{"id":1252,"date":"2010-09-12T01:37:39","date_gmt":"2010-09-12T01:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2010\/09\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-an-expansive-call-to-worship.html"},"modified":"2010-09-12T01:37:39","modified_gmt":"2010-09-12T01:37:39","slug":"sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-an-expansive-call-to-worship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2010\/09\/sunday-inspiration-from-the-high-calling-an-expansive-call-to-worship.html","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Inspiration from The High Calling<\/em>: An Expansive Call to Worship"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Expansive Call to Worship<\/h3>\n
READ Psalm 148:1-14<\/a><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n

\nPraise the LORD!
     Praise the LORD from the heavens!
     Praise him from the skies!
\n<\/p>\n

Psalm 148:1<\/a><\/div>\n

\nAs a pastor for more than twenty years, I have “called people to
\nworship” dozens, if not hundreds, of times. As the first action in a
\nworship service, I would stand up before the gathered congregation,
\ninviting the people to worship and offering a reason why they should
\nworship. The simplest version of a call to worship might go something
\nlike this: “Praise God because God is great.” <\/p>\n

Psalm
\n148 is an expansive call to worship. Though written to encourage God’s
\npeople to worship, it literally speaks, not just to people, but to all
\nof creation. The first verse calls for praise “from the heavens.” The
\nfollowing verses speak to heavenly beings (angels, etc.) and heavenly
\nbodies (sun, moon, etc.). Everything in the heavens should praise the
\nLord because he created them and put them in their rightful place
\n(148:5-6). <\/p>\n

The next section of Psalm 148 calls for praise
\n“from the earth” (148:7). Terrestrial praise is due from ocean
\ncreatures, weather (fire, hail, etc.), geographic features (mountains,
\netc.), plant life, animals, and people of all kinds (powerful and
\nordinary, young and old, male and female). <\/p>\n

Why should all
\ncreation, both in heaven and on earth, praise the Lord? In part, praise
\nis a fitting response to God’s creative power (148:5-6). But praise is
\nalso a right response to God’s revelation of himself (148:13-14). He
\nhas revealed his great name and unmatched glory. He has saved and
\nhonored his people, thus revealing his power and mercy. Thus, worship
\nis an apt response to God’s action and self-revelation.<\/p>\n

If we
\nwant to worship God with vigor, we ought not to rev something up in our
\nhearts. Rather, we need to focus on who God is and what he has done.
\nMost of all, we bring to mind God’s revelation and salvation in Jesus
\nChrist, the Word of God Incarnate. The more we reflect upon Christ, the
\nmore we will be drawn to worship God expansively, offering all our
\npraise and all that we are for his honor and glory. <\/p>\n

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION<\/strong>:
\nWhen have you worshiped God fully and freely? What encourages your
\nworship? How might you respond to the invitation of Psalm 148? <\/p>\n

PRAYER<\/strong>: All praise be to you, O God,
\nbecause you have created and ordered all things. Indeed, the heavens
\ndeclare your glory through their beauty and precision. The earth
\nreflects your power and creative vision in its grandeur and variety.
\nAll creation points to you, offering unique praise and beckoning us to
\njoin in.<\/p>\n

All praise be to you, O God, because you have made
\nyourself known in Jesus Christ. You have revealed your truth, love,
\njustice, mercy, and grace. You have shown us who you are, both in the
\nperson of Christ and in his saving sacrifice. <\/p>\n

May we praise
\nyou, O God, in all that we say and all that we do, with all of our
\nheart, all of our mind, and all of our strength. <\/p>\n

Hallelujah! Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

\"high-calling-screenshot-4.jpg\"<\/span>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s how . . . .<\/em><\/strong>
\nThis devotional comes from The High Calling of Our Daily Work <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>), a wonderful website about work and God<\/em>. You can read my Daily Reflections<\/a> there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox<\/a> each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An Expansive Call to Worship READ Psalm 148:1-14   Praise the LORD!     Praise the LORD from the heavens!     Praise him from the skies! Psalm 148:1 As a pastor for more than twenty years, I have “called people to worship” dozens, if not hundreds, of times. As the first action in a worship service, I would stand up…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sunday-inspiration"],"yoast_head":"\nSunday Inspiration from The High Calling: An Expansive Call to Worship - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1252"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1252\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}