A Sacrifice of Praise Is Imperative to Christian Worship

Speaker: Rev. Mark Mueller


Scripture Focus: Hebrews 12:28-13:17


Service Summary: Christians do good works most
of the time without even thinking about it. That’s because faith
is an active, living, real thing. God’s Word for this day is all
about how God-given faith shows itself in a Christian’s life—in
one’s attitude, relationships, words, and deeds. Those without
faith, like many of the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, consider
“good works” only as a way to influence or manipulate other
people and even God. Such good works are never really good at all
but are tainted with sin, selfishness, and pride. True faith, on
the other hand, is not even our work alone at all, but the work
of God the Holy Spirit who, through the Word of God and His Holy
Sacraments, instills and inspires in the Christian the mind of
Christ, the faithfulness and righteousness of Jesus. Such faith
also endures the cross and all sufferings related to living in
the world still disfigured by deadly sin. In faith God equips you
with “everything good that you may do His will” (Hebrews 13:21).
Offer up the sacrifice of praise to God in thanksgiving for His
gift of redemption through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.