Sunday Morning Religion

The curse of the 20th Century is Sunday-morning religion. Now, there’s nothing wrong with Sunday-morning religion, but the problem is that so many people have only a Sunday-morning religion. Somebody wrote these words: “They’re praising God on Sunday, but they’ll be all right on Monday. It’s just a little habit they’ve acquired.” Well then, we come to church, then, to worship God on Sunday—and, well we ought. But, folks, we ought not simply come to worship; we ought to bring our worship to church. And, when we leave this building, we ought to take our worship with us, because, you see, the Bible teaches that when we’re right with God, every day is a holy day, every act is to be a sacred deed, and everything we do we’re to do to the glory of God.

Now, look in verse 16—would you, please? Colossians chapter 3 and verse 16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). Now, that’s what we call a worship service! That’s a wonderful, wonderful definition of a worship service. Read it again: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.” And, how wonderful that is! Oh, how God wants us to worship Him.

Why does God want us to worship Him? Why does God want us to do this? Does our worship enrich God? I mean, if you give God your money, God is no richer. If you give God your strength, God is no stronger. If you give God your knowledge, God doesn’t learn anything. God is God; but yet, God wants us to love Him and worship Him, because He is love. And, love wants to give, and love wants to receive. And, God wants us to worship Him—not primarily for what worship does for us or what worship does for Him, but for what worship does for us, because we become like what we worship. If you worship idols, you become like idols. The man molds the idol; and then, the idol molds the man. If we worship the Lord Jesus, we become like the Lord Jesus.

But now, here’s the wonderful thing about worship: Somebody, this morning, can give more money than you can; somebody can sing better than you; somebody can understand the Word of God better than you; and some can teach the Word of God better than you; but no one can worship better than you. Think about it. No one can worship better than you. You can have all of God you want. And, it’s not your duty to persuade God to bless you, but to permit Him to do so. And, the simplest child here can worship God with a full heart, a pure heart, and, therefore, please God, and be blessed. So, verse 16 speaks of worship. It’s a wonderful, wonderful command: letting the Word of God dwell in us richly, teaching, admonishing one another, singing and praising God in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16). I love the worship service. I’ve already been blessed this morning by the worship service.

But, worship will not end when we leave this building. Worship extends to all of life. Look, if you will now, in verse 17. Look at it: “And…”—notice that’s a conjunction; it ties together verses 16 and 17—“And whatsoever ye do…”—now, this is going beyond the worship service—“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed…”—now, watch this. It’s highlighted in my Bible; it ought to be, in your Bible—“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do”—a-double-l, all—“all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). Real worship extends to all of life—every deed, everyday.

What is worship? Worship is doing everything in the name of Jesus and giving God thanks for it. Let me say that again: Worship is doing everything in the name of Jesus, and giving God thanks for it, according to verse 17. “Well, Pastor, why is that?” Well, what is worship? Isn’t worship glorifying God? Well then, if you do everything in the name of Jesus, and give God thanks for it, wouldn’t that glorify God?

Put these verses in your margin—1 Peter chapter 4 and verse 11: “That God in all things may be glorified” (1 Peter 4:11). That is, in everything you do, God is to be glorified. Or, here’s a great verse—put this one down: 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 31: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Eating your lunch today ought to be for the glory of God— anything that you do. And, after lunch today, if you get to do the dishes, doing dishes ought to be for the glory of God. One homemaker had this sign up over her kitchen sink: “Divine services held here three times a day, doing dishes.” That’s what the verse says: Whether you eat, or whether you drink, or whatsoever you do, do it all to the glory of God.