Message Notes

LIFE IS LITURGY (1)

JULY 6, 2025 | STEVE PIXLER

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV): And they DEVOTED themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

46 And day by day (DAILY), attending THE TEMPLE together and breaking bread in their homes (FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE), they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people.

And the Lord added to their number day by day (DAILY) those who were being saved.

The early church was born in an upper room in the temple, but the temple was slated for destruction after Christ fulfilled its ministry, its sacrifices and priesthood, at the cross—which meant that the priestly ministry of the temple was being shifted into house churches. (Acts 2:42-47)

  1. DAILY

  2. IN THE TEMPLE

  3. AND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE

The priestly ministry (leitourgeo) of the temple has become the ministry of the saints, the priesthood of all believers, and it is meant to be done at home and in the world. And it is meant to be done DAILY. (The weekly pattern of “Lord’s Day” corporate worship arises soon after.)

So here are the three ideas I am after today:

  1. The priestly ministry of the temple was shifting away from the soon-to-be-destroyed physical temple in Jerusalem to all believers in Christ. We are the living temple of God!

  2. The priestly ministry of all believers is the ministry of the saints, and it is restored to the household: the ministry of the saints starts at home! Then, the ministry of the saints extends from our household into our work, our neighborhood, our community, our world. The household (oikos) is a kingdom embassy, the seat of government for your kingdom metron. The family is refamiliated and repatriated (Ephesians 3) and becomes the model, mediation and manifestation in the earth of the heavenly CHRIST–CHURCH relationship. (Ephesians 5) The secret sauce of the self-replicating kingdom is that it is decentralized away from the temple and into our households. Though we still gather in large groups for public worship and fivefold impartation, the goal of all large gatherings is to channel kingdom authority into our households as the home-base for our kingdom metrons.

  3. The priestly ministry of the saints done in the household must be done DAILY. It is only through the rhythms of morning and evening sacrifices (praise/prayer/prophecy) that our time is redeemed and our generations are discipled. Our LIFE IS LITURGY by default or by design, so when we align the rhythms of life on earth with the heavenly temple, we sanctify our TIME/SPACE/MATTER and manifest the kingdom "on earth as it IS in heaven."

CONCLUSION

What must we do?

  1. Recognize that we are called to be king–priests.

  2. Recognize that our household is our seat of government, our palace–temple.

  3. Make a decision and take action to practice morning & evening sacrifices DAILY.

INVITATION

Who is ready to be anointed as a God–called king–priest?

You will never find your purpose in life apart from worship—apart from “liturgy.” Your life is liturgy whether you know it or not, so it is time to intentionally and strategically redeem your time and live your life as a priest of the Most High God.

RESOURCES

Daily Lectionary App: https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/app/lectionary

Lectio365: https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectio-365/

The Daily Office: https://www.dailyoffice2019.com

ESV Daily Office Reading Plan: https://www.esv.org/subscription/

Example of background music: https://youtu.be/Xx1MjhzKcYw?si=SZNTSpbXDp3Z2BOg

Submit your favorite! stevepixler@gmail.com