Get A Glimpse Of God Series

1. You’re the Preacher!

A mother watched her son begin to drain of energy as the week went on. By the end of the week he’d lost his desire to get out of bed. She heard the alarm go off through his bedroom door. Apparently he just kept punching the little snooze button on the top. Finally, after 3 or 4 extra rings she walked in and said, ’Son, it’s time to get up.’ He peeked out from under the covers, ’Can you give me a good reason to get up?’ She said, ’Yes. First, it’s Sunday - time for church. Second, you’re 43 years old and you know better. Third, you’re the preacher and they expect you to be there.’

2. If someone asked you, “What do you do when you go to church?” What would you say?

• Sing

• Give Money

• Take Communion

• Say Prayers

• Read the bible

• Endure a Sermon

3. Perspective

A man told of an experience he had in the wilderness of West Virginia. He was strolling through a field when he heard the joyous chirping of a robin. He enjoyed its melodious praise for a while before his eyes caught sight of the bird. It was perched high in a wild apple tree, and there was an unusually bright object reflecting from its nest.

Soon curiosity overcame caution, and he climbed the tree. From his higher perspective he saw that the reflection had been nothing but a piece of paper ingeniously woven into the robin’s home. But that was not the end of the matter. Meticulously he removed the paper from the nest and unfolded it. There before him were the faded remains of a hymnal page! Printed on the wrinkled sheet were the words: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, God Almighty; early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee.....”

In the sacredness of that moment the ground over which the robin had built her nest and on which the man stood was transformed into holy ground.

4. What would happen if we changed how we view what we do at church?

• “We are going to meet God!”

• Not checking off activities on a Sunday AM

• Encountering the Living God

5. Consider Isaiah’s Experience with God – Isaiah 6.1-8

I. Changes in Perspective for Our Worship – From “What I Get?” to “What I Give?”

A. From: Sing some songs to: Praising God – Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13.15

B. From: Giving Money to: Blessing God with the First Fruits of His Gifts

C. From: Taking Communion to: Remembering God’s Perfect Sacrifice and His Power in the Resurrection of Jesus

D. From: Saying Prayers to: Honoring God with the words of our hearts

E. From: Reading the Bible and Listening to Sermons to: Hearing God’s words for our lives (Shema – Deuteronomy 6.4)

II. Changes in Perspective Produce Expectations (Isaiah 6.1-8)

Checking Direction:

Back during the days of the sailing ships, a young boy was traveling with his father. The boy was amazed at all of the activity and work that was required on the ship.

He watched everything the sailors did. He noticed that every night the captain would stand on the deck and point a funny looking instrument at the sky.

When he asked his father what the captain was doing, his dad replied, “That funny looking instrument is called a sextant. The captain is able to use it to shoot the stars and determine our bearings. He can then see where we are and find out if we are going in the right direction.”

A. Expect God’s Presence (Isaiah 6.1-4)

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

1. Encountering God Changes Lives – Ours and those who follow – Abraham; Moses

2. A Reminder – Matthew 28.20

B. Expect a Time of Self-Examination (Isaiah 6.5)

5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”