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The Angels' Song - Ben / Worship night
Sermon Summary
Ben concludes our Series, "The Angels' Song," by reflecting on God's Glory as we worship God during an extended worship night.
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As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we are invited to reflect deeply on the glory of God—a theme woven throughout the story of the angels and shepherds in Luke 2. The angels’ proclamation, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favours,” is not just a poetic line, but a profound declaration about the weightiness, significance, and beauty of God’s presence. The Hebrew word for glory, “kabod,” speaks of something or someone with gravity, reputation, and awe-inspiring presence. In the Old Testament, God’s glory is often revealed in overwhelming ways—clouds, fire, radiant light—manifestations that leave people in awe and sometimes even fear.
Yet, the New Testament reveals a new dimension: Jesus Himself is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of His being. In Christ, the glory of God is made tangible and approachable. The presence of God, which once made Moses’ face shine and filled the heavens, now dwells among us in Jesus and through the Holy Spirit. This presence is not just to be observed, but to be experienced and responded to.
But glory is not only something God possesses; it is also something we, as His image-bearers, are crowned with. Psalm 8 reminds us that humanity is made “a little lower than God and crowned with glory and honour.” Even when we don’t feel glorious, our value and significance are rooted in the Creator’s love and purpose for us. However, our glory is always meant to be directed back to the One who is supremely worthy. The act of giving glory—“kabed” or “doxazo”—is our response to God’s goodness, whether through song, gratitude, or the way we live.
Throughout the Gospels, those touched by Jesus respond by giving glory to God. Our lives, too, are meant to be angled mirrors, reflecting God’s love and beauty to the world and returning all praise and honour to Him. This is not limited to moments of worship in church, but extends to every aspect of our lives—even in the simple joys of eating, drinking, and sharing life with others. Each moment of wonder, each taste of goodness, is an invitation to turn our attention to God and give Him the glory He deserves.
Key Takeaways
1. God’s Glory Is His Weighty Presence: God’s glory is not just a bright light or a feeling, but the very weight and significance of His presence. It is the awe-inspiring reality that fills creation and reveals His power, beauty, and holiness. When we encounter God’s glory, we are reminded of how small we are and how magnificent He is, drawing us into deeper reverence and worship.
2. We Are Crowned With Glory and Honour: As those made in God’s image, we carry a reflection of His glory. Even when we feel insignificant, God has crowned us with value and honour. This truth calls us to live with purpose and humility, recognising that our worth is not self-generated but bestowed by our Creator, who redeems and restores us.
3. Giving Glory Is Our Active Response: Glory is not only something to observe but something to give. Our response to God’s goodness—through praise, gratitude, and the way we live—shines the spotlight back on Him. Every act of worship, kindness, or gratitude is a way of “doxazo,” giving God the honour He is due, and joining with all creation in praise.
4. Everyday Life Can Be Worship: Bringing glory to God is not confined to singing or church gatherings. Even in the ordinary—eating, drinking, enjoying creation, or sharing friendship—we can honour God. When we intentionally turn our attention to Him in these moments, our daily lives become acts of worship, reflecting His goodness to the world.
Daily Hope Devotionals
Christmas Day BONUS:
Scripture:
Luke 2:12-14
'And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”'
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/LUK.2.12-14
Devotional:
Christmas Day is the celebration of God’s glory breaking into our world in a way we can see and touch - through the birth of Jesus. The glory of God, which in the Old Testament was often a bright, overwhelming light or a powerful storm, now comes gently wrapped in swaddling clothes. Jesus is the exact representation of God’s glory, the doxa of the Father, full of grace and truth.
This Christmas, may we come with open hands and open hearts, ready to receive the gift of Jesus and ready to give glory to God in all that we do. Whether in song, in word, or in the simple acts of kindness and love, may our lives reflect the glory of the One who came to bring peace on earth and goodwill to all.
Let the angel’s song be our song this Christmas: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors.” May this truth fill us with joy and inspire us to live as reflections of God’s glory every day.
Reflection:
What small act can you do today to reflect the glory of God to those around you?
Where do you need to invite God's peace and glory into your life today?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for humbling Yourself to become a baby and living a perfect life so that Your sacrifice opened the way for me to be a child of God. Help me to live in and reflect Your glory to everyone around me so that they may know Your love. In Your Holy name Jesus, Amen.
Day 1: The Glory of God Revealed in Creation and Christ
Scripture:
Hebrews 1:3 ESV
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%201%3A3&version=esv
Devotional:
The glory of God is the weighty, awe-inspiring presence that fills all creation and is most fully revealed in Jesus. When we witness a breathtaking sunrise, a starry sky, or the beauty of a mountain, we are glimpsing the kabod—the significance and majesty—of our Creator. The Old Testament describes this glory as a radiant light, a cloud, or a storm, while the New Testament reveals that Jesus Himself is the radiance of God's glory, the exact representation of His being. Every part of creation testifies to God's brilliance, and in Christ, we see the fullness of that glory made personal and present among us.
Reflection:
When was the last time you were awestruck by something in creation or by the person of Jesus? How can you pause today to recognise and thank God for His glory revealed around you?
Prayer:
Glorious God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I come before You with open hands and hearts, ready to receive Your presence. Thank You for revealing Your glory in Jesus, the exact representation of Your being, full of grace and truth. Help me to see Your glory shining in Him, and may that light fill me with awe and wonder. Teach me to give You glory in all I do—through my words, actions, and life. May I join with all creation and the heavenly hosts in lifting Your name high, bringing honour and praise to You alone, the one who is worthy of all glory. As I walk through this week, remind me to reflect Your glory in everything, so that others may see Your goodness and be drawn to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 2: You Are Crowned with Glory and Honour
Scripture:
Psalm 8:3-5 (NIV)
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%208%3A3-5&version=NIV
As human beings made in the image of God, we are crowned with glory and honour, reflecting His significance and value. Even when we feel ordinary or insignificant, God has breathed His life into us, making us weighty and valuable in His sight. Our worth is not based on our achievements or feelings, but on the Creator’s declaration that we are crowned with kabod - glory. This truth invites us to see ourselves and others as bearers of God’s glory, worthy of love and dignity, and to remember that our moments of weakness or failure do not diminish the value God has placed on us.
Reflection:
What would it look like for you to treat yourself and others as people crowned with God’s glory and honour today?
Prayer:
Father, thank You for crowning me with glory and honour. May I live reflecting Your weighty love and grace. Help me to give glory back to You in all I do and shine Your light brightly in this world. Amen.
Day 3: Giving Glory to God—Our Response to His Goodness
Scripture:
Luke 17:15-16 NIV
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2017%3A15-16%20&version=NIV
Devotional:
When we experience God’s presence, healing, or provision, the natural and appropriate response is to give Him glory—to praise, honour, and direct attention to Him. Throughout the Gospels, people who were touched by Jesus responded by doxazo—praising and glorifying God. We, too, are invited to take the light and significance we have and point it back to the One who is most worthy. Our worship joins with the worship of all creation and all generations, adding our voices and lives to the chorus that declares God’s worthiness.
Reflection:
Can you recall a specific way God has touched or changed your life? How can you intentionally give Him glory for it today—through words, actions, or worship?
Prayer:
Jesus, You are the exact representation of God’s glory. Help me to fix my eyes on You, the radiance of the Father, and to live in the light of Your grace and truth. Amen.
Day 4: Living for God’s Glory in Everyday Life
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2010%3A31&version=NIV
Devotional:
Bringing glory to God is not limited to singing or special moments in church; it is meant to infuse every part of our daily lives. Whether we are eating, drinking, working, or spending time with friends, we can do everything for the glory of God. This means living in a way that draws attention to His goodness, love, and beauty—reflecting His character in our actions and attitudes. Even the simplest joys and routines can become acts of worship when we intentionally direct our gratitude and praise to God, making our whole lives a spotlight that points to Him.
Reflection:
What is one ordinary activity you will do today (like eating, working, or relaxing) that you can intentionally turn into an act of worship and gratitude to God?
Prayer:
Glorious God, help me live each day reflecting Your glory in all I say and do. May my heart and actions point to You in every moment, and may my praise be true. Amen.
Day 5: Reflecting God’s Glory to the World
Scripture:
Matthew 5:16 NIV
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205%3A16%20&version=NIV
Devotional:
We are called to be angled mirrors—reflecting God’s love, power, and glory to the world, and then reflecting all the praise and honour of creation back to God. This calling is not just for special moments but for every day, as we interact with others, serve, and love. When we live in this way, we become part of the angel’s song, drawing people’s attention to the One who is worthy of all glory. Our lives become a testimony that points beyond ourselves to the Creator, inviting others to join in giving Him praise.
Reflection:
Who in your life might see God’s glory reflected through your actions today?
What is one specific way you can shine your light and point them to Him?
Prayer:
Father, help me to live a life that brings glory to You—not just in worship songs, but in how I speak, love, and serve others every day. May all I do point others to You. Amen.
Day 6: The Holiness of God’s Presence
Scripture:
Isaiah 6:3 NIV
And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%206%3A3%20&version=NIV
Devotional:
As we journey through life, it’s easy to overlook the incredible truth that God is present with us. The Bible tells us that God’s presence is not just a comforting idea but something that makes a place holy, set apart, and special. God promises to meet us and be with us, and where He is, that place is made holy by His glory. This means that God’s presence transforms ordinary moments and places into sacred encounters. When Jesus came to earth, He brought God’s presence with Him in a new and personal way. Jesus is the exact representation of God’s being, full of grace and truth.
Reflection:
What does God’s holiness mean for you today?
How can God’s presence make the places you inhabit holy?
Prayer:
Father, thank You that You are always with me. Help me to be aware of Your presence in every moment. Make my heart holy and set apart for You. Teach me to live in a way that reflects Your love and holiness to those around me. Amen.
Day 7: Responding to God’s Glory with Praise and Worship
Scriptures:
John 1:14 NIV
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201%3A14%20&version=NIV
Revelation 4:9-10 NLT
'Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, '
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/REV.4.9-10
The glory of God is not just something we see or experience; it’s something we respond to. When Jesus healed people, their first reaction was to praise God—to give glory back to Him. This is the natural response when we encounter God’s goodness and power. Worship is more than music; it’s a lifestyle of turning our attention and praise to God, recognising that He alone is worthy. Just like the angels and elders in heaven, we join in this eternal song of glory, adding our light to the chorus of creation.
Reflection:
Have you experienced moments where God’s glory touched your life? How did you respond?
How can your praise be a spotlight that points others to Jesus?
Prayer:
Glorious God, I praise You for Your goodness and power. Thank You for revealing Your glory through Jesus and for inviting me to join in worship with all creation. Help me to respond to Your presence with a heart full of praise. May my life be a song that points others to You, the one who is worthy of all glory, honour, and power. Amen.
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