God Had Much To Teach Abraham About Worship

God had much to teach Abraham about worship

Central idea of sermon: God had much to teach Abraham so where did God to start, God started where Abraham was and took him to where God wanted Abraham to be next. He does that with people of faith.

A. On Sunday mornings, we go to church, but do we worship God? We sing songs and listen to sermons, these things are elements of worship but they are not worship in and of themselves. Worshiping God is not about you having a fun time or even about having a good experience; it is not about you at all.

1. It is all about God. He gave you life, a family, a home and plenty to eat. Worshiping God is you thanking Him, showing Him reverence and adoration. It is putting God first in your life. It is showing God Almighty that you love Him; it is showing God that you honor; it is to praise Him.

2. Life has lessons to teach us. A man son’s sixth birthday was approaching. The boy had mentioned he would like a birthday party. His dad asked what he wanted for his birthday. The man expected a reply such as, “I’d like a baseball glove; you can find it at Wal-Mart, aisle 6, below the batting helmets.” However, his son’s request was a bit different. He said, “Dad, I’d like to play ball with you for my birthday.” His father said, “Great, what kind of ball?” “Oh, I don’t know, baseball or football or soccer, any of those will be fine.” “Well, which would you want more?” His son said, “Which ever one you like to play with me.” The dad thought about this and said, “Let me surprise you. How does that sound?” The little boy smiled and said, “Oh that would be great Dad. I really love you.” The son was not so much interested in the gift. He was interested in the giver.

3. True worship is not interested in the created but the Creator. The wrong questions to ask about a Sunday service is did I like the pastor/sermon/service/music? The right question is did God like our worship?

B. When they come to Sunday service, many people come to be entertained; people want you to sit back, relax and enjoy the program. If the people feel that they were entertained, they say they had a good worship service.

1. We have gotten the whole concept of worship backwards. In true worship, we are the performers, the pastors and worship leaders are the directors, but God is the audience.

2. If we are going to worship, we must come to the realization that worship is not for us, but for God.

C. We are going to look into this episode in the life of Abraham to see what he can teach us about the true worship of God. Now, keep in mind that God is a God of revelation: He reveals Himself over time. When Abraham came along, God had not yet revealed His law through Moses; there had been no prophets, no John the Baptist baptizing and no Jesus teaching. God had revealed Himself Abraham only giving him one instruction: go to a place “I will God show you.” Abraham trusted God but Abraham wanted to worship God. However, having grown up with pagan parents in a pagan country, Abraham only knew pagan ways. God had much to teach Abraham so where did God to start? Abraham loved and trusted God; he wanted to worship God, but all Abraham knew were pagan ways; God started there.

Genesis 22:1-19, 1 After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mor-i-ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac said to his father Abraham, “Father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.