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INTRODUCTION
When you worship do you experience a sense of mystery? Awe? Wonder?
ILLUS: While taking a class on Worship through Moody Bible Graduate School, we had a special
guest speak to our class. He was a Priest of the Antiochian Orthodox Church. The Orthodox
church is a branch of Christianity that we evangelicals are totally unfamiliar with.
Interesting session. They are into the mystery of worship. We are interested in the
familiarity of worship. But he opened our eyes a bit - Hebrews 12. When we worship we enter
into worship that is already happening in heaven, we are lifted.
Read: Hebrews 12:1, 2, 22-24. We worship in the New Jerusalem now.
Jerusalem of old was called “the city of God.” It was the center of Jewish
worship. People pilgrimed there to worship God. Jerusalem is where the first church was formed on
the day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2. The Church at Jerusalem is the prototype, the example for
us on how we ought to worship.
The Purpose of First Baptist Church.
“Exaltation” = worship, exalting God as our God in the presence of God.
1. The Worship Activities What did they do in that first church for worship?
- v.37-40 - Evangelizing. Testifying about Jesus the Savior.
- v.41 - Baptismal service in Jesus’ name
- v.42 - “Apostle’s teaching” = all about Jesus - life, ethics,
prophecy, commands, death and resurrection, anything and everything about Jesus. The NT
is the teaching of Jesus.
- v. 42 “fellowship” = liked being together to love with joy, it is
tied with “teaching” = talked about spiritual matters not
conservation of weather, politics, work; but about Jesus who He is/what He done.
- v. 42 “breaking bread” = Communion, holy remembrance of Jesus
- v. 42 “prayer” = seasons of prayer, group, sought power of Jesus
- v. 44-45 - shared together. This was because many out of towners came at
Pentecost Feast and were saved. Principle of caring for others
- v.46 - “day by day” = daily worship in temple and in homes.
- v. 46 “meals together” = ate together, nothing like food to unify.
- v.47 - “praising God” = giving God the glory, rejoicing in Him.
- One great result of that exciting worship “all the people” were
impressed = “favor” thus kept doing more evangelism, more baptisms.
ILLUS: Amazing that Peter and the apostles did this without any formal education, no
Bachelors or Master Degree in Ministry. They didn’t have a basic library of
resources. Never attended any seminars/conferences. None of those guys were
published authors at that time. They didn’t have a board or a church staff.
They didn’t use bulletins, sound system, video projection. Yet they knew how
to worship. Just being with Jesus was clearly enough. They were sinners saved by
grace praising God in whatever way possible TOGETHER... Simple and Spontaneous.
Authentic and Awesome. Purposeful and Powerful.
- Are we doing those activities? Yes. However, we do have a tendency to formalize and
legislate structure - we go through the actions, follow forms - but is there genuine
praise and worship?
2. The Worship Atmosphere What was the spirit of their worship?
- v.43 “everyone kept feeling a sense of awe” awe struck, intensity,
an overwhelming sense of amazement and wonder, stunned.
ILLUS: Hearing great preachers, attending great Christian Concerts. Communion
Services, Concerts of Prayer. How about you?
- v. 43 “signs and wonders taking place by apostles” - supernatural
events, God was doing amazing things in their midst. We don’t have the apostles
doing this here, but God is still performing wonders.
- v.46 - “one mind” = unity and pure fellowship - Christians getting
along - imagine that miracle???
- v. 46 “gladness and sincerity of heart” = excited, thanks of faith,
real praise and worship from the heart - not manufactured, contrived.
- v. 47 “praising God” = God was good, all about God.
- When we catch a glimpse of the awesome nature of God, praise and worship is natural
response. We are lifted up to join the heavenly cloud of witnesses rejoicing in the God
of our salvation.
QUOTE: From my Moody notes. - Much of our worship is bringing God down to our level.
Rather we must rise to His level - fear and adoration, in spirit and in truth.
Restoring the mystery, the awe of worship.
- John 4:23-24 Father seeks worshippers - the only mention of what the Father
seeks in the Bible - true worshippers.
- Back to the Jerusalem church - one great result “Lord was adding”
He was in their midst working. Worship was Lord directed, God was focus. SUPERNATURAL!
3. The Worship Application
- What would our worship look like if we really did that one line in our purpose statement
“Exaltation - Worshipping God”?
- NCD captures the concept in two words: “Inspiring Worship”
- Going to church is enjoyable, the Holy Spirit directs and draws people, not about
worship style but about honoring God. God focused.
- Psalm 122:1 “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of
the Lord.’” Psalm 95:1-6
- A worship service involves three elements:
- The Liturgy - order - yes Baptist’s are liturgical
- The Music (singing) - praise and worship - all music
- The Word - reading, preaching, response
- The Ordinances - Baptism and Communion
- Some honest questions from Natural Church Development:
- Is God being honored by our church services?
- Are people connecting with God?
- Do people sense the presence of the Lord?
- Does the music style connect with our people? With visitors?
- Is the music content Biblical?
- Does the order of service (liturgy) flow seamlessly?
- Do we prepare adequately? Advance preparations, prayer, rehearsal
- Is there a heightened anticipation for the service?
- Do the services energize people?
- Do the messages address relevant needs of the people? Are they Biblical? Are we
hearing a word from God?
- Do the messages provide clarity for seekers and depth for maturing Christians?
- Do the ordinances tell our faith story and bring a response from us?
- Do people leave refreshed and recommitted? Wanting more?
A.W. Tozer: “O God, I have tasted of Thy goodness, and it has both
satisfied me and made me thirsty for more...O God, the Triune God, I want to
want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more
thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee
indeed.” (Pursuit, v. 20)
- If we actually do exalt, worship God, this is what it could look like:
- We have high quality worship services where people can experience the presence
of God and desire more of Him in their lives.
- We praise our God together with joyful songs, enthusiastically singing and
making melody in our hearts to the Lord.
- We worship our God together with reverent songs, bowing down before Him our
Creator, Redeemer, and Master.
- We listen intently to the Word read and proclaimed, and respond to God’s
leading with faithful obedience.
- We take seriously the need to confess our sins to God and to others so we can
worship with a clean heart and a renewed spirit.
- We present our tithes and offerings to the Lord out of our bounty and from
cheerful hearts.
- We want to be here because of our devotion to God, not to have to be here
because of duty, or neglect being here because of busyness or laziness.
Heb. 10:25
- We are sensitive to needs of each other, the interests of visitors, encouraging
those we speak to, and enjoying each others fellowship.
- We count it a privilege to participate in the service and continue our service
in practicing the truths by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- We bring pleasure to God in all our gatherings through Jesus Christ to whom
belongs the glory forever and forever. Heb. 13:21
CONCLUSION Invitation - examine your motives/heart for being here...
Why do you attend church? What motivated you to come today?
Did you worship today? Did you enjoy God? Did God enjoy you?
Did you experience a sense of mystery? Awe? Wonder?
This service is the gateway to our church family. This is the main event. We need to do this with
excellence. Somedays??? Can we improve in 2010?
What is your part? Please pray! Please attend! Please invite! Please look to Jesus the author and
finisher of our faith, and give glory to God.
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