Worship Style Vs. Substance Part Ii Series

Worship: Style Verses Substance

Part II

Psalm 96:1-13

Purpose: To describe how to get closer to our God.

Aim: I want the listener to work at intentionally worshiping God.

INTRODUCTION: The media industry is obsessed with glory. Magazines and other publications seek to display the beauty and the talents, that is: The glory of actors, singers and other famous people. It doesn’t matter if its Sport’s Illustrated, American Idol, or dancing with the stars, they all exist to display the glory various people. We have an inborn desire to be associated with glory. Our goal as Christians, though, should be to be to focus on the glory of God instead of the glory of people or things in this world.

Paul said that we are sinful people because we have, “...worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 1:25 NAU).

REVIEW:

I. What Is Worship?

✔ Biblical worship is an expression of intense love for God with a deep sense of reverence.

II. How Can We Tell When Worship is Real?

A. Worship is not ritual

B. Worship does not require a place

C. Worship requires a revelation of God

D. Worship must be through Christ alone

III. How is Worship Expressed?

A. Worship is expressed through joyful praise

B. Worship is expressed through thankfulness

C. Worship is expressed in our self-sacrifice

D. Worship is expressed in our love for others

E. Worship is expressed in music

LESSON:

IV. What Are the Results of Worship?

A. Real worship brings a greater awareness of the presence of God

☛ In 2 Chronicles 5:13 we find what God required before He revealed His presence: in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord saying, “He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, (NAU)

Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. (NAU) Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. (NAU)

✔ Psalm 16:11 . . . In Your presence is fullness of joy . . . . (NAU)

B. Real worship brings greater strength to serve God

☛ 2 Chronicles 20:15-22 15 and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 16 ‘Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 ‘You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” 18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice. 20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.” 21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 22 When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed. (NAU)

✔ Psalm 18:3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. (NAU)

“Worship prepares the heart and makes prayer, Bible study, and obedience a great privilege and joy, a real delight instead of a duty.” Walter Werner

C. Real worship brings greater contentment with God

☛ Psalm 63:1-5 1 You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. 4 So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. (NAU)