The apostle Paul asked how people are to hear God’s word without a preacher, and how can anyone preach unless that person is sent by God. Today we shall focus upon preaching and preachers and sermons, considering how it is that God speaks to us in our uncertainties and ambivalence by means of the speech of mere humans. In human words we can discern God’s Word. Therefore, hoping again to do so, let us with renewed confidence, worship God.

When we gather for worship, we do so as Christians, but also as American Christians. When other Christians in other nations worship, they do so as citizens of their own countries. Nevertheless, the God we worship is a God of all peoples, of the entire ever-expanding universe. It behooves us objectively to try to see the biggest picture possible, rather than simply an American picture or a Christian picture. Therefore let us, with an expanding confidence, worship God.

Labor Day represents a natural and annual change of pace. Summer is almost over, and a new program year begins for nearly everyone. Today we are thinking about what labor means, and about what are different kinds of labor. As Christians, we are workers for God, and theoretically if not actually, everything we do should be a labor of love on behalf of our Creator and Sustainer. Therefore, let us, with confidence, worship the God who calls us to our work.

We gather to worship the God whom we are convinced makes Himself known to us. But how does He do that? Does He do it individually, or collectively, or both? Today we shall consider how God reveals His nature and His will to us by means of history, and we shall ponder what that means. We are forever grateful that God makes Himsdelf known to us at all, when it is not incumbent on Him to do so. Therefore let us, with confidence, worship the God of self-revelation.

Church people the world over have a common purpose and goal and experience. Who we are and what we think are strongly influenced by our Christian upbringing and background. But millions of Americans do not share that background, and therefore may be almost oblivious to overt Christian values. We thank God for the influence which Christendom has had in our nation’s history and evolution, but we cannot take its continuation for granted. Nevertheless, we gather in confidence to worship the God who makes us part of the fabric of American Christendom.

All over the world, people of strong convictions do battle with one another over religion, politics, economics, and foreign policy. Is something that seems right for one time therefore right for all times? The debate goes on, because the debaters care deeply about they believe and think. This morning we shall ponder the nature of orthodoxy, and what leads us to think we are right when we do think we are right. As we do so, let us gather together in confidence to worship the God of Israel.

We live lives that are not characterized by perfection, but often by uncertainty, unhappiness, and chaos. Things happen, and we wonder why. In the midst of all our tentative realities, God rules, and God reigns. We are never alone in the exigencies which inevitably befall all of us. Therefore we gather each week in praise of a God who creates us, a Sustainer who guides us, and a Redeemer who brings us ultimately back to Himself. Let us therefore, with confidence, worship God.

The world is made up of all kinds of people, most of whom are relatively good, but some of whom are obviously quite bad. Therefore some have more sins to repent of than others. Nevertheless, God loves everyone equally, and loves each of us as though there were only one of us to love. A God such as that is like no one else we have ever known, and such a God deserves our undying thanks and praise. Therefore let us, with growing confidence, worship the God of universal love.

Two hundred thirty eight years ago some men gathered in a hot and humid room in Philadelphia to declare their independence from the colonial power which had initially sponsored them in the American colonies. This weekend once again we celebrated our nation’s self-proclamation of its freedom. This morning we consider what that means in 2014, and we seek God’s wisdom and direction in the midst of major issues facing us. Therefore let us, with Christian confidence, worship God.

Everyone who ever lived has marveled at the very gift of life, with all its richness and zest and possibilities. But also, everyone who has ever lived either has died or shall die. Is death to be feared, or affirmed? Is it an enemy, or a friend? Circumstances greatly affect the answers to those questions. But in the midst of life and death God is with us, to guard us and strengthen us and to receive us to Himself. Therefore, with Christian confidence, let us worship the God of life and life eternal.

Many people in many parts of the world care deeply about many things. Some of them become extremists in their views. How ought we, as Christians, to deal with such folks? Upon this question we shall focus this morning. We thank God for everyone, however much we may be at odds with them, and we pray for God to inspire all of us to live in growing harmony with one another, regardless of our strong differences of opinion. With that in mind, let us, with confidence, worship God.

Every congregation everywhere is a conglomeration of older and younger people, wise and not so wise, relatively- and not-so-relatively-finished products. Whoever each of us is, when we gather for worship, we do so in the hope that worship will not only inspire but also transform us, and that it shall help us become the person God means us to be. With that aspiration in our hearts and minds, let us therefore, with Christian confidence, worship God.

Every congregation everywhere is a conglomeration of older and younger people, wise and not so wise, relatively- and not-so-relatively-finished products. Whoever each of us is, when we gather for worship, we do so in the hope that worship will not only inspire but also transform us, and that it shall help us become the person God means us to be. With that aspiration in our hearts and minds, let us therefore, with Christian confidence, worship God.

Each of us is a child of God, and collectively all of us are communally children of God who live in communities and nations with many other people. Individually and corporately we are responsible for all our decisions and actions, and thus we do well or not so well or very poorly. But through it all God works with us, moving us to strive to do better and to live more fully within His commandments. Therefore let us turn again in confidence to worship the God who bids us always and in all things to be His own.

Our God is a God of peace. People try to turn Him into a God of war, but it is both His nature and His desire that peace should prevail in the earth. God makes us His agents of peace, and by His spirit working within us we are always to seek to live in harmony with all those around us as well as those who are far from us. God has sent one among us whom we call the Prince of Peace. Therefore let us, with renewed confidence, worship the God who commands peace among all His daughters and sons.

When any Christians anywhere gather for worship, they do so as people of faith. Jesus calls us to faith; the Bible beckons us to faith; God invites us into the community of faith. But is our faith sufficient? Is it of the right quantity or quality? Is it pleasing to God, and efficacious to us? Upon such questions and such issues we shall focus this morning. But through it all the God in whom we place our faith shall be guiding and directing and leading us. Let us therefore, with faithful confidence, worship God.

Faith in God is a short and easy leap for some, and a wide and fearful chasm for others. However it is for any of us, God is at the other side, joyfully waiting for our arrival. Even in the midst of our greatest agonies and our most disastrous decisions, He beckons us into His presence and His peace. Our journey may be perilous, like Job’s, but God is always there – to guide us, to sustain us, and to redeem us. Therefore let us, with confidence, worship the God of the circuitous journey.

Life is filled with mysteries. We have many questions for which there are no adequate answers. But we are not alone in the midst of our mysteries. God is always with us, upholding us, guiding us, comforting us, and above all loving us. Worship is God’s gift to us whereby we may approach Him in all our needs and desires. By praising Him we find new strength and hope for ourselves. Therefore let us, with renewed confidence, worship God.

Life is filled with mysteries. We have many questions for which there are no adequate answers. But we are not alone in the midst of our mysteries. God is always with us, upholding us, guiding us, comforting us, and above all loving us. Worship is God’s gift to us whereby we may approach Him in all our needs and desires. By praising Him we find new strength and hope for ourselves. Therefore let us, with renewed confidence, worship God.

A famous poet wrote, “Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.” Things do fall apart, and misfortune strikes everyone. Often we ask in such situations, “Where is God?” That question prompts deep, probing, and sometimes painful self-examination, as well as an examination of the nature of life and reality. Through it all God walks beside us, providing as much support and encouragement as we will allow Him to give us. Therefore let us, with continuing confidence, worship God.