Making Worship A Lifestyle And Not An Event Series

SERIES: “THE CHALLENGE TO THE CHURCH IN 2005”

TEXT: ROMANS 12:1-2

TITLE: “MAKING WORSHIP A LIFESTYLE AND NOT AN EVENT”

INTRODUCTION: A. There was a story that ran in a small Midwestern town’s weekly paper a few years ago

that said, “We are pleased to announce that the cyclone which blew away the

Methodist church last Friday did no real damage to the town.”

1. Kind of scary isn’t it?

2. What would happen if First Christian Church ceased to exist?

a. What if something happened in the near future that caused us to no longer be a

church?

b. Would it be no real loss? Would our presence as salt and light in this

community be missed?

B. Have you ever had microwave popcorn? If so, you probably have noticed

something I have. Some kernels don’t pop. They experience the same

radiation in the same bag at the same time, but some kernels don’t pop.

1. Some Christians read the same Bible passages, but some Christians don’t

pop.

2. They hear the same spiritual songs, but some Christians don’t pop.

3. They hear the same sermon, but some Christian’s don’t pop.

4. They are issued the same challenge to witness, but some Christians don’t

pop.

5. They know the same teaching to tithe, but some Christians don’t pop.

6. They hear the same call to service, but some Christians don’t pop.

C. Charles Stanley, Confronting Casual Christianity asks, “Why do you suppose that

there are close to 100 million church members in America yet they are not making

more of a moral and spiritual impact? Why is it that on Sunday morning thousands of

church have more empty pews than full? Why is it that the average Sunday school in

America has less that 66 in attendance and that the average worship service has 84?

Why is it that only 50% of the number on any church membership roll can be

expected to attend? If Christians really believe in a real heaven and a real hell, how

can we be so silent?”

1. He says, “The answer to all of these questions is tragically simple! God’s people

have made a decision about Jesus … but have never made a commitment to Him.”

2. When a pilot speeds his plane down the runway, there is a certain point where

staying on the ground is no longer an option.

a. When he crosses that line, he is committed to the air

--He’ll either leave the ground or a disastrous crash is going to happen

b. At that point, the pilot can no longer change his mind

--He’s committed!

3. Unfortunately, churches are filled with members who’ve never gotten off the

ground

a. They’ve been sitting there gunning their engines, making noise but getting

nowhere

b. They’ve been planning on it, meaning to, wanting to, trying to, going to, aiming

to, hoping to.

--The tragedy is that they’ve never gotten off the ground.

D. I think the reason why Christians don’t pop, the reason they never get off the ground,

is because there has been a misconception concerning worship

1. Worship is seen as something that happens on a Sunday morning with a group of

other people

--Worship has erroneously been seen as an event that takes place at a given time

2. Worship is also seen as being something that comes about as a five-part exercise:

singing, praying, giving, communion, and preaching

. a. Those five things are not worship in themselves collectively or separately.

b. They are only extensions of a lifestyle of worship.

3. The biblical teaching about worship is that it is a lifestyle and not an event

--Rom. 12:1-2 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer

your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act

of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be

transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and

approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

4. How do we move from seeing worship as an event and adopting it as a lifestyle?

--The scripture gives us three clear things that will change our view and transform

our lives

I. REGARD YOURSELF AS A LIVING SACRIFICE

A. The most important thing you have to understand is that God wants all of you

1. Most of you have probably heard about the pig and the hen that were out walking one day when

they passed a church. The sermon topic on the sign board was, “How can we help the poor?” After a

moment’s reflection the hen said, “I know what we can do. We can offer a ham and egg breakfast.”

It took several moments before the suggestion sunk in, but when it did, the pig protested: “That