Message: “God First” from Merle Shenk
January 14, 2020Message: “God’s Purpose for the Church” from Merle Shenk
January 28, 2020Merle Shenk - August 23, 2020
Why Worship?
WHY WORSHIP - Sermon Notes Fill in the blank: Why Worship? Perspective Shift!The battle of our current age is a battle over narrative, over Worldview and over perspective. Worship helps to align us to the God’s narrative, a God’s world view and God’s perspective. God’s Throne is built in our midst as we praise Him.- Psalms 22:3 (ESV) 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Other translations say that God inhabits our Praise Where He shows up He rules! - 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV) 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Where the Spirit is Lord there is Freedom. Worship is not just a song: Worship is Both a lifestyle and it is an act. Worship as a lifestyle: God Rejoices over us! Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV) 17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. David Prophesies the words of Jesus in Hebrews 2:12 (ESV) 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” God knows how to worship God best! Worship can be an expression of CreativityGod is a creative God. He is lavish in His creativity. He takes pleasure in His creation. He has created us with Creativity we can worship Him by giving it back to Him. When we create in connection to His design and plan we are moving in His likeness as we were created, it is Worship. Worship as a Lifestyle1 Thessalonians 5:16 -18 (ESV) 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. Choosing to rejoice, pray and give thanks in the good times as well as when life is hard is how we connect and apply the truth of God’s presence in our lives. You are the steward of your own Joy levelIn the world you rejoice because you have Joy, in the Kingdom you have Joy because you rejoice. We are not rejoicing in what the world provides but we are rejoicing in what God has provided! Matthew 5:11-12 (ESV) 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 1 Peter 1:6-9 (ESV) 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Theologically, Why do Charismatic churches pay some much attention to Psalms? (Aren’t they just poetic and we can’t really count on them for theology and practice?)David was a man after God’s own heart Acts 15:16-18 (ESV) 16 “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’ It is God’s will for the church today. Worship as an act:Worshipping as a Sacrifice2 Samuel 24:24 (ESV) 24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. When worship is hard. It is sacrificial when you worship Him in grief, in the midst of pain and when you do not understand. It is an act of worship that can only be given to God on this side of heaven. Worship in the midst of pain, grief and questions:2 Samuel 12:20 (ESV) 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Hebrews 13:15-16 (ESV) 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Why Worship? He is worthyOur worship of God should not be based upon us and how we feel but upon Him and who He is. Revelation 4:11 (ESV) 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Notes: