A. WORSHIP BEGINS WITH GOD – PSALM 103 AMPLIFIED
Lord, I bless You from the bottom of my soul,
Lord I bless Your Holy name.
Lord, I bless You from the top of my mind,
I will not forget all Your benefits to me.
Lord, You forgave my iniquities,
You healed all my diseases
Lord, You ransomed me from death.
You surround me with love and tender mercies.
Lord, You give me good things,
You are holy, just, and true.
Lord, You make me young again,
You renew my life like the eagle.
1. It’s not how you worship, it is Who you worship.
2. Worship is your daily bridge between Heaven and Earth. “If I have told you earthly things and you do not understand, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:12).
3. Jesus motivates people to want to know Him, rather than demanding outward conformity.
4. Jesus gives us a new desire to fellowship with Him. “That I may know Him” (Phil. 3:10).
5. Jesus did not come to give organization and rules, He came to be our life and give us freedom to worship Him and serve Him. “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
B. DIFFERENCES IN WORSHIP
1. Review six worship expressions:
· The Evangelistic Church – to get people saved.
· The Bible Expositional Church – to know God’s Word.
· The Renewed Church – to touch God and be touched by Him.
· The Body Life Church – to relate to others in the body.
· The Liturgical Church – To serve God in worship.
· The Congregational Church – by the people, for the people.
Methods are many
Principles are few
Methods may change
Principles never do
2. The first murder was over worship. Works opposed blood.
3. Why are their differences?
· Cultural differences.
· Different theological priorities.
· Spiritual gift differences.
Gift colonization
Gift gravitation
Gift assimilation
C. WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENCES?
1. God created all the different “people groups.” “From one man He made every nation (ethne) of man, than they should inhabit the earth” (Acts 17: 26).
2. God planned that each ethne would continue as a homogenous unit. “He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should dwell” (Acts 17:26).
3. Each ethne must have the gospel preached to them (Matt. 28:19).
4. Each ethne should have disciples following Jesus according to their customs and values.
5. Each ethne must be influenced with the gospel. “Make disciples of each (ethne) nation” (Matt. 28:19).
6. Each person in each ethne will not lose their uniqueness as they worship in Heaven. “After this I looked . . . a great multitude that no man could number, out of every nation (ethne) and tribe, and people and language (glossilia) . . . and they cried with a loud voice, “Salutation belongs to our God” (Rev. 7:9-10).
7. Each person is equal before God. “There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all” (Col. 3:11).
D. SORTING OUT THE TRUTH
1. We must know why we worship. “Test all things, hold fast to that which is good” (I Thess. 5:22).
2. Some wrongly say everything we do is worship. NO! Worship is intentional. Worship is intentionally giving to God the worship that is due Him.
3. Is the issue preference or principles?
4. Is the issue cultured or Christian essence?
5. The issue is not how we worship; the question is Who do we worship.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord,
I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
For more information on the TRBC Pastor’s Bible Class, log on to the Internet for TRBC Home page at www.trbc.org/pbc.
