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When the End is Just the Beginning

How to bridge the gap?

  • We often think of worship service as an one-hour program which we attend
  • Once the program is done, it is just like the end of the show
  • What happened at worship seems to have little to do with the other 167 hours of the week
  • How can this gap be bridged?

 

Benediction and Sending  

  • Benediction is more than just another prayer
  • Benediction is a pronouncement and a declaration
  • A God-size expectation (which only God can give) is declared
  • Examples:
    • Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:24-26)
    • At the end of Paul’s letter (e.g. 2 Corinthian 13:14)
    • At the end of the New Testament (Revelation 22:21)

 

Benediction and Sending from Jesus

  • At the end of Jesus’ earthly journey, Jesus concludes His ministry with a word of blessing and sending for His disciples (see diagram)    

 

The End is just the New Beginning

  • At the end of the worship, we are not released from service
  • We are released for service - to serve the needs of the world
  • The blessing and sending offered at the end are like BRIDGES, between the end of worship and the beginning of a brand new week.