This week we are going to consider worship from a personal standpoint. Not thinking about corporate worship, but individual one-on-one worship of God from our own heart.
How is individual worship different than the worship we experience as a group?
Luke 1:46-55
Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46And Mary said,"My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.
Remember how we discussed the idea that Worshipping God is a spiritual activity? (John 4)These verses demonstrate that by Mary’s description of her Soul and her Spirit.
We know Mary’s situation, what do these verses in particular tell us about her worship of God?
She feels blessed, she is focused on God, She is happy and rejoicing.
What parts of God’s character and actions are emphasized here?
As you worship God, what parts of God’s character and actions do you focus on the most? Why?
How does bringing these character components and acts help us to worship God?
Mary had a unique experience with God where she learned first-hand about God’s blessings.
Each time I worship God, I bring my own experiences and encounters with Him along with me. I don’t have any experiences like Mary’s but I do have some recurring things that I come back to over and over, Thanking God, and praising Him for. One of them is my family. Another is my health. Another is my church family. In each of these areas I have seen God demonstrate many of these same character traits that Mary cited in her song of praise. He has done great things for me, He is strong, He keeps his promises, I am blessed.
What personal experiences have you had that allow you to worship God in a personal way?
Personal worship should be personal. As you worship God during this Christmas season, remember to praise Him for something that He has revealed to you personally.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
The Object of our worship
Last week we talked about how worship is a spiritual act, something that arises in our hearts and should be done in spirit and in truth.
Today, we are going to look at a practical example of worship, focusing on who we are worshipping. One of the reasons we are able to worship God is because of His perfect character. Who God is and what He does in our lives gives us endless reason to worship Him.
As we read Psalm 138, let’s look at what it tells us about the object of our worship – our heavenly Father.
1 I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing praises to You before the gods.
2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.
3 On the day I called, You answered me;
You made me bold with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O LORD,
When they have heard the words of Your mouth.
5 And they will sing of the ways of the LORD,
For great is the glory of the LORD.
6 For though the LORD is exalted,
Yet He regards the lowly,
But the haughty He knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
8 The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Taking this passage in 3 parts: Part 1 is 1-3
What does this passage say about the Psalmist’s attitude in the beginning?
What do these verses say about God?
Part 2 4-6
What does this passage say about God’s authority and position?
What about his connection with us?
What about his connection with the haughty? disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant;
Part 3 7-8
What do these verses say about our trouble?
Which is more important – to know that God will accomplish what He intends, or to express that we know he will accomplish what He intends? (could be said about all this stuff, the expression and acknowledgment is the worship part).
Today, we are going to look at a practical example of worship, focusing on who we are worshipping. One of the reasons we are able to worship God is because of His perfect character. Who God is and what He does in our lives gives us endless reason to worship Him.
As we read Psalm 138, let’s look at what it tells us about the object of our worship – our heavenly Father.
1 I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing praises to You before the gods.
2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.
3 On the day I called, You answered me;
You made me bold with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O LORD,
When they have heard the words of Your mouth.
5 And they will sing of the ways of the LORD,
For great is the glory of the LORD.
6 For though the LORD is exalted,
Yet He regards the lowly,
But the haughty He knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
8 The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Taking this passage in 3 parts: Part 1 is 1-3
What does this passage say about the Psalmist’s attitude in the beginning?
What do these verses say about God?
Part 2 4-6
What does this passage say about God’s authority and position?
What about his connection with us?
What about his connection with the haughty? disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant;
Part 3 7-8
What do these verses say about our trouble?
Which is more important – to know that God will accomplish what He intends, or to express that we know he will accomplish what He intends? (could be said about all this stuff, the expression and acknowledgment is the worship part).
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Putting Worship in its Place
Where is the most beautiful church you have ever seen? (not a trick question)
Jesus addressed the place of worship in his encounter with the woman at the well.
John 4:19-26
The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” 21 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; By "you" Jesus meant the Samaritans (plural "you" in Gr.). They worshipped a God whom they did not really know. The reason for this was their rejection of most of His revelation in the Old Testament. we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” 26 Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
Part of the old controversy involved the proper place of worship. In Deuteronomy 12:5 God had said that His people were to seek the place that He would choose among their tribes where He would dwell among them. The Jews, accepting all the Old Testament as authoritative, saw God doing this later when He commanded David to build the temple in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 7:13; 1 Kings 11:13; 14:21; 2 Chron. 6:6; 12:13). The Samaritans, who acknowledged only the authority of the Pentateuch, believed that Mount Gerizim near Shechem was the place that God had appointed. They based this belief on the fact that God had told the Israelites to worship Him on Mt. Gerizim after they entered the Promised Land (Deut. 11:29-30; 27:2-7, 12). (Soniclight.org, Dr. Thomas Constable)
Just as Jesus turned the conversation away from water to the woman’s more personal and serious needs, He turns the conversation from the unimportant aspect of location of worship to the paramount aspect of how to worship. In spirit and in truth. This is a hendiady, a figure of speech (greek grammatical construction) in which the speaker expresses a single complex idea by joining two things with "and" instead of using an adjective and a noun. Though the idea is one, it has two components.
Spirit – How is worship Spiritual? Worship is spiritual in every respect: in its source, mediator, object. It rises from the spirit of the worshipper, not just his or her mouth; it is heartfelt. Moreover it proceeds from a person who has spiritual life because of the new birth that the Holy Spirit has effected. It passes from believers to God through a spiritual mediator, namely, Jesus Christ. Its object is spiritual, namely, God who is spirit. Its subject is spiritual matters.
Truth – What does it mean to worship in truth? "Truth" in this context contrasts with the hypocrisy that characterized so much of Jewish and Samaritan worship, which is still present in worship today. It is sincere, God-centered worship rather than just going through motions or worshipping for what we can get out of it instead of as an offering to the Lord.
Isaiah 29:13-14
13 Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, 14 Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.”
V23 Says that the Father seeks true worshippers. Do we ever go into a worship service here and rely on tradition, repetition, or any non-spiritual factors to worship God? Is there any good in that? How can we make sure we are combining spirit and truth in worship at each opportunity?
Jesus addressed the place of worship in his encounter with the woman at the well.
John 4:19-26
The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” 21 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; By "you" Jesus meant the Samaritans (plural "you" in Gr.). They worshipped a God whom they did not really know. The reason for this was their rejection of most of His revelation in the Old Testament. we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” 26 Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
Part of the old controversy involved the proper place of worship. In Deuteronomy 12:5 God had said that His people were to seek the place that He would choose among their tribes where He would dwell among them. The Jews, accepting all the Old Testament as authoritative, saw God doing this later when He commanded David to build the temple in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 7:13; 1 Kings 11:13; 14:21; 2 Chron. 6:6; 12:13). The Samaritans, who acknowledged only the authority of the Pentateuch, believed that Mount Gerizim near Shechem was the place that God had appointed. They based this belief on the fact that God had told the Israelites to worship Him on Mt. Gerizim after they entered the Promised Land (Deut. 11:29-30; 27:2-7, 12). (Soniclight.org, Dr. Thomas Constable)
Just as Jesus turned the conversation away from water to the woman’s more personal and serious needs, He turns the conversation from the unimportant aspect of location of worship to the paramount aspect of how to worship. In spirit and in truth. This is a hendiady, a figure of speech (greek grammatical construction) in which the speaker expresses a single complex idea by joining two things with "and" instead of using an adjective and a noun. Though the idea is one, it has two components.
Spirit – How is worship Spiritual? Worship is spiritual in every respect: in its source, mediator, object. It rises from the spirit of the worshipper, not just his or her mouth; it is heartfelt. Moreover it proceeds from a person who has spiritual life because of the new birth that the Holy Spirit has effected. It passes from believers to God through a spiritual mediator, namely, Jesus Christ. Its object is spiritual, namely, God who is spirit. Its subject is spiritual matters.
Truth – What does it mean to worship in truth? "Truth" in this context contrasts with the hypocrisy that characterized so much of Jewish and Samaritan worship, which is still present in worship today. It is sincere, God-centered worship rather than just going through motions or worshipping for what we can get out of it instead of as an offering to the Lord.
Isaiah 29:13-14
13 Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, 14 Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous; And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.”
V23 Says that the Father seeks true worshippers. Do we ever go into a worship service here and rely on tradition, repetition, or any non-spiritual factors to worship God? Is there any good in that? How can we make sure we are combining spirit and truth in worship at each opportunity?
Sunday, November 6, 2011
A Picture of Worship
Based on Revelation 4:1-11
While this session is not a study of the book of Revelation, it should be noted that this book is apocalyptic in much of its writing and was written to show believers what would take place in future times (1:1, 1:19). The passage in chapter 4 is a vision of heaven, where John witnesses worship of God in a perfect setting.
Read Revelation 4:1-11
The passage is full of symbolism and elements that would make a great study – but since the focus of our study is on worship we need to examine verses 8-11 in more detail.
Discussion Questions
In the heavenly setting, what do the 4 living creatures say about God? Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord…
What do they give to God? Glory and honor and thanks
How do the 24 elders respond? They fall down before God and worship Him, casting their crowns…
What do they say? Worthy are You our Lord and our God…
Clearly the TOTAL focus of all that is going on is Almighty God. There is nothing that could possibly upstage this worship, but that is not always the case with our worship. What are a few things that take our attention away from God during worship? My to do list, Lunch (ouch), a noisy baby, someone behind me singing off-key, the coffee was a little cool in community group this morning….
How can we place and keep our focus on God throughout our worship time?
1)Prepare for worship – Forgive others, Repent of personal sin, Praise God for who He is, thank God for something He has done, make a decision in advance to be a worshipper for the duration of the service.
2)Participate in worship – Sing the songs, think about the words, pray along with the person who is praying out loud, give an offering, concentrate on the scripture as it is read, consider how the message might apply to you (even if you don’t think it does), ask God for help in being the worshiper He wants you to be.
In John’s vision the 24 elders responded (as discussed above) in a meaningful way.
What kind of response do you think God expects from us after worshiping Him?
While this session is not a study of the book of Revelation, it should be noted that this book is apocalyptic in much of its writing and was written to show believers what would take place in future times (1:1, 1:19). The passage in chapter 4 is a vision of heaven, where John witnesses worship of God in a perfect setting.
Read Revelation 4:1-11
The passage is full of symbolism and elements that would make a great study – but since the focus of our study is on worship we need to examine verses 8-11 in more detail.
Discussion Questions
In the heavenly setting, what do the 4 living creatures say about God? Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord…
What do they give to God? Glory and honor and thanks
How do the 24 elders respond? They fall down before God and worship Him, casting their crowns…
What do they say? Worthy are You our Lord and our God…
Clearly the TOTAL focus of all that is going on is Almighty God. There is nothing that could possibly upstage this worship, but that is not always the case with our worship. What are a few things that take our attention away from God during worship? My to do list, Lunch (ouch), a noisy baby, someone behind me singing off-key, the coffee was a little cool in community group this morning….
How can we place and keep our focus on God throughout our worship time?
1)Prepare for worship – Forgive others, Repent of personal sin, Praise God for who He is, thank God for something He has done, make a decision in advance to be a worshipper for the duration of the service.
2)Participate in worship – Sing the songs, think about the words, pray along with the person who is praying out loud, give an offering, concentrate on the scripture as it is read, consider how the message might apply to you (even if you don’t think it does), ask God for help in being the worshiper He wants you to be.
In John’s vision the 24 elders responded (as discussed above) in a meaningful way.
What kind of response do you think God expects from us after worshiping Him?
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Romans 12:14-21 Week 6
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This passage talks about how to deal with people who might be our “enemy”.
Where do we encounter enemies? Are your enemies hungry? Thirsty? – What needs might your enemy have?
Jesus taught about this topic. Matthew 5:43-48.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The challenge in these verses is to LOVE your enemy. Does this love come by flipping the “Love/hate” switch, or is it more complicated? What else is involved? Forgiveness, an eternal perspective, focus not on myself, humility, being like Christ.
Jesus also Modeled this behavior – on the cross. Luke 23:32-34
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Jesus forgave the men who crucified Him on the cross.
What do you need to forgive?
Ephesians 4:32 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Can we have enemies in the church? If so, how should we treat them in light of this verse?
This passage talks about how to deal with people who might be our “enemy”.
Where do we encounter enemies? Are your enemies hungry? Thirsty? – What needs might your enemy have?
Jesus taught about this topic. Matthew 5:43-48.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The challenge in these verses is to LOVE your enemy. Does this love come by flipping the “Love/hate” switch, or is it more complicated? What else is involved? Forgiveness, an eternal perspective, focus not on myself, humility, being like Christ.
Jesus also Modeled this behavior – on the cross. Luke 23:32-34
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Jesus forgave the men who crucified Him on the cross.
What do you need to forgive?
Ephesians 4:32 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Can we have enemies in the church? If so, how should we treat them in light of this verse?
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Romans 12:9-13 Week 5
Serving in Love
This passage describes how we can interact with one another in a way that pleases God.
One of the commands here is to love one another with brotherly love.
What is an example of brotherly love that you have seen among believers?
How can we show honor for other believers?
One important aspect of this passage is that it focuses on our relationships with one another.
What barriers do we face in making the most of our relationships with one another in this group?
Too Busy? Don’t see the need?
I really don’t like the “vending Machine” mentality of Christianity. It emphasizes that if you put in your .25 worth of prayer, or attendance, or whatever, you get these great benefits: “blessings, Answers to your prayers, … the good life”. That is really problematic because God calls us to many things that can be unpleasant. Sanctification, sacrifice, unpopularity, the list goes on. BUT, in spite of that, MANY of the things God commands us to do through scripture are for our good. When we love each other with brotherly love, or outdo someone in showing honor, the result is a blessing that is difficult to describe with words. There are so many good things that come out of relationships with other believers that we might miss if we don’t invest in them.
What might we do differently as a group to make the most of our relationships with one another?
This passage describes how we can interact with one another in a way that pleases God.
One of the commands here is to love one another with brotherly love.
What is an example of brotherly love that you have seen among believers?
How can we show honor for other believers?
One important aspect of this passage is that it focuses on our relationships with one another.
What barriers do we face in making the most of our relationships with one another in this group?
Too Busy? Don’t see the need?
I really don’t like the “vending Machine” mentality of Christianity. It emphasizes that if you put in your .25 worth of prayer, or attendance, or whatever, you get these great benefits: “blessings, Answers to your prayers, … the good life”. That is really problematic because God calls us to many things that can be unpleasant. Sanctification, sacrifice, unpopularity, the list goes on. BUT, in spite of that, MANY of the things God commands us to do through scripture are for our good. When we love each other with brotherly love, or outdo someone in showing honor, the result is a blessing that is difficult to describe with words. There are so many good things that come out of relationships with other believers that we might miss if we don’t invest in them.
What might we do differently as a group to make the most of our relationships with one another?
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Romans 12:3-8 – Week 4
Sober in Self Assessment
What is the best compliment you have ever gotten?
How do other people’s assessment of you affect your self-image?
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Our view of ourselves impacts how we carry out our individual mission.
Rate yourself 1-10 on the following:
Intelligence
Athletic Ability
Physical appearance
Social interaction
Personal Relationships
Take a rough average and save that number.
Let’s do the same exercise using some of the qualities (gifts) in the passage.
Sharing your faith with others (Prophesy-communicating revealed truth)
Serving others
Teach others
Encouraging others
Giving
Leadership
Mercy
Take a rough average and save that number.
What is are some of the differences in these two lists?
The first is self-assessment is things that others might evaluate me on, the second list is made of things that are used to build up the Body of Christ.
What do these verses say about how these gifts should be used?
Is there a relationship between our self image and our ability to use our gifts the way God intended?
Why does God put such different people together?
What is the CAUTION – Don’t think more highly of yourself than you should. We are all in this together.
What is the best compliment you have ever gotten?
How do other people’s assessment of you affect your self-image?
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Our view of ourselves impacts how we carry out our individual mission.
Rate yourself 1-10 on the following:
Intelligence
Athletic Ability
Physical appearance
Social interaction
Personal Relationships
Take a rough average and save that number.
Let’s do the same exercise using some of the qualities (gifts) in the passage.
Sharing your faith with others (Prophesy-communicating revealed truth)
Serving others
Teach others
Encouraging others
Giving
Leadership
Mercy
Take a rough average and save that number.
What is are some of the differences in these two lists?
The first is self-assessment is things that others might evaluate me on, the second list is made of things that are used to build up the Body of Christ.
What do these verses say about how these gifts should be used?
Is there a relationship between our self image and our ability to use our gifts the way God intended?
Why does God put such different people together?
What is the CAUTION – Don’t think more highly of yourself than you should. We are all in this together.
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