Sermon Central
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It's Not Just For Us Series
Contributed by Paul Decker on Sep 18, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: Worship of God is the ultimate purpose of the world.
IT’S NOT JUST FOR US
S: Worship
C: Relationship between worship and mission
Th: God – Most Worthy of Praise
Pr: WORSHIP OF GOD IS THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE FOR ALL THE WORLD.
Type: Inductive
PA: How is the change to be observed?
• Worship correctly, so the world will listen.
• Keep to the mission of making disciples so the world will be able to fulfill its purpose of worship
Version: ESV
RMBC 18 September 05 AM
INTRODUCTION:
Through the years, I think many of us have learned that…
1. We need to be careful with what we communicate.
Take for example this incident reported by Russ Tompkins…
ILL Communicate: A Little Pot (revised)
Finishing up their work at a trade show in San Diego, Russ and his co-worker Maureen decided to go sightseeing across the border in Tijuana, Mexico. While there, they went shopping and bought a few decorative pieces for the kitchen.
As they crossed back into the United States, a customs official asked if they had anything of value to report. "Not really,” Maureen replied, digging in her bag for the bean crock she had purchased. Everyone froze as she continued, "I only bought a little pot."
If you are not clear, it can get you in trouble.
Take for example how something can get lost in translation…
ILL Communicate: Translating "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" (revised)
Perhaps you have tried this on the Internet – there are language programs that will translate English into whatever language you want. Type in a phrase and push a button, and it will translate it into French or Spanish or German or whatever. But how do you know the translation is good?
A man had a similar question and did something fun. He took the song "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," typed it into the computer, and translated it into German. Then he translated it back into English to see if anything got lost in the translation. You know the song (you can sing it with me if you like):
Take me out to the ballgame. Take me out to the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and Crackerjack. I don’t care if I ever get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team. If they don’t win, it’s a shame. For it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out at the old ballgame.
He translated it into German and then back into English. Well, something got lost in the translation. It sounds a little militant, like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Execute me to the ball play. Execute me with the masses. Buy me certain groundnuts and crackerstackfusig. I’m not interested if I never receive back.
Let me root, root, root for the main team. If they do not win, it is dishonor. For there are one, two, three impacts on you at the old ball play.
Something got lost in the translation.
Citation: Lee Strobel, Meet the Jesus I Know,
(Preaching Today Audio No. 211)
The same is true about God.
The way people perceive God is so often a caricature of who he really is.
“…the man upstairs,” etc.
This is why…
2. We need to be clear about the truth about God
OUR STUDY:
Well, September is Discipleship Month here at Randall.
And…
1. Our theme is “God – Most Worthy of Praise”
We have been working through this theme of worship based on Psalm 96.
And as we have made our way through the last two weeks, we have observed that…
2. We have a responsibility to declare His worthiness.
It is both our privilege and responsibility.
God is worthy of our praise.
He is deserving of every good word that we say about Him and put next to His name.
Last week, we considered this fact, that…
3. We are to participate in shared worship.
God has called us into community.
He asks us to enter into His courts with thanksgiving.
Together, we are to recognize God for who He is.
Together, we are to bring offerings to God, the most important being our bodies as living sacrifices.
Together, we are to respect His purity, worshiping Him in the splendor of His holiness.
This brings us now to the climax of this psalm, verse 10, where it says…
Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity."
You see…
4. We have more to tell!
According to the psalmist, we are not to be satisfied with what has been communicated so far.
There is more to say.
The good news about who God is is worth talking about.
So, we have to get out the message.
And the message is…
5. God reigns!
God rules!
He is King.
