When we’re talking about worship, what is important to you? What do you want in a worship service? For some people is a comfortable, distraction-free environment. For other people, it’s making sure they’re in a good-sized congregation. Others might list style of music, the design of the building, or a time that elicits a feeling or emotion. All of you have an opinion what is important; that’s great. These things I listed are not wrong; they’re just not the main thing. Is it possible to get stuck on the non-essentials until our worship actually becomes an affront to God?
In his article ’Celebrating God in Authentic Worship’, pastor Glenn Wagner (Calvary Church, Charlotte, NC) points out: "I believe that one of the most evangelistic tools the church possesses, one desperately needed in today’s society, is authentic worship. People want to know, first of all, if God exists; then second, can they relate to Him? If God exists, is it really possible to connect with Him in a vibrant, dynamic way? In genuine, authentic worship, observers see real people connecting powerfully with the real God."
"Unfortunately, the current seeker-sensitive model - at least as many churches have practiced it - has led to a weak and anemic view of worship and prayer. That has led to weak and anemic relationships, both with God and with other believers. But the situation does not have to remain unchanged."
"The outflow of a focus on God, a submission to the real Jesus, and an emphasis on ever-deepening relationships is an energetic, joyful, Spirit-filled, congregational worship of the triune God. Genuine celebration erupts when God’s people discover who they are in Christ. And powerful prayer arises from the hearts of those who have truly entered the presence of God." (PreachingNow Newsletter, June 25, 2002).
I asked you a few minutes ago what is important to you when it comes to worship. How many of you before answering these questions first asked, ‘what is important to Jesus?’ Throughout the Bible, we find numerous instructions and exhortations from God on this topic. There are some essential elements for worship that must be present. I’m speaking in the context of our services on Sunday, but this can be applied in our daily lives as well In Genesis Chapter 4 we see a clear difference between our desires and God’s desires and the results.
I. The Reverence of Worship
In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell
Abel recognized that it was God who blessed his herd. He brought a sacrifice to God and it was the best Able had to give to God. There were no leftovers but before all other things, Able brought the firstborn.
Abel recognized something about God. When he brought an offering, he acknowledged the reality of God: His character, His nature, and His Holiness. In bringing his offering affirmed His total dependence upon God. The more we are aware of God’s presence, His character and nature, the deeper our reverence for Him. The distinctive feature of worship is awe in His presence. If we do not possess this reverence, we are not worshipping God. We are no different than Cain bringing the minimum and our lives for ourselves.
II. The Object for Worship
Worship always has an object. There is always someone or something to which worship is directed. It may be God, it may be an idol, or it may be something else, but be assured, if there’s worship, there’s an object of that worship.
When you go back through the OT and look for what it has to say, it’s interesting how much God talks about the object of worship. Usually, God is warning Israel or rebuking Israel about worshiping false gods. The very first of the 10 Commandments was about this:
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth (Exodus 20:2-4)
God knew how wired we are for worship. We must be worshipping. In fact, while God was giving Moses these instructions, Israel was growing impatient at the foot of the mountain and they made a golden calf from their gold for them to worship. (Exodus 32:1-4)
What we worship is what we pour our time and resources. Just like Israel gave up all their gold to make the calf. We will sacrifice our time and treasures. That’s why Jesus said, where your treasure is, there your heart is also.
Worship always has an object. No object of worship, no worship. Every religion of the world has an object of worship. Most of the time we don’t even know what we’re worshipping, we’re just focusing our time and treasure to it. Jesus told the Samaritan Woman, “You Samaritans do not know who you worship (John 4:23) The Apostle Paul was in Athens delivering a speech on Mars Hill
22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth (Acts 17:22-24)
“I believe a very large majority of churchgoers are merely unthinking slumbering worshipers of an unknown God.” (Charleston H. Spurgeon)
I wonder how many people come to church every week like the Samaritan woman or the people of Athens? Do you know Jesus; not about him, but know him. Worship stems from salvation not to it.
Job said, I know that my redeemer lives (Job 19:25)
Jesus said that knowing God is the basis of eternal life (John 17:3)
Paul said that despite his imprisonment he knows the one he believes; (2 Tim 1:2)
III. Word in Worship
An essential element in worship is the Word of God. In fact, all things should be saturated with Scripture. The songs we sing, the prayers we pray, the lessons we teach, the sermons we preach. Every aspect should be rooted in this book.
Jesus said it was God’s word that brings change, growth, and maturity in Luke 8.
Peter confessed, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)
IV. Prayer in Worship
Isn’t it odd that when prayer is offered, requested, or mentioned in service it is done minimally? In Matthew 21:13 Jesus quotes from Isaiah 56 when he said,
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. (Isaiah 56:7)
William Carey said that “secret, fervent, believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness."
Billy Graham said, “Heaven is full of answers to prayers for which no one ever bothered to ask.” Have faith in the God of the dream; let’s ask God to bring the dream to completion. God’s answer is ready; it’s just waiting for our personal and persistent request.”
If we truly want to see Grace become a house of Worship, then let us first become a house of prayer. It doesn’t require a program or parade, it requires God’s people hungry enough to bath this place in prayer. Why is it, that we feel comfortable coming in 15 minutes after service starts when we should be coming in 15 minutes early to
pray?
V. Gratitude in Worship
True thanksgiving does not consist primarily of deeds, but of the disposition of the heart, and it brings persons nearer to God and enables them to see God’s salvation (Ps. 50:23). If a person gives thanks merely for that possessed within himself, then that person expresses self-exaltation and self-deception rather than responding to the grace of God
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100:4)
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 107:1)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)
Giving thanks to God is an essential part of worship because it acknowledges who God is and also His provision for everything you receive in life. Giving thanks is verbally acknowledging God, but it is also putting God first in your giving. If you have a giving problem, you have a heart problem. You cannot give thanks to God without also being generous.
I am amazed at how many people have not problem asking God for more, or complaining because they do not have much, but give absolutely nothing. True thanksgiving is not dependent on how much you make, what your social status is, or your budget. It is the heart of trusting God for all your needs and giving him the first fruits of what you receive. This was the difference between Able’s gift and Cain’s gift.
VI. Serving in Worship
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. (John 13:14-15)
One of the best things we can do in our lives and the church is taking the “me” out of worship. Worship is an encounter with God but is also helping another encounter God as well. This is what Jesus meant to demonstrate to us when he washed his disciples' feet. Stop thinking about yourself and start looking for ways to wash the feet of those around you.
Take a look around you. What are the ways that you can help others worship God? Can you spend one service, one week a month in nursery teaching little ones about Jesus so their parents can do the same? Can you help with the tech? Do you sing? Can you smile and give someone a cup of coffee? There are literally dozens of ways to serve and we have them posted on the board out there.
Many don’t want to serve except to serve themselves. But we all serve something. Some serve the idols of money and materialism. Some serve the idols of addictions. Some serve the idols of entertainment. Some serve gods made in their own image. We are called to remind people that God has created us to serve Him. We are to follow
Jesus in serving others by pouring into life rather than taking from it.
VII. Confession in Worship
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)
The word confesses (hologomen) is a public acknowledgment of True confession is not the mere mental assent that we have done wrong, for even a thief will admit he’s done wrong in the bragging of his accomplishments. No, confession means seeing and agreeing with God how our sins have harmed us and others.
When we worship without confession, we corrupt the purpose of worship. We are seeking happiness instead of holiness. Christianity is reduced to a system of values. Goodness is a secondary issue - the thrust of our worship is being redeemed. Redemption precedes righteousness and righteousness precedes worship. When we worship without acknowledging our unrighteousness apart from Christ, we are approaching God with pride.
This is why Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 11 that we are to examine ourselves before the Lord’s Supper. Yes, we can approach the throne of God boldly, but also with great humility understanding that without Christ we are condemned.
VIII. Music in Worship
What about music? Where does music fit into all of this? I doubt that there is a more contentious subject in churches than music. We tend to break down music in the church into two categories: Hymns and Contemporary. Scripture does it differently, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual songs (Eph 5:19).
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16)
The age of the song is irrelevant, but the purpose of the song is what is important. The purpose of singing in the worship service is two-fold: to give glory to God and to edify or build-up the body of Christ.
Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! (Psalm 149:1)
Dare I say that we’ve lost both of those aspects; glory and edification in many of our songs today? Just because it is popular on the radio does not mean that it belongs to the church. Music is something that God created to bypass the mind and go straight to the heart. Music is to be like opening the curtains of the windows into a dark room to let the light
Corporate praise is for the benefit of the body of Christ, not the individual. If you are worshipping based on your preference, you are not truly worshiping. So we are to harmonies, and lyrics to teach each other the truths of God and to teach the Scriptures. That’s the benefit of music for us. The destination of our praise is always to be toward God.
Music is to accomplish all the previously mentioned aspects of the worship service. If it is not doing that, then we need to change our music. It is not a performance, it is not a show, it is not a spectator event. It is to be shared by us all together; to bring us all together; to praise God together.
Take it to the Cross
Close
Pray
Sermon Notes
1. The Reverence of Worship
2. The Object for Worship
3. Word in Worship
4. Prayer in Worship
5. Gratitude in Worship
6. Serving in Worship
7. Confession in Worship
8. Music in Worship
Study Questions
1. Of the elements covered in this message and listed above, which are the most significant to you in worship? Which one are you most passionate about? Which one do you struggle with the most? Explain your answers
2. Can you recall a worship service that was most memorable to you? What about it was significant?
3. How does music help you in worship? Can you think of a song that has taught you Scripture or doctrinal truths?
4. How can you improve on using these elements in your time of worship, both corporately and privately?
