Opening Scripture: Romans 11:33–36 (CSB)
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? And who has ever given to God, that he should be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.”
Introduction:
We live in a time where Christianity is often approached in two dominant ways: as an intellectual pursuit, or as a self-help guide. One group treasures deep study, chasing deeper understanding of Scripture and theology.
Another longs for life change — better marriages, better kids, better careers. Both of these pursuits, in themselves, are good.
But neither is ultimate.
Whether you lean toward knowledge or practicality, there’s a danger that you will miss the ultimate goal of the Christian life: worship. Bible study should not terminate in knowledge or application. It should ignite wonder.
The Apostle Paul, after writing three dense chapters on Israel, election, and the mysteries of God’s plan — doctrine thick enough to make scholars sweat — suddenly breaks out not into further analysis or instruction but doxology: a spontaneous eruption of praise. He goes from theology to awe.
This is our roadmap today.
Point 1: Bible Study Is Meant to End in Worship, Not Just Knowledge
Some Christians pride themselves on their theological sharpness. They can debate Calvinism vs. Arminianism, explain eschatology, and even recite the Greek alphabet. But Paul’s example shows us that knowledge alone is insufficient.
Paul writes in Romans 11:33:
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God!”
Notice the word “Oh” — it’s not the language of a classroom, but of the heart. Paul doesn’t just state doctrine, he sings it.
He had just finished three chapters of dense theology, yet he didn’t conclude with, “Now go memorize this.” Instead, he exclaimed, “Oh, the depth!” — a word of amazement. True study of Scripture should cause our hearts to swell with wonder.
For some of us, growth in Christ means acquiring more information:
You listen to sermon podcasts.
You highlight theology books.
You can quote dead Puritans in casual conversation.
And all of that can be good… unless it stops there.
1 Corinthians 8:1 warns us:
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”
Even Jesus told the Pharisees in John 5:39–40:
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”
The Pharisees were masters of biblical information, yet blind to the presence of God standing in front of them. Why? Because their hearts were never moved. Their heads were full, but their souls were empty.
If your Bible study doesn’t drive you to adore Jesus, then you’ve missed the point.
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Point 2: Worship Is More Than Singing — It’s Treasuring God Above All
Worship is not confined to music. Worship is not just the 20 minutes of music at church. Worship is how you respond to God with your whole life:
How eagerly you obey Him.
How much you treasure Him.
How quickly you trust Him.
Romans 12:1 says:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.”
Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as “living sacrifices.” That means our entire lives — what we say, how we treat others, how we spend money, what we think about — can and should be acts of worship.
True worship means treasuring God more than anything else. It’s not only about loving God during the good times, but trusting Him during the difficult times.
Worship is not just a song you sing — it’s a life you live in response to grace.
Think of Job: he lost everything, yet he said,
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
When Paul said in Romans 11:36:
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever.”
— he was declaring that everything — every breath, every blessing, every trial — is meant to bring God glory. True worship is the realization that God is the point of everything.
That’s worship. It’s when we prize God above health, wealth, and comfort.
As Jesus said in Matthew 22:37:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
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Point 3: Practical Living Flows From Wonder, Not Just Willpower
Many people come to church looking for life tips. How can I be a better spouse? A better parent? A better leader?
You love sermons with steps:
“Five ways to improve your prayer life.”
“How to be a godly parent or spouse.”
“How to handle conflict at work.”
These are helpful. The Bible speaks practically — Proverbs, the teachings of Jesus, and the epistles are filled with wisdom for everyday life.
But hear me: The Bible is not a book of spiritual best practices. It's not primarily a manual — it's a revelation. It reveals a Savior, not just a strategy.
Luke 24:27 tells us that:
“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.”
All the Bible points to Jesus. Not a list of heroes to imitate, but one Savior to worship.
When you’re captivated by who God is and what He’s done, practical change follows. Real transformation doesn’t come from trying harder — it comes from seeing more clearly.
2 Corinthians 3:18 says:
“We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.”
• “We all... beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”
Beholding leads to becoming.
Change doesn’t come primarily from effort; it comes from vision. When you are captured by the beauty of Jesus, your heart begins to change, and that changes everything else.
It’s not about striving, but about seeing. If we are only giving people “how-to” advice without showing them the glory of Christ, we are missing the power that actually transforms.
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Point 4: The Purpose of Preaching Is Doxology, Not Just Direction
Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said:
“I spend half my time telling Christians to study doctrine and the other half telling them doctrine is not enough.”
He understood what Paul models in Romans — that the purpose of preaching is not merely to educate or even to motivate, but to elevate our vision.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones was right when he said,
“Preaching is theology coming through a man who is on fire.”
Preaching is not a lecture hall or a TED Talk. It is the proclamation of the glory of God meant to lead people into the presence of God.
A preacher is not a lecturer for a lecturer gives information. A preacher is not amotivational speaker for a motivational speaker gives application. But a true preacher leads people into adoration.
There must be a moment — in every sermon, in every Bible study — when the pen goes down, and the eyes go up. When you stop saying, “Look at what I have to do for God,” and start saying, “Look at what God has done for me!”
That vision will change you more than any knowledge or list of practical steps ever could.
Paul doesn’t conclude Romans 11 with a checklist, but with a chorus.
In preaching and teaching, the goal is not to get people to say, “Wow, what a message,” but “Wow, what a Savior!”
When people leave a sermon filled with awe for God—not just admiration for the preacher or conviction over action steps—we’ve succeeded in bringing them to the feet of Jesus.
And that is where he wants each one of us to be.
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Closing Thought: Worship Is the Point
So whether you’re a theology nerd and you lean toward deep theology or a life-hacks Christian seeking practical application — hear this: Worship is the point.
Theology is the foundation. Application is the fruit. But worship is the flame that makes both come alive.
When we open the Bible, may we not just fill our minds but fall on our knees. When we hear a sermon, may we not just take notes but lift our hands. When we grow in Christ, may we not settle for knowledge or behavior — but press on to behold Him.
When you behold God’s greatness, everything else comes into perspective. We see God for who He is, a Good, Good Father.
Let Paul’s final words in Romans 11 be ours, again and again:
“To him be the glory forever. Amen.”
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Invitation to Response:
Maybe today, you’ve realized your relationship with the Bible has been too academic or too transactional. Would you ask God to renew your wonder?
Or maybe you’ve been caught in the cycle of trying to “do better,” but never stopping to worship the One who did it all.
Today, let your heart be recaptured by the wonder of God. Lay down your checklist and pick up your praise. Ask God to make you a worshiper, not just a learner or doer.
Let your theology lead to doxology.
Let your learning lead to loving.
Let your Bible reading end in bowing.
Let every sermon end with your eyes lifted in awe.
Because worship is the point.
