NCF Sunday Worship Livestream - June 21, 2026

Meditation: Hebrews 13:15-16

Call to Worship: Psalm 47

Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 25 Question 65

NT reading: Hebrews 10:1-14

Sermon Text: Malachi 1: 6-14

Sermon Title: "The Father Who Gave His Best"

Sermon Summary: Happy Father’s Day! In our sermon text this morning, God refers to himself as a Father who is not getting the honor he deserves from his people. When God confronts his people about their lack of honor and respect for him and his name, they question God. God answers with a list of ways in which their worship was lacking. Instead of offering unblemished animals for sacrifice as the law required, they were offering animals that nobody else wanted. These animals were blind, sick, lame, and even in some cases stolen! If the animals sacrificed were not worthy gifts to their human governors, they were definitely inadequate to give to our great King. The people were bringing polluted offerings and the priests were accepting them. To make matters worse, the priests found their ministry to be wearisome and not a joy. There are times in which our worship can become cold, half-hearted, distracted, and rebellious.

But this passage ends with a hopeful statement that God is a great king and that his name will be feared among the nations. The Father was not given the honor he deserved, but he would give us the best he had. He sent Jesus who was a true worshiper in our place. He worshipped and loved the Father with his whole heart. Jesus ultimately offered himself as the perfect sacrifice without sin. Jesus paid the price for all of our sin, including our inadequate worship. Because of Christ we are accepted in God’s presence and can worship him with joy.