Why and How We Worship

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Why and How We Worship</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id193.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remembrance and Renewal"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>“Why and How We Worship,” Berean Bible Church, March 25, 2001am</B></div> <div> First in the series “Worship – God’s Priority in Focus”</div> <bR> <div>      Our culture understands worship, but it is because we often worship our sports heros, our movie and TV stars, our musicians. Celebrity culture is a worship culture, but with the wrong objects. Do we delight to be in God’s presence more than we would delight in the presence of some celebrity we look up to?</div> <div>      In Christian worship, we may view it as being for Sunday only, or as a mere warm-up to the sermon; we may see it as a waste of time, thinking to ourselves, I don’t get anything out of it, so it is not worth it. Some view it is simple fun and enjoyment, while others think it is always supposed to be quiet (no drums and guitars).</div> <div> Do we realize the priority that worship is to God? In Revelation 5:13-14, God is on the throne, and all of creation is ascribing glory to Him, declaring his worth. This is the essence of worship. It is recognizing and responding to his worth. Our work in heaven will revolve around worship, as it should on earth. Worship is that much of a priority to God.</div> <div>      Do you worship when we worship at church. The question is not, do you show up to church, or do you listen, or do you sing, but do you worship? Do you worship throughout the week, on your own or with your family? This topic addresses why we should worship and how we should worship. It is foundational to the rest of this study.</div> <bR> <div> I. We worship God because he alone is worthy. At least three factors make him worthy:</div> <div>      A. His Character (Rev 4:6-8). Three attributes of God are listed: his infinite holiness, his all-powerful strength, and his eternal existence.</div> <div>      B. His Creation (Rev 4:9-11). We owe our very existence to God. And he provides for our sustenance.</div> <div>      C. His Sacrifice (Rev 5:9-12). God the Father allowed His Son Jesus to die to take our place, paying the penalty we would otherwise owe.</div> <bR> <div>      God was very concerned that Israel worship him and him alone (Exodus 20). Idolatry (ancient or modern) is offering to anyone or anything else what belongs to God alone (his worthiness to be praised and our loyalty to him). Idols have no character, they did not create us, and they cannot redeem us – so we must not worship them!</div> <bR> <div> II. How we worship. John 4:19-26</div> <div>      Mount Gerazim was the place of worship for Samaritans (vs. 20). And Samaritans held only to the Pentateuch, the Law of Moses (first five books); thus did not fully know God, unlike the Jews who held to whole Older Testament. God’s revelation came through Jews, and they were to be a light to draw other peoples to God, and ultimately Israel’s Messiah, Jesus, brought salvation to the whole world through his death (vs. 22).</div> <div>      A. The manner of worship includes sincerity (“in spirit,” vs. 24). Worship should be from a person’s spirit, from a pure heart. It does not primarily deal in externals. The wrong attitude in worship is mentioned in Isaiah 29:13 “The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.’” Their’s was empty worship, because their hearts were far away. They focused on the outward forms and appearances of worship and not on the heart. The right attitude is mentioned in Psalm 42.1-2: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”</div> <div>      The form is secondary. If the heart is not right the form does not matter. If the heart is right, there are a variety of possible forms of worship. There is a time for dancing and celebrating, and there is a time for quiet reflection and being lost in wonder (2 Sam 6:5, 14; Psalm 149:3).</div> <div>      B. The manner of worship includes truth. Worship is based upon right theology. Proper worship requires that we understand God correctly, as much as we are able. God is not pleased when we misrepresent his character, his creation, and his sacrifice for us, when we are wrong about key details in these areas. We can form God in our own image or to our desires and then worship that. We must understand his correctly and worship who he really is.</div> <bR> <div>      Examine your attitude in worship. Are you taking responsibility for your own worship? The worship leadership team cannot worship for you. Is your focus on God or on yourself, your own needs, your own benefits? A man complained to the minister following church, “I didn’t like the songs you chose today,” to which the pastor replied, “That’s okay; we weren’t singing them for you.” Worship is primarily for God’s benefit; while we will benefit in worship, that is merely secondary. God comes first in our worship, because our worship is for him.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2001, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>