Class #9 September 30 th, 2007 Worship (Part 1)

Transcription

1 Class #9 September 30 th, 2007 Worship (Part 1) This outline is the first part of what may be a three or four Sunday scripture centered discussion on worship and how we practice it that will unfold as follows: 09/30: What is worship? Why do we do it? It can be done in vain. 10/07: Worship must be done in both spirit and truth, an activity balanced by both the heart and the mind. 10/14: Worship is expected both publicly and privately, and public worship is a result of a healthy private worship life. 10/21: Worship is a discipline that must be cultivated and is both a means and an end. Pre-Study and Preparation for Discussion Please meditate on the questions below and be prepared to share your thoughts to the extent you feel comfortable. 1. When you close your eyes and think of worship, how would you describe the image that appears? When you think about the heavy question of What is my purpose in life? where does worshipping God fit? 2. Have you ever thought about worship as a discipline that would benefit from preparation and practice? Or, do you normally think of worship as a spontaneous thing that just kind of happens if the conditions are right? 3. We have all heard comments like the the spirit fell and the like what do you think the most important factor is in determining whether or not this kind of thing happens during public worship? Could it be our responsibility to bring the spirit with us to our public worship?

2 4. We could probably all agree that some services seem more energetic and powerful with respect to worship than others. We have probably somewhat come to expect it. Why do you think that is? Do we believe God expects the same? 5. What do you think is the catalyst for your worship, both in public and private? How do you think your private worship practices effect your public worship and the that of others? 6. Can you think of a recent time when your worship was impeded by distractions, internal or external? Would you be willing to share your experience and how you dealt with it? Quick-Look at Applicable Scripture (NASB) Matthew 4:10 Worship the Lord your God. Psalm 98:4-6 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn - shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Psalm 150:3-5 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Psalm 47:1-2 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth! 2 Chronicles 29:28 The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the singers sang and the trumpeters played. Psalm 22:22 I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. 2 Samuel 12:20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

3 Acts 2:1-2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Psalm 95:6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. Exodus 33:10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped each at the entrance to his tent. 1 Kings 18:39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD - he is God! The LORD - he is God! Nehemiah 8:6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, 'Amen! Amen!' Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 2 Chronicles 29:30 King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped. Psalm 63:4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 149:3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. John 20:28 My Lord and my God. Revelation 4:8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, (G)WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME. Revelation 4:11 Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created. Revelation 5:12 13 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, To Him who sits on the

4 throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever. " Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. 2 Peter 1:20-21 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. John 1:1,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. Hebrews 1:1-2 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. John 16:7,13-15 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. Matthew 15:8-9 These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain. Outline I) What does worship look like in scripture?

5 a) We are directed to worship (Matthew 4:10) and given many different examples and forms in the Bible a limited few follow: i) Musical instruments and singing Psalm 98:4-6, 150:3-5 ii) Shouts of joy and clapping of hands Psalm 47:1-2 iii) In the assembly and by ourselves 2 Chronicles 29:28, Psalm 22:22, 2 Samuel 12:20 iv) Sitting Acts 2:1-2 v) Kneeling Psalm 95:6 vi) Standing Exodus 33:10 vii) Lying prostrate/bowing down 1 Kings 18:39, Nehemiah 8:6 viii) Bowing head 2 Chronicles 29:30 ix) Lifting hands Psalm 63:4 x) Dancing Psalm 149:3 xi) Thomas After the Resurrection John 20:28 xii) The Living Creatures (Serpahim?) Revelation 4:8 xiii) The 24 Elders Revelation 4:11 xiv) Thousands of Angels/Elders/Creatures Revelation 5:12 xv) All Creation Revelation 5:13 b) If you close our eyes and think of worship, how would you describe the image that appears in your mind? II) What is worship? a) What did we see in the scriptural examples above? i) Over and over and over again it s about worthiness! ii) God must be recognized as the Holy and Almighty, Creator and Sustainer, and Sovereign Judge that He is b) So, if worship is about recognition of worthiness, is it a matter of the mind or heart or both? Do we view worship as a required activity because we owe it to a worthy God, or does it grow spontaneously out of the awe we experience from comprehending how worthy God really is? Can we imagine being in God s presence right now and not falling down on our knees to worship Him? c) Ultimately, it s about focus, our comprehension, and our reaction i) The Example of the Awe Inspiring View or Activity ii) The more we focus on God, we can t help but respond with worship Worship is focusing on and responding to God III) But, We Aren t In Heaven To See God In all His Glory

6 a) How is God revealed to us here so that we might focus on Him? i) Through his creation Romans 1:20 ii) Through His Word, the Bible, and His Word, Jesus Christ 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 1:1,14; Hebrews 1:1-2) b) Our responsibility is to seek God by means of His Word and respond with worship out of appreciation of His worthiness i) The Word most clearly reveals God to us in two ways (1) Through the Example of Jesus Christ (a) If we study the Person and work of Christ as found in scripture, we will understand what God is like for Jesus has made Him known (b) To the degree we fully comprehend what God is like, we will respond to Him in Worship (c) The Celebrity You Really Get to See Example (2) Through the Works of the Spirit in Our Own Lives (a) The Holy Spirit is our helper and reveals truth to us, about God and about all John 16:7-15 (b) To the degree we fully comprehend how closely integrated the spirit is within our lives and how much we owe Him, we will respond with Worship c) The Bible Must Be a Part of Our Public and Private Worship i) Clearest, most direct, most extensive presentation of God ii) Worship, along with prayer, song, giving, etc. are responses to understanding God through the Bible d) Regardless of what we are doing, we are not worshipping if we are not focused on God (Matthew 15:8-9) i) The Childhood Memory Story (1) God clearly expects us to worship, but as we think about our purpose in life for God, where does worship fit? (a) You could be listening to a sermon, a prayer, or singing, but if you aren t focused on God you are worshipping in vain (b) There is a sense in which all things we do in obedience to Christ are acts of worship, but these are no substitute for corporate and private worship (c) Worship is the God-centered focus of being preoccupied with God

7 Resources Understanding the Reasons We Worship o Worship As the Key to Drawing Near to God o cle.asp?article_id=567 o