God & Zion

As we have been isolated in our homes over the last several weeks it has given us an opportunity to reflect upon the nature of the gathered Church. So often we take for granted the blessing of joining with one another for Sunday worship. We have a hard time articulating what is unique or special about the gathered body compared to small groups or individual times of devotion. Yet, now that we have not had the blessing of being with one another we can more clearly see the glory of the visible Church gathering together to worship the Lord. As the Apostle Paul explains concerning our corporate unity, “so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”(Romans 12:5 ESV).

In our Psalm for this Sunday the Psalmist encourages us to take time to consider the beauty of Zion, the dwelling place of God among his people. The image of Zion is rich with theological meaning. In the Old Testament Zion began as the name of a geographic location; the temple complex in Jerusalem. Yet, overtime it developed into the name of both the place and the people of the Lord. Now by the work of Christ and his Spirit, Zion is not geographically bound but is the dwelling of God among his gathered people, the Church. And when Christ returns Zion will be the heavenly city in which God’s people dwell with the Lord for all eternity (Hebrews 12:22). As the Psalmist calls us to consider the beauty of Zion, he is calling us to look to the beauty of God’s gathered people, the Church. In this time of social distancing it is important for us to be reminded of that beauty so that we will long and pray for the day when we will all gather together once again.

SERMON OUTLINE

• God is the Beauty of Zion (1-3)
• God is the Power of Zion (4-8)
• God is the Faith of Zion (9-11)
• God is the Hope of Zion (12-14.