What It Means To Worship

What it means to Worship

Romans 12:1-2

I want to introduce you to a mythical church member that I am going to call Kenny. When we first meet Kenny he is attending services at First Church but he left because the services were too formal, every one on the platform wore a tie. He and his family then wandered over to Grace Church because they had a great choir. But before long, we hear they are happy at the Christian Worship Center. But before long they move their membership to the Community Church because of the great bible teaching. After that the youth program at New Hope catches their eye. Now at least for the moment, they are at the church uptown, at least until something else catching their roving eye.

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 that on Sunday morning thousands of churches have more empty pews than full?

Why is it that the average Sunday School in America has less than 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? . . .

The answer to all of these questions is tragically simple! God’s people have made a decision about Jesus but have never truly worship Him.

Worship is not what is taking place around you: It’s what is taking place within you.

Worship is not a time and a place you attend, it’s how we live our life all the time.

Worship is a living testimony, of God in your life.

Rom 12:1-2 NIV

12:1 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. 2 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.

--- William Temple wrote: about worship

"To quicken the conscience by the holiness of God,

to feed the mind with the truth of God,

to purge the imagination with the beauty of God,

to give the heart to the love of God,

to devote the will to the purpose of God."

INTRODUCTION:

It seems that very few Christians know much about true worship. Christians in most churches have never worshipped God.

We go to church, but we don’t worship.

We sing songs, but we don’t worship.

We listen to sermons, but we don’t worship.

All of these things are elements of worship but they are not worship in and of themselves which means that you can do all of them and yet have failed to truly worship God.

We Christians often mistake the means of worship for worship itself.

When our minds are else were, not centered on God. This is not worship

When we have not fully surrendered we are not worshipping.

When we are dragging our feet, we are not worshipping God

Worship is what we bring to our service. They should reflect our relationship with our father

Worship is communion with God

Worship is experiencing God in everything

Worship is celebrating God in all circumstances.

Ps 95:1-6 NIV

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

3 For the LORD is the great God,

the great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

5 The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

The 95th Psalm, is an inviting and warranted call to worship God.

Ever mindful of the covenant God had made with his people, the psalmist was summoning one and all to celebrate with him the grace and guidance they were continuing to receive each day.

Verses 1 and 2 of the psalm voice a festive call to join in celebrative song in God’s honor, and verses 3 through 5 are a reminding, well-stated reason for it all.

Verse 6, my text, reminds us of the humble spirit in which worship is best done.

We become like what we worship. If we:

a. Worship possessions, become a materialistic person.

b. Worship money, become a greedy person.