Worship: Why Do We Gather?

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16

Our Mission

The mission of First Baptist Church is to develop missionary disciples who worship God, grow spiritually, and share the Gospel and their spiritual gifts.

Worship. Grow. Share.

  • WORSHIP – Lives made to glorify God and recognize Jesus Christ as Lord
  • GROW – Developing Disciples, Spiritual Growth & Maturity, Fellowship
  • SHARE – Called to share the Good News of the Gospel and God’s love with our community & the world and to share our spiritual gifts and abilities

Worship Defined

1: to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power

2: to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worship

God’s Word tells us that worship is not just what we do with our actions, it’s really a matter of our heart and attitude.

God created us to be worshippers of Him. Who or what we love most will determine who or what we genuinely worship. Is it only our singing that is worship? No, it should encompass the whole service if it is properly focused on God.

Jesus said, the greatest command in all of Scripture is this:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”

Matthew 22:37

Idolatry

Worshipping someone or something other than God is idolatry. Whenever we love and serve anything or anyone in place of God we are practicing idolatry.  If we think idolatry is limited to wooden statues or little bronze buddhas we are far from the truth. Idolatry is the greatest trap people encounter that’s why God warns against it so many times in the Bible.

Pastor Brad Bigney suggests that to help identify idols in our hearts, ask yourself these questions:

  1. Am I willing to sin to get this?
  2. Am I willing to sin if I think I’m going to lose this?
  3. Do I turn to this as a ‘refuge’ and comfort instead of going to God?

Idols are all around us but sometimes they may even be disguised as good things: financial security, physical pleasure, comfort, good health, reputation, family, relationships, power, control. If these things are more important to us than God they will capture our hearts and our minds.

John said, Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)

Old Testament Example of Corporate Worship

1 Chronicles 16

  1. Invoke – Call on God.

We need to make it clear that He is the object of our worship and that He alone is the reason we gather together. This focus on God should remove our personal preferences and any focus or exalting of ourselves as worshipers – whether we are on the platform leading a song or standing on the floor, sitting in our seats or watching online from home – it’s all about God.

  1. Thank – Recall what God has done and thank Him.

Like this morning, we hear testimonies of what God has done or is doing in someone’s life. Doesn’t that encourage you when you are struggling with a similar problem or even one totally unrelated? We need to be reminded that God is faithful and that He hears our prayers and walks through valleys with us. And we need to remember to thank Him and recognize that it is He who saves and delivers us again and again.

  1. Praise – Declare who God is – His attributes, His character.

In our words and in our songs we need to talk about God and His Holiness, His majesty, His power, His everlasting love, His justice, His mercy, His kindness. Again we are focusing our thoughts and our hearts on the Almighty God. He alone is worthy of our worship and praise.

  1. Proclaim His deeds – Teach what God has done
  2. Sing to God
  3. Glory in His Name – focused on God not people
  4. Look for God – recognize His strength & presence in our lives
  5. Remember His eternal Covenant Promises

Teaching about God, His Commands, and His Promises  (1 Chronicles 16:15)

Preaching & Teaching the whole Bible – not just comforting or favorite parts

  1.  Proclaim God’s salvation to others – share the Gospel
  2. Show God’s glory to the Nations – your life as a testimony to family, coworkers, neighbors
  3.  Hold God up and have healthy fear and Awe – He is Creator, His Splendor, His Majesty, His Strength, His Joy
  4. Bring an offering – your best: time & money
  5. God is good – He is Faithful – His love is everlasting
  6.  Ask God to save us – where do you turn for help & comfort?
  7.  AMEN – All the People agreed. When we worship together we find UNITY.
  8. People went out and obeyed God – live it through the week
  9. Everyone went home, and David went home to bless his family.

When you return home from church, do you actually change and bring blessings (good things from God) to your family as a result of what you heard, sang, and said?

New Testament Example – Elements of Corporate Worship

Ephesians 5:18-21  – Adam read this passage for us earlier.

  • Be filled with the Holy Spirit
  • Sing psalms, hymns, spiritual songs
  • Give thanks to God
  • Submitting to one another – serving & loving each other in humility

Take Homes

Is worshipping God together on Sunday a priority for you and your family?

Do you love God more than anyone or anything else?

Do you really recognize & magnify God’s holiness and greatness?

 Do you know God so well that you see that He alone is worthy of all of your worship and praise?

Our ultimate purpose in life is knowing God and declaring His Glory to those around us.

Lord help us to do that each and every day.

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you can’t have a personal relationship with God and all this talk about worship may sound strange. Come talk to me if you want to know more.