For the sake of His glory.
A call to worship.
Themes
God’s glory • God’s grand purpose • Our purpose • Community of love • The Kingdom • Darkness and light • God’s intentions • Included in Christ
We have been included in Christ so that we might live for the praise of God’s glory.
Scripture reading
1 Peter 2:9
This call to worship1 is from a letter that Peter wrote to suffering Christians. He wrote:
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.
Prayer
Triune God in heaven, What is Your purpose for us — Your people who meet here in this building amidst cornfields in Beaverdam? Why have You gathered us this morning? To what end does Your Spirit continue to keep the lights on here? It is so that we may proclaim Your excellencies — the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into marvelous light. It is so that we may proclaim Your glory. Whatever expressions we make this morning, whatever actions we take this morning, we do so for the sake of Your glory. Throughout history, You have been working to bring about Your intentions for Your creation. And to this end, You called us — this little local church — into existence. We confess that we like to think that 30 or so years ago we started this. But it was You who called us into existence, and it was to accomplish Your grand purpose. You brought us into being — a new humankind — a people who mirror for all creation Your divine character. We are the recipients of Your grace. We are the people whom Christ purchased for the sake of Your glory. We have been included in Christ, so that we might live for the praise of Your glory. Christ himself has instituted this little local church called Pathway in accordance with His mission to glorify You in the world. Father, we confess that we have not realized just how far-reaching this reality is — just how significant it is for the life of Pathway — for our collective lives — mainly how that life is expressed in this community of Beaverdam, this community of Grand Rapids, this community of West Michigan. Everything that we do, from our budgeting and our planning and all our collective actions together as believers — everything is ultimately motivated by our desire to bring glory to You. All that we say this morning and all that we do this morning as we participate together, as we enact Your Kingdom — practicing your kingdom here in this room, practicing the behaviors of Your kingdom together in this participation service — it is all directed toward this ultimate purpose: You glorified through us. As we participate with each other this morning, help us to reflect the reality of Your triune nature, which is itself a divine community of love. Your desire is that we mirror Your own holy character, which is expressed in love. And as we live in fellowship with each other and love each other this morning, in the midst of all our brokenness, we honor You by being a community of love — by being Your kingdom, Your in-breaking kingdom. We bring Your kingdom here, and by the power of Your Spirit, we reflect just what You are like, thereby bringing glory to You. In the name of Jesus Christ, who revealed to us what lies at the heart of the triune God, Amen
1
This call to worship was given to the small assembly of Christians that gathered in Pathway Church, located in the small town of Beaverdam, just outside of Grand Rapids, in West Michigan, on Sunday, May 15, 2022, at the start of a participation service.