Worship or Worth-ship
Basics • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsMost followers of Jesus know we are called to worship God, but what does it really mean to worship? Why does it matter? Is it possible that we forget the importance of this and even make it too complicated? Following Jesus often involves going back to the basics, including focusing on worshiping God wholeheartedly. The idea of basics may sound boring or may offend those of us who feel "advanced", but it is absolutely essential if we are going to grow in our relationship with Jesus.
Notes
Transcript
I want to read Matthew 22:34-40. Please turn there. and while you are turning there—Denise Habegger you can come forward...
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.
35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
1.Introduce Denise — who your husband and kids are...
2. Tell us how long you have been playing piano, and how long you taught piano as a piano teacher
3. What are some of the basics of learning piano and teaching someone how to play piano?
4. As an advanced piano player, do you ever have to return to the basics to learn a new, difficult piece (or if you are struggling as a piano player?) What kinds of basics do you have to do? (I.e. practice with one hand, do your scales, etc)
5. Anything else you want us to know about piano?
thanks Denise—we are in our series called Basics…and just like an advanced piano player or musician also has to go back to the basics if they want to succeed and do well, I believe the same is true for Christ followers.
we regularly have to humble ourselves and go back to the basics--
If we are going to grow in our relationship with Jesus—we need to get back to the basics regularly.
and if you look at some of our core values—these are not complicated—they describe the basic dynamics of the Christian life
(let’s read them together)
Worship
Grow
Serve
Connect
Reach
God has invited us to this relationship with him where we live out these dynamics
We are going to focus on worship.
and if you look at the handout I gave..it says “worship wholeheartedly...” so with our heart, soul, mind, (and Mark adds strength).
and to the right it says “responding humbly with our lives to the character and work of God.”
Let’s define worship a little more...
4 Definitions of Worship:
Worship is our response to God’s revelation.
revelation is a theological word that God reveals himself…who He is—His character—what He has done—His works, and then we respond…
how has God revealed Himself?
lots of ways—I call it the 3 C’s
Creation
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Paul says that the created order—what God has made is communicating what theologians calls General Revelation about himself—we look at the world and how big it is—and we respond. it communicates that there is a God and He is powerful, and we respond.
this is why we often have a spiritually moving experience when we go hiking in nature, we go camping, go to the beach or mountains. or look up at the stars.
planetarium—COSI—my son Caleb and I attended a planetarium show on the vastness of the solar system—and were just blown away at how big our solar system is.
we recognize through creation that there is someone bigger than us..
even nonbelievers can see this general revelation about God’s existence—(it is enough to condemn them but not save them…)
the 2nd way God reveals
Conscience
14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.
15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)
So this passage is saying that even those who do not have the written law of God—have a type of law already on their hearts written by God. all human beings have an innate sense of right and wrong...
and as we experience God’s revelation in conscience—we respond—either by following it, or ignoring it and suppressing it.
so the first 2 C’s are general revelation in creation and conscience...
the 3rd way…God reveals...
The 3rd C -
Christ—In His person (if we were alive back then) and now through His Word) (this is what theologians calls special revelation or specific revelation)
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
i would argue this is the most important way…that God reveals Himself now.
so God reveals in these multitude of ways (a 4th C - circumstances), and we respond…so one of the neat ways of this—is reminding us that God is always revealing Himself to us in our world—in our everyday lives—if we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand...
and He especially reveals Himself in this gigantic book called the Bible…
and He wants us to respond.
now, God doesn’t just want any response—he wants an appropriate response.(humble)
He doesn’t want us to shrug our shoulders—and be indifferent or apathetic.
True worship is a wholehearted response to God’s revelation. (we see that — and you could also add humbly)
Love God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength. with every part of us...
Jesus cared very deeply that we respond appropriately to God. that is there is a God this big—who made us, the universe, who wrote his law on our hearts, and who sent His Son Jesus to live and die on the cross for us—He wants us to respond…with our entire being...
he doesn’t just want us to shrug it off...
he doesn’t want us to go through the motions..
he doesn’t want us to make him one slice of our life—while we do what we want...
he wants it all.
nor does he wants us just to be religious and go through the motions.
Jesus constantly challenged the religious leaders—the Pharisees and teachers of the law—with words like these
7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
8 “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’”
Jesus didn’t want them to just obey the rules, and make up rules, and check it off—and say “we are following God.”
He wanted them to get at the heart of worship--what their motivation was. Why they worship…who they are really worshipping.
the heart—the very center of our being—our control center—it’s where what we value is formed—matters. it’s where the treasure center is—that is what we treasure and value…and prize and cherish...
it’s not merely approaching God in a rules based way…or religious way...
as if to...
1. to control God—if I do this—God will do that—it’s a legalistic way of approaching God.
2. impress others...
we’ll talk about this later...
but that’s not what God wanted...
in Matthew 23, Jesus lets them have it—he says
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
the heart of the matter is that the heart matters...
God wants us to worship him from the heart (wholeheartedly and humbly)—in response to his incredible revelation
and if we are not—to clean the inside of the cup and dish—to tell God honestly—confess I have not worshiped you wholeheartedly and humbly—and He will clean us b/c of Jesus Christ.
the 3rd definition of Worship is what we give worth to “worth-ship.”
title of my sermon!
worship is simply what we give worth to...
we are to worship Him supremely — treasuring God above all else
it is a response to what we value and treasure....
and God has called us in worship to make him #1—our supreme
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
and according to this definition of giving worth — worth ship--all of us are worshippers...
even atheists (those who don’t believe in God). those who don’t claim to be religious— all of worship—b/c all of us give worth to something.
and I would even guess that all of us worship something or someone in our lives wholeheartedly…(you do it without thinking)
God made us to worship—Him...but if we don’t, something will fill that void—b/c we are at the core worshippers...
example....one of the musicians and tours that is so popular right now is musical artist Taylor Swift (she is so popular that some say she has reached the level of Elvis and the Beatles did) (and almost half of her fans are men!). it is estimated that maybe 5% of fans who try to get tickets will actually succeed. and if you buy them from someone who already bought one—they jack up the price hundreds of dollars. and if you go to a Taylor Swift concert—as she comes out—and displays her revelation of singing—the crowd goes wild!
they are responding to her revelation as a talented singer, dancer, performer...
they are responding from the heart—completely, supremely, wholeheartedly
they are giving worth to her.
same is true at sporting events. there is a kind of worship that goes on Friday nights at our local football games.
the team gives it revelation of a good play.
we respond supremely, wholeheartedly with joy (or anger at the refs)
we give worth by giving up money and time and our vocal cords.
what are you worshipping supremely and giving worth to? that is what you worship.
what is getting the worth in your life—money? career? romance? sports?
Worship is both individual and communal. (it’s both gathering with the people of God regularly—(that can take many forms) and
communally—we come together-we see the early church meeting on the first day of the week in Acts and 1 Corinthians to worship God—to respond to his revelation…(1 Cor. 14:26-40). through singing, through testimony, through the preaching of God—He is revealed—we respond. (reminding ourselves of God’s revelation)
individually, too,we are called to worship God in our everyday lives.
we do this by meeting with God daily in His Word and prayer—responding in that revelation
but also with everything we do
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
that’s a form of worship—even eating and drinking...
changing diapers to the glory of God
unclogging toilets..
teaching at our local schools to the glory of God
working on the assembly line or job site to the glory of God
mucking out houses in Maytown, Kentucky to the glory of God
serving in Ecuador that our students will be doing soon on a missions trip
learning this fall—learning can be an act of worship if it is set apart for God
overseeing your employees to the glory of God
if it is set apart for God...
Why worship matters:
our joy is at stake… this may sound weird—but look at this Psalm 16:11
11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
God promises that if we worship Him—we will have eternal pleasures!
don’t you want that—our glorifying God and experiencing joy—are not opposed—they go together—that as we glorify God, worship Him, seek Him—He gets the glory, and we get joy and eternal pleasures!
and sometimes we forget this—I have talked with some skeptics who may say of christianity—why does God want us to worship Him? Isn’t he being selfish? “Look at me!” If I did that—and said—focus on me, look at me, worship me…you would say you are full of yourself, Rick. doesn’t it seem like it’s all about God?
but look at what Scriptures says if we worship God wholeheartedly:
4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
not that he will answer everything you want but He shapes and changes and conforms your heart into His image.
CS Lewis who wrote the Chronicles of Narnia struggled with this idea of God demanding praise---but then he says he was wrong:
Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Third Edition) How I Became a Christian Hedonist
But the most obvious fact about praise—whether of God or anything—strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise.… The world rings with praise—lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game.…
My whole, more general difficulty about the praise of God depended on my absurdly denying to us, as regards the supremely Valuable, what we delight to do, what indeed we can’t help doing, about everything else we value.
I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.
in other words, when I praise God in song, in word, or in my life in acts of service—it is the consummation—the height and climax of worshiping God. if we do this in others areas of life with our praise and joy—doesn’t it make sense to highlight God the Creator and Savior! God wants us to joyfully praise Him—and it is fitting—b/c he is the Creator of the universe—and He knows what will fulfill our souls b/c He made us this way.
worship takes us our eyes off ourselves—and puts it on the amazing bigness and glory of God!! and we overflow with praise...and that produces joy...
future generations are at stake…what are they going to worship?
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
when we worship in our everyday life...we are shaping the next generation—b/c they know what we worship and value—ask your kids what you value, and listen...
our character is at stake .. we become what we behold (Psalm 115:4-8)
4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
think of 2 Cor. 3:18
and most of all our eternity is at stake...
we either say “thy will be done, or my will be done.”
Signs of half-hearted worship:
worshiping God as a means to an end
in other words, obeying God to get something from Him--
“God I will obey you if…_________.”
“God I will go to church if… _________.”
this is a transactional way of approaching God.
this is actually a legalism—that is the idea that if I just obey and do enough good stop God has to accept me.
and we often do this deep down—because we want to control God. we want to put God in our debt—we want God to do something for us—or answer our prayer...
this approach to God is easy to see—in someways it feels safe—b/c we can observe it—I can do this, and check off the list—the rules are easy to spot, and the rulebreakers are easy to spot.
that’s a sign of half-hearted worship…we want God on our terms and conditions.
he is like a magic genie, granting us so many wishes...
no—God is a big God who made all things and delivered us from sin, the devil, and death! He is worthy of our worship…not half-hearted—but whole-hearted...
worshiping God to impress others...
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
there can be a danger in an area like ours where many are very religious—that it may even be seen as the “thing to do...”
worshiping God only when life is good...
when God is answering my prayer...
when my relationships are going well, when my job is going well, when I have enough money...
when I am crushing it or killing it in life...
but if we only worship God when life is good—that is a sign of half-hearted worship—God has part of it, but not all of it.
no—God wants all of our worship—even when life is difficult. when suffering comes. when we lose our job…when our marriage is struggling…when we have difficulties with our kids…when we get diagnosed with cancer...
it doesn’t mean we have to be in-authentic with God—no—we can be honest—authentic—just read the Psalms—how the author cries out to God—but the key is even in those times—to give God what He’s worth. Even when we we are struggling to constantly approach God. one of the mistaken views of worship—is that it will be happy and energetic—no there are forms of worship that are sorrowful, there are psalms called lament—where the author is crying out to God— “where are you? I am groaning and crying in tears?” “God why don’t you response sooner?” That, too is worship—b/c the writer is taking his grief and pain and anger to God.
wholehearted worship is the opposite of these...
it’s worshipping God for who He is in and of Himself (even if He doesn’t give me what I want)
it’s worshipping God not to please men but God
it’s worshipping God even in our suffering
The reality:
We fail…how many of us loved God wholeheartedly and supremely?
how many of us responded humbly with our lives this past week to the character and work of God...
but Jesus didn’t… this is the dynamic of the cross...
*You have to come back to Jesus and the cross all the time.***
He worshiped His Father wholeheartedly all the time...
with his heart, mind, soul, and strength.
even going to the cross—he was still worshipping—as he was in the garden saying not my will but yours be done.
Hebrews 12 says that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him—He was still worshiping! even when Jesus cried out on the cross, My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? He was quoting Scripture…still worshipping…giving glory to God.
this is why the Apostle Paul said “may I never boast except in the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ…! (Galatians 6?)
Look at the logo — at the center of our worship is the cross.
God has supremely revealed himself—in Jesus—and what He did on the cross.
On the cross, God showed his holiness—He takes sin seriously—it took the death of the Son of God to pay for sin
and on the cross, God showed his mercy and grace, that Jesus willingly took my sin in my place...
and I am called to respond—not just when I first become a follower of Jesus
but ongoing—this dynamic means I come back to the cross, again and again, thinking, dwelling, treasuring God for what He did—and then those arrows—propel me outward to grow, serve, connect, and reach…and as I do those—they propel me inwards.
the secret to a successful, basics, follower of Jesus—is to come to the cross again and again.
to cry out to God—I am not feeling it today, but I want to.
that when we fail to love God—to confess it, uproot it—and put Jesus there in the center
to dwell on what God has done again and again...
and this cross is stubby—it reminds us of the Red Cross—that our God is a hospital—where we come as broken, needy, people needing the mercy and grace of Jesus.
What now? Application? Steps:
Question: How can I approach everything with the glory of God in mind? don’t make it complicated.... but even asking this question--
Question: Do I prioritize time of intentional individual worship? Family worship?
do I set aside time and energy to focus on God’s revelation:
creation
conscience
particularly about Christ in His Word?
Question: Do I prioritize time of intentional corporate worship?
every week we come together—I need to hear Eva Sprunger singing behind me to the glory of God...
I need to hear God’s revelation in singing, testimony, one anothering, and preaching/teaching...
I need community with one another--
Question: Do I come back to the cross again and again and again…?
closing verses…
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.