all of which belong to God, Israel had the privilege of being God’s personal, loved people, a kingdom made up of priests, and a nation separate and distinct from all other nations. These privileges brought the responsibilities of obeying God’s commands, being his priests, and remaining distinct.

The people of God are a kingdom of priests that continues into the church (1 Peter 2:9-10). In his first letter, Peter applies Exodus 19:5-6 to the church. Christians are a people group selected by God and made up of persons from all nations and races. We are a royal priesthood and a distinct nation whose shared center is Christ. We are those brought into the marvelous light of God’s presence by God himself. He has brought together this ragtag group of strangers and made us a people, and he calls us to live as his priests and proclaim before all the world the excellence of his character.

The people of God are a kingdom of priests that continues into eternity (Revelation 5:9-10). In John’s vision, he saw Jesus standing in the place of triumph and adoration at the throne of God. The believers around the throne praised Jesus as the Lamb who brought about our costly release from slavery to sin and death and made us one people, taken from every race, culture, and language, having Jesus as our only King and High Priest, who redeemed us and made us a kingdom of priests.

Identity in Christ is the source of what we do as Christians. As those in Christ, God commands us to hold fast to the truth, to boldly approach his holy of holies, to stir one another toward good works, and gather as a community. As priests of God in Christ, God calls us to carry out three primary ministries: intercession, offering sacrifices of praise, and proclaiming Jesus. These three primary ministries are the responsibility of every Christian and are carried out through the specific ministry assignments given to each by the Spirit. Whether we are gathered as the one body or dispersed into the world in the mission field of daily life, we are priests of God in Christ: a high calling indeed!

Christ is the Final, Eternal High Priest

Passages: Psalm 110:1, 4; ; Hebrews 2:14-15, 17-18; 4:15; 7:23-25; 9:11-14; 10:12-14, 20-21; 1 Peter 2:5-6

Sin has stained everything, and its cost is life itself. It is a price we cannot pay and remain alive. Even more, it is an eternal price that we cannot pay no matter how much we give. The blood of another must be shed on our behalf.

The cost of sin. In the garden, God covered Adam and Eve with the skins of an animal. In Exodus, God passed over the homes of those with the blood of a lamb painted on the lintel and doorposts. In the Law, God gives his people Israel the sacrificial system to make atonement. These are a shadow of what was to come.

The priesthood of Aaron. Aaron the brother of Moses was the first high priest of the Old Testament sacrificial system, but Aaron died and needed to be replaced. Then his replacement died, and the cycle continued over centuries. Not only was the priesthood of Aaron bound by time, but the blood of bulls and goats offered in this sacrificial system could not pay the price for human sin, but only reminded the people of the bearable cost of that sin.

All of this is a shadow of the one who would come as the Great High Priest, paying the full price for human sin by carrying his own blood into the Holy of Holies in heaven (Hebrews 9:11-14). This One has come, and his name is Jesus. The shadow is complete, and that which is better has begun.

The priesthood of Jesus. Unlike the priesthood of Aaron, in which the high priest dies and is replaced over and over again, offering sacrifices that could never remove sin's stain, Jesus’ priesthood continues for eternity and offers a once for all sacrifice that pays the debt of sin, removes its stain forever, and brings restored life in God.

The death of Jesus is the final, eternal sacrifice for sin. He brought his own blood into the eternal holy of holies, offering one eternally sufficient sacrifice and making all who trust him holy forever. He himself is the way into the holy of holies in heaven for all who trust him (Hebrews 10:19-21). He destroyed death by his own death and set free forever all who trust him by his resurrection and glorification. His blood removes the debt of sin, cleanses our consciences, and renews us to an eternal life of loving service to God.

He experienced temptation to its end without sin. He understands our weaknesses from the inside and serves as our sympathetic, eternal mediator. He is our merciful and faithful High Priest, who suffered so all who trust him might live and bring God glory.

Jesus gave himself on our behalf. He paid our eternal debt so we might have eternal life. Thankful worship is our logical response, and this worship must go well beyond the musical worship of Sunday mornings. We worship by striving to understand like Jesus, seeing the broken through the eyes of redemption and hearing both words and meaning in the words of others. We worship by striving to value like Jesus, seeing both of the needs and the worth of persons as we carry them to his throne in prayer. We worship by striving to behave like Jesus, giving ourselves for others, coming to know them, and interceding for them in prayer. By doing this we serve as priests under the one Great High Priest.

The Church is a Kingdom of Priests

Well, here we are in 2022. God is still on his throne and we are still his people. In 2022, Academy will be looking at being God’s people as his Kingdom of Priests, and we begin the journey by following the topic through Scripture.

We saw in the Exodus how God delivered his people Israel from slavery in Egypt to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.... (Exodus 19:5–6, ESV).

From among this kingdom of priests, God set apart Aaron and his sons to serve in the tabernacle to carry out sacrifices for sin and praise, to proclaim God before the people, and to carry the cares of the people before God (Exodus 28). But the priesthood of Aaron and his sons was not the final priesthood, for the Son, Jesus, has been made a priest forever.

The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4, ESV).

Jesus, our Great High Priest, offered himself once for all, ending the need for continual sacrifices that never could cleanse from sin.

And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:11–14, ESV).

With Jesus as our high priest, God is now forming the church as his kingdom of priests.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, ESV).

We who trust Christ are that priesthood of believers, and as we fix our eyes on Jesus, we carry out our mission.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14–16, ESV).

Indeed, those who trust Christ are a kingdom of priests forever.

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, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).

Everyone who trusts Jesus is a priest of God. This much is clear. What might this look like at TFB? That will take some thinking and dreaming. We are excited about the journey.

Additional Passages: Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:1-3, 11-14, 26-28; 10:19-25; Revelation 20:6

Our Joyful Work

by Laura Springer with Jeff Barnhart

Key Passages: Psalm 105; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 12:30-31; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Timothy 2:1-4: Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-25; 1 Peter 2:9-10

Glorifying God is our primary purpose. He expects humanity and his people to live in ways that reflect and declare his glory. As TFB, we choose to do this by loving God, loving people, and teaching others to do the same.

One body, many members. The church is one in union with Christ. Unity is our nature. The church is many ages, cultures, styles, and giftings. So, diversity is also our nature. We glorify God as one by submitting to him and living toward his purposes. We glorify God as many by ministering to others with the skills the Spirit has given us. Through worship and service, we present ourselves to him as one church and to one another as siblings.

Always glorifying. God calls us to proclaim Jesus and carry others before him in prayer. These are our primary responsibilities as followers of Jesus. We glorify him by sharing what we know of his majesty and grace, carrying out Jesus' command to make disciples. We glorify him by praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ and, indeed, for all.

Glorify through proclamation. We glorify God by growing in our knowledge of him and his amazing work of salvation. We glorify him by learning together and sharing what we have learned. We glorify him by living out our hope, practicing grace, and proclaiming the good news in the context of daily life. Whether gathered or dispersed, we proclaim Jesus in words and actions.

Glorify through prayer. We glorify God by talking with Jesus about the spiritual and physical needs of others. Jesus, who is the one mediator between humanity and God, wants us to partner with him through the ministry of intercession. Through intercession, we support the spiritual growth of our fellow believers. Through intercession, we plead with God on behalf of those who do not yet know him. And when we do not know how to pray, we trust the Spirit himself to pray for us.

What might it look like to be a community in which all learn and practice proclamation and prayer? Let’s start by choosing to worship together. Let’s choose to fellowship around the table during Sunday patio time, Wednesday family dinners, or sharing meals in regular life. Let’s choose to pray together at the Tuesday Lunchbreak Prayer, share our requests on the prayer request form, or pause during our day to lift one another before God. Let’s choose to join Life Groups and participate in TFB’s regular and special events. Each person need not do everything, for rest is also important. But every one of us should choose to worship, eat, pray, and live alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (Psalm 115:1 ESV).
 

Glorifying God as his Ministers

By Jeff Barnhart and Laura K. Springer, Th.M., Ph.D. 

 

Key Passages: 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11; Ephesians 4:11-16

Supplementary Passages: 1 Corinthians 12:4-27; Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 5:1; Philippians 2:15; Colossians 1:17-18; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9 

 

The eternal task of the church is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. As such, relationship with him and one another is crucial. We must live out the fact that we are one community of diverse people bound together in Jesus Christ and gifted for ministry by the Spirit. 

 

Every Christian is a minister. Christians are all ministers of God and have been given gifts of service that he expects them to use to grow and mature his church. Since he gives each believer a ministry that he activates, every believer is a minister. Since God gives gifts to all, all believers work together to mature the church by speaking the truth to one another in love and carrying out God’s work the way the Spirit intends. 

 

Ministries are from the Spirit. The Spirit alone distributes and activates gifts of service, through which he manifests himself among believers. Each believer is responsible to practice their gift of service alongside fellow believers for the sake of the whole church whether we are dispersed or gathered. While dispersed, we minister to the eight to ten people we interact with every day. While gathered, we minister to each other in order to refocus, recharge, and edify one another in preparation for dispersion into the mission field of daily life. 

 

The ministry of leadership. While all believers are ministers, some are set apart for the service of leadership. Within the body, there are two subsets. One subset talked about in the New Testament is Elders (also called Overseers). The other subset is Deacons (a term meaning ‘servants’). Elders/Overseers equip all to carry out their Spirit-supplied gifts of service so that the body of Christ matures and grows herself. Deacons handle earthly tasks that may hinder the Elders and Ministers in their work. Elder and Deacon teams serve Jesus by serving the church. Both Elders/Overseers and Deacons must meet character qualifications, for a godly character is the most important qualification (see 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1). Skillset is a distant second. 

 

Qualifications for ministry. Like Elders/Overseers and Deacons, Ministers are commanded to meet biblical qualifications. All are commanded to live by the Spirit and bear the fruit of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). All are commanded to imitate the Father and live in love like the Son. All are commanded to follow God together as brothers and sisters, speaking the truth in love to one another. If these biblical qualifications are not met, no other qualifications matter. 

 

“Question 1. What is the chief end of man?

Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever” (Westminster Shorter Catechism).

Resources

● When the Church Was a Family: Recapturing Jesus' Vision for Authentic Christian Community (J. Hellerman)

● Formed for the Glory of God: Learning from the Spiritual Practices of Jonathan Edwards (K. Strobel)

● Weight of Glory (C. S. Lewis)

Glorifying God by Helping One Another

By Laura K. Springer, Th.M., Ph.D. 

 

Key Passages: Romans 1:12; 12:10, 16; 14:13, 19; 15:14; 1 Corinthians 11:33; 12:25; Galatians 5:13, 15, 26; 6:2; Ephesians 4:2, 25; 4:32; 5:21; Philippians 2:3; Colossians 3:9, 13; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11, 15; Hebrews 10:24; James 4:11; 5:9, 16; 1 Peter 4:9; 5:5

Supplemental Passages: Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16-17 

 

Jesus loves us. So, if we are to glorify God, loving one another is not optional. What might it look like to love one another in the context of our regular church practices? 

 

Church-wide Rituals. Rituals like baptism, communion, and musical worship, have been and continue to be practiced by the church across time and culture. They teach God’s truth in pictures and offer instruction to those who may not yet get it. They help us participate in the life of faith alongside fellow believers who may not be like us. 

• Baptism proclaims trust in Jesus and testifies to his death and resurrection in the company of our fellow believers.
• The Lord’s Supper proclaims Jesus’ death until he comes again, forming us as one by focusing our hearts on Jesus’ broken body and shed blood.
• In musical worship, the gathered church declares God’s worth to God under the direction of the Spirit, acting with one mind and one love through an infinitely cross-cultural practice. 

 

Congregation-wide Events. In worship gatherings, business meetings, service to the community, and other types of events, we work together in this place, focusing on Jesus and honoring our life together as a work in progress. As one Body made up of different ages, cultures, and perspectives, we practice putting the preferences of others first, valuing participation, and working alongside those who are different.

• Worship gatherings focus on God alone under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and declare who God is and who we are in him through clear language and loving action.
• In business meetings, believers decide how to carry out God’s mission through our shared work.
• As we serve the community, we become Jesus’s hands by putting care first. 

 

Life Group Activities. Conversation, Bible study, prayer, and shared meals help us form relationships of accountability and grace. Here we make ourselves available outside of the designated times on the church calendar and often away from the church campus. We learn to put others first, speak the truth, and patiently accompany one another as we become more like Jesus.

• Conversation brings us soul-to-soul as we hear and care for one another.
• By studying the Bible together, we help one another grow toward right belief, right practice, and right valuing.
• Praying together aligns our hearts as we hold one another up before God in love.
• Eating together, we learn what is left unspoken and build relationships in which we are free to call one another out and hold each other up. 

 

In gatherings large and small, Christians practice rituals that have lasted centuries. We come together to worship and work and share life. We talk and cry and laugh and pray and dine. In all this, we glorify God. Beloved, let us love one another.

Glorifying God by Welcoming and Giving Ourselves to One Another

By Laura K. Springer, Th.M., Ph.D. with Jeff Barnhart 

 

Key Passages: John 13:34-35; Romans 13:8; 15:7; 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12–13; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 5:14; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7; 4:11, 12; 2 John 5 

 

It is all too easy for differences to come between us. Language, culture, preferences, and generational priorities can make it difficult to see one another through the eyes of grace. In the context of this difficulty, Jesus commands us to love one another. Loving one another has an extraordinary outcome, for as we welcome and give ourselves to one another, those who see us will know that we are followers of Jesus. 

 

Welcoming. The welcoming expected of us in Scripture is both an attitude of the heart and action of the body. When we think of fellow Christians who are different, do we think of them first as those who do not like the music we like or talk the way we talk? Or do we think of them as fellow believers, children of the same Father, and followers of the same Jesus? When we meet them on a Sunday morning or in the local coffee shop, do we greet them with a warm smile or do we pass by without any acknowledgment? These small actions and the feelings behind them make a difference. 

 

Giving ourselves. Jesus gave himself for us, so giving ourselves for one another is not optional. But it can be hard. Giving of ourselves means figuring out how to connect with those who are not like us. It means using skills that we may not have developed. It means going deeper than we are comfortable with. But there is good news: Jesus taught us how to give of ourselves by giving his life for us and sending the Spirit to help us. He has made it safe to take a chance on one another, honoring our differences while worshiping our one Lord. 

 

If we are to glorify God in this world by being his church, we must work at loving one another. We must acknowledge our differences and see them as enhancements of our life together. We have Jesus in common, and he is sufficient. He is more important than any of our differences. Let us focus on him as he shows us how to welcome one another and give ourselves to one another as he welcomes and gives himself to us. He is the Head and Center of our life together, and he puts our differences to work to build his church for his glory. 

 

Since Jesus has loved us, loving one another is not optional. Let's do this!

Glorifying God by Being Jesus’ Body in the World

By Laura K. Springer, Th.M., Ph.D. 

 

Key Passages: John 17:22-23; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:20-21

Additional Passages: Psalm 19; Romans 1:20; Matthew 28:16-20 

 

Humanity was created to portray God’s glory generally, and Israel was chosen to shine his light before the nations. Similarly, the church has been formed to glorify Christ before a lost world. 

 

Many members and one body. The church is one body with many members. We come from every nation and language, from multitudes of generations, cultures, and peoples. Differences abound. Yet the church is one. Together, we glorify Jesus before the world. We do this by valuing him above all differences, allowing diversity to show the world the glorious results of his amazing grace. We are one people of God in Christ, composed of persons from all walks of life, all socioeconomic levels, and all cultures. Unity amidst such diversity is an amazing thing. 

 

In the world. Wherever we are in the world, the church declares Jesus as the only means and end of salvation. Together, we gather in groups across the globe, sing praise to our God, and preach his truth in the cultures and neighborhoods surrounding each congregation. Then we spread out into the God-given mission field of daily life, living and speaking Jesus’ glorious name. 

 

To glorify God. We have the unique privilege of being the principal means of God’s glorification in the world. Now, all of creation declares his glory by proclaiming his divinity and power. But the church has the honor of telling the story of Jesus. We glorify God by showing the world what it looks like to be the children of the Father, who sent the Son, loves the Son, and loves the followers of the Son. We glorify God by making followers of Jesus wherever we go, immersing them in his name and truth. 

 

Through life together. We do not merely glorify God as disconnected individuals, for we are the gathering of those who trust Christ. We are the gathering of those who are being transformed into his image by the Spirit. By loving and building up one another in our meetings and worship services, we work alongside the Spirit as he transforms us into the likeness of Christ. By working together to love and serve our neighbors, we work alongside the Spirit as he reveals the glory and grace of Christ.

Glorifying God by Being a Light to the Nations

By Laura K. Springer, Th.M., Ph.D. 

 

Key Passage: Isaiah 43:1-7; 44:21-23; 49:5-6

Additional Passages: Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 26:1-5; 28:13-14; Acts 3:25-26; Romans 9:4-5, 21-24; Hebrews 1:1-4. 

 

While humanity was created to portray God's glory generally before all of creation, Israel was chosen, formed, and delivered to bring God glory specifically by shining his light before the nations. 

 

Chosen to bless. From its barest beginning, Israel was chosen to be a blessing. When God called Abraham, he promised that Abraham and the nation that came from him (Israel) would be a blessing to the nations. God reminded Isaac and Jacob of this promise to bless the nations through Israel. In Acts 3: 25-26, Peter interprets the promise of blessing to all nations as fulfilled by the Messiah, Jesus. 

 

Formed to glorify. God formed Israel so they might bring him glory, and he covenanted with them, promising by his own steadfast love, to be their God and make this his people. Israel broke its end of the covenant multiple times, but God never broke his end. His love for them continued, whether expressed in blessings or acts of discipline. 

 

Delivered to serve. God remained committed to Israel's good. When they broke the covenant, he scattered them, and when they repented, he gathered them to himself. When they sinned, he cleansed and redeemed them--an act worthy of praise by all of creation. Over and over, Israel was delivered by God for God’s own glory. He always remembers that Israel is his servant and calls Israel to glorify him by remembering their servant identity and returning to him. 

 

Light to the nations. This Israel, whom God chose, formed, and delivered, is the means through which God sent his Messiah to redeem all who trust him for salvation. God sent the Messiah as the deliverer of Israel, for Jesus came first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but this was only the beginning. Israel glorified God by being a light to the nations through Messiah Jesus, who is himself the Light of the World and the ultimate Reflection of God's glory. 

 

Struggle and opposition are certain. Just like Israel sometimes struggled to follow God, so will we. But the same God who kept his covenant with Israel is right here in the midst of this messy world, bringing all things together for his glory. No matter the situation, God cares for his people, forming them to glorify him in the world by portraying his glory and proclaiming his good news in Jesus.

Glorifying God by Bearing his Image

By Laura K. Springer, Th.M., Ph.D. 

 

Key Passage: Genesis 1:26-31

Additional Passages: Genesis 5:1; 9:6; Psalm 8:5; Romans 1:20 

 

 

The Mona Lisa. The Golden Gate Bridge. The Mars rovers. Virus vaccinations. Helping someone across the street. 

 

All these have something in common: they are examples of good work. They also reflect God’s glory. 

 

Human identity. God chose humanity to bear his image. Now, Scripture does not spell out what this means, so we must look to parallel ideas. Speaking of Jesus, the author of Hebrews places God’s image and the glory of God in parallel. From this parallel, we can see that just as Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of the Father’s essence, so does humanity reflect God’s glory as we bear God’s image. We have been given the duty to reflect God’s glory as a conscious choice. Of course, humanity’s decision to rebel against God in the garden of Eden damaged our capacity to fulfill this duty. But the duty remains. As humans, we are responsible for doing good work that glorifies the Creator and Lord of the universe. 

 

Human duty. Managing God’s creation with care, filling the earth, and shaping its resources in new ways are human activities that display God’s glory and portray his image. As humanity does good in the world, we display God’s goodness for all to see. This display of goodness declares God’s glory even when distorted by sin, for God’s glory is that powerful. God designed humanity to explain something of what glory is and why it matters through our descriptions of the material and immaterial world. These descriptive creations unpack creation’s reflection of God’s divinity and power and clarify the contrast between God’s glory and the way things are under the sun. 

 

What now? Despite the stain of sin, humanity still has the duty to display God’s character and describe his glory before creation. Christians are no exception. As the new humanity in Christ, Christians bear a double responsibility, having been created to bear God’s image and commanded to be conformed to the image of Christ. We of all humankind ought to be the ones who make God’s glory evident and clear. So, let us do good work and thereby glorify our Father in heaven.

Becoming a Community that Glorifies

By Laura K. Springer, Th.M., Ph.D.

What might it take to be the sort of church that glorifies God no matter the circumstance?

Becoming this sort of church begins with answers to three questions.

What does the Scripture teach about the sort of community God intends? Answering this question will take us to three groups: humanity, Israel, and the church. God created humankind as his image-bearers, a God-glorifying representation of him in creation (Genesis 1:26-31). He formed and delivered Israel so that Israel might glorify him (Isaiah 43:1-7; 44:21-23). God has called peoples from all nations and languages to himself through Messiah to be the church, the new humanity that glorifies him forever (John 17:22-23; Ephesians 2:13-16; 3:20-21). 

What might it look like to glorify God by loving God and loving people? Those who trust Christ are one with God and with each other in relationships of love. We live out this love through the structures and practices of our faith communities. Structures like leadership and ministry programs ought to portray the oneness and love we see in Father, Son, and Spirit. Practices like worship service, small groups, and service teams support our life together as the people of God. Those in the faith community need to understand how these structures and practices portray God’s glory and support our love for God and people.

What might it look like to glorify God by teaching others to love God and love people? Teaching others to love God and love people, whether we are gathered as a body or dispersed into the God-given mission field of daily life, forms us as a community of believers that glorifies God in all we do. We glorify the Father by proclaiming salvation in Messiah through our character, actions, and words. We glorify the Son by loving people and proclaiming the Kingdom, just like he did in his earthly ministry. We glorify the Spirit by helping people follow him.

In 2021, we will explore these questions together.

• What does the Scripture teach about the sort of community God intends? 
• What might it look like to glorify God by loving God and loving people? 
• What might it look like to glorify God by teaching others to love God and love people?