Worship: A Life-Changing Experience

<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>Worship: A Life-Changing Experience</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> <A HREF="id193.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remembrance and Renewal"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ending the Worship Wars"><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>“Worship as a Life-Changing Experience,” Berean Bible Church, April 8, 2001am</B></div> <bR> <div>      Worship services often makes very little difference in people’s lives; we can show up at church and leave unchanged and unchallenged. Does worship make a difference in your life? Worship is essential to a person's spiritual growth. So how can worship make a difference in our lives? (Note that the focus of worship is on God, but worship comes with benefits for the worshiper.)</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Our lives will change when we come face to face with God (Isaiah 6:1-8).</B></div> <div> Note the progression:</div> <div> A. We see God for who he is (vss. 1-4).</div> <div> B. We see ourselves for who we are (vs. 5).</div> <div> C. We must let God cleanse us (vss. 6-7).</div> <div> D. We can then willingly serve him (vs. 8).</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. Our lives will change when we come together to worship (Colossians 3:16).</B></div> <div> Worshiping Together involves three things:</div> <div> A. Time in the Word. To let the word “dwell” means to let it be at home in, or take up residence in our lives, and in our corporate worship experiences. It is to dwell abundantly and in full measure. The word is to permeate our lives and our gatherings.</div> <div> B. Our encouragement of one another. This involves teaching the word and challenging each other to live it.</div> <div> C. Singing praise together. This includes various kinds of songs, including Old Testament Psalms, songs of praise, and spiritual songs. Our singing is to be done with thankfulness, coming from the heart. This calls for active participation in singing (whether the music is our preference or not).</div> <bR> <div> <B>III. Let God change your life in your worship of him</B>.</div> <div>      They key is submitting to what God’s wants to do in our lives. Our lives can change in many ways. We may begin to better use the resources God has given us. We may commit ourselves to his service and begin to use our spiritual gifts. We may be challenged to develop personal purity. We may renew proper relationships with others, showing love and forgiveness. We often receive strength for times of trials.</div> <bR> <div>      Our lives will change when we come face to face with God in adoration. Our lives will change when we come together to worship. Let God in your worship of him change your life.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2001, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>