Emphasis Preaching Journal

When Christians gather for Sunday worship, it often seems we have arrived for a "funeral." We sit stoically in our pews. We stand, sit, sing, pray unison prayers, listen to a sermon, and then leave asking, "So where do we go for lunch?" Isaiah describes the kingdom of heaven as a "party." As one reads the Old Testament, one discovers that God planned a monthly "party" for his people at the temple. There are moments for reflection, however, most of our worship belongs at a funeral home. We fail to really come to the party and invite others to join in the celebration!