The Reason We're Here In Church

THE REASON WE’RE HERE IN CHURCH

Mark 2:23-28

Introduction: Story of woman shelling peas in church. Do you know why you’re here? Do you worry with others behavior? Dress? Presence? Today we’ll seek to answer why you’re here. Clear your mind. Focus only on God and let His Holy Spirit speak to your heart. You are here to worship God. No other reason.

I. Are you a disciple or a Pharisee?

A. Pharisees worship best when someone is watching. ILLUS 704 - Story of King Tut – 4 caskets, gold leaf, gold mask, but dead on the inside.

B. Disciples have a life style of worship. ILLUS 485 – Do you apply the same standards of faithfulness to your Christian activities that you expect from the other areas of your life? If your car starts once every 3 times is it reliable? If your paperboy skips delivery every Monday and Thursday is he trustworthy? If you don’t go to work once or twice a month, are you a loyal employee? If your refrigerator stops working for a day or two every now and then, is that all right with you? If you water heater provides an icy cold shower every now and then is it dependable? If you miss a couple of loan payments every year does your bank look the other way? If you fail to worship God one or two Sundays per month would you expect to be called a faithful Christian? We expect faithfulness and reliability from things and other people. God expects the same from us.

1. Story of David and the Shewbread.

2. BARCLAY – Shewbread was never so sacred as when it fed a hungry man, the Sabbath was never so sacred as when it used to help someone in need.

3. The king’s business was urgent, how much more urgent the Father’s business!

4. David lied – Jesus again is our perfect example.

a. David filled a need not a want

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II. The Sabbath was made for worship.

A. Worship is the core reason we are here. ILLUS 1506 – Henry Ward Beecher’s brother Thomas at the church.

1. Man needs worship. Whether you realize it or not.

B. We should gain from worship.

1. Worship is a blessing not a burden.

2. Worship fills our tanks.

C. Sabbath Rules are designed to get us to focus on God.

1. Man-made rules detract from our focus.

III. God deserves our worship. – ILLUS 574 Pope Gregory the Great once said: “Almost everything said of God is unworthy, for the very reason it is capable of being said.”

A. Jesus deserves our worship because he is God. (John 1:1,2,14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

B. Through our worship God works in our lives 24/7. (Lifestyle of worship)

Conclusion: