Enter to Worship

Thou shalt not come to service late, nor for the amen refuse to wait. When speaks the organ’s sweet refrain, the noisy tongue thou shalt refrain. But when the hymns are sounded out, thou shalt lift thy voice and shout. And when the anthem thou shalt hear, thy sticky voice thou shalt not clear. The endmost seat thou shalt leave free, for more must share the pew with thee. The offering plate thou shalt not fear, but give thine uttermost with cheer. Thou shalt the minister give heed, nor blame him when thou art disagreed. Unto thy neighbor thou shalt bend, and, if a stranger, make a friend. Thou shalt in every way be compassionate, kind, considerate, and of tender mind. And so, by all thy spirit’s grace, thou shalt show God within this place.

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Worship Reminders

Worship Reminders

Thou shalt not come to service late,

nor for the amen refuse to wait.

When speaks the organ’s sweet refrain,

the noisy tongue thou shalt refrain.

But when the hymns are sounded out,

thou shalt lift thy voice and shout.

And when the anthem thou shalt hear,

thy sticky voice thou shalt not clear.

The endmost seat thou shalt leave free,

for more must share the pew with thee.

The offering plate thou shalt not fear,

but give thine uttermost with cheer.

Thou shalt the minister give heed,

nor blame him when thou art disagreed.

Unto thy neighbor thou shalt bend,

and, if a stranger, make a friend.

Thou shalt in every way be compassionate, kind,

considerate, and of tender mind.

And so, by all thy spirit’s grace,

thou shalt show God within this place.2

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Worship Reminders

Thou shalt not come to service late,

nor for the amen refuse to wait.

When speaks the organ’s sweet refrain,

the noisy tongue thou shalt refrain.

But when the hymns are sounded out,

thou shalt lift thy voice and shout.

And when the anthem thou shalt hear,

thy sticky voice thou shalt not clear.

The endmost seat thou shalt leave free,

for more must share the pew with thee.

The offering plate thou shalt not fear,

but give thine uttermost with cheer.

Thou shalt the minister give heed,

nor blame him when thou art disagreed.

Unto thy neighbor thou shalt bend,

and, if a stranger, make a friend.

Thou shalt in every way be compassionate, kind,

considerate, and of tender mind.

And so, by all thy spirit’s grace,

thou shalt show God within this place.

The end of worship

Most of us spend too much time with people, too little with God.

When have we worshiped? For some, it is when people have raised their hands or clapped joyfully. For others, when they have contributed to inspired singing or heard a powerful sermon. For still others, when the service has moved smoothly without any hitches in the sound system, the ushering, or the music.

But worship meant coming to God on his terms and encountering him. (Marshall Shelley)

Our text explains how we must enter the House of Worship. It must be with confidence, gratitude and sincerity

(1) Enter with confidence (10:19)

Through Christ’s work we have confidence or boldness and this enables us to draw near ‘in full assurance of faith’ (10:22)

(NKJV)

9I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

(NKJV)

(2) Enter with gratitude (10:20–21)

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

(NKJV)

1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

(2) Enter with gratitude (10:20–21)

Christians need constantly to be reminded of the blood he shed, the way he opened and the work he does. These three aspects of his redemptive work should inspire our gratitude and ensure that the first words we utter whenever we ‘enter the sanctuary’ are those of adoration, worship and thanksgiving.

Moreover, Christians are grateful not only for what he has done, but for what he continues to do. He serves them now and ministers to their needs.

It is boldness to enter the holiest, the very presence of God

(NKJV)

Moreover, Christians are grateful not only for what he has done, but for what he continues to do. He serves them now and ministers to their needs.

14Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

(3) Enter with sincerity (10:22)

When Christian believers come into God’s presence it is with a sense of concern not about external washing, but about heart purity. They must come with a true or sincere heart; it must be ‘whole-hearted’ (Moffatt) and not mechanical.

(NKJV)

8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

(NKJV)

18The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

(NKJV)

18The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

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