May 28, 2023

YOU ASKED FOR IT: WHAT IS WORSHIP?

May 28, 2023

Charles Billingsley

“Father, You are wonderful, You are lovely, You are holy, and You are worthy. There are no words to adequately describe Your beauty, Your glory, Your wonder. Lord, as best we know how, with our finite abilities and our small minds, we try to describe who You are and what you are, and yet it’s impossible. And so, Lord, in the presence of Your holiness today, we worship You as best we know how. In spite of all the distractions and all the stuff going on in our lives, we set aside these moments for You and You alone. Our prayer is that You would help us to stay alert and focused as we open Your word and see what You have to say about this most important subject in the world, for all eternity, the reason all creation exists—the subject of worship. Open our minds, our hearts, our ears, so that we may learn from You. Amen” This opening prayer by Pastor Charles is the epitome of the essence of worship. Please join us.

Focal passages: Deut. 6:4-5; Mark 12:30; Colossians 1:15-17, 3:2; Philippians 4:6-8; Proverbs 4:23, 23:7; James 3:10-12.

What Is Worship

  • Read Deut. 6:4-5 and Mark 12:30. What is the simplest definition of worship? Read Col. 1:15-17. What are reasons from this passage to worship God? Where is our expression of thanksgiving centered when we are worshiping?
  • What is our entire mind focused on when we are truly worshiping? Why should worship not be confined to the music part of a Sunday morning service? Read 1 Cor. 10:31. Why is Sunday morning not what God has in mind when He speaks of worship?
  • Read Phil. 4:6-8. What does it mean to have a lifestyle of worship? Where does worship begin? How can we use the Sunday morning service to springboard off of for our entire week, worshiping Him every day?
  • In verse 8, what should be the focus of our thought life? Explain why sin cannot get a foothold when our minds are centered on Christ?
  • Read Eph. 5:18-19. Why is it good to praise God “in your mind” while you are going about your daily life? What does this mean: “The mind is a powerful thing. Our thoughts determine our actions.”?

So, what are we supposed to think about?

  • Read Phil. 4:8 again. What are some examples of things that happen in our lives that are praiseworthy? How does one “meditate” on things that are on this list? How long do you normally dwell on something that is great, before going on to something else?
  • What are things that you would applaud God for doing for you? When He has done something wondrous for you, do you set aside days of praise and thanksgiving for the answer, in relation to the number of days you prayed about a certain need?

What are some roadblocks that can hinder a lifestyle of worship?

  • Read Prov. 4:23. What are some worldly distractions that occur daily that interrupt our mental or physical worship?
  • What are some things in our homes (besides distractions) that can hinder our worship? How can we learn to keep these to a minimum?
  • Read James 3:10-12. What is the effect profanity or other sins of the tongue have on worship? How does our language affect our testimony? How does God feel about our words?

Why should I live a lifestyle of worship?

  • Read Psalm 3. Why does God deserve worship? Why does the world hate Him so much? What are the four things that man will worship if he does not worship God?
  • Augustine said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in every heart that only Christ can fill.” Why did he say this?
  • What are reasons you can list as to why God deserves your worship? Read Romans 1:18-21. What happens to those who know in their souls there is a God, but decide not to honor or worship Him? Eventually, what does God do? Do you find it hard to conceive that so few really want to love and serve Him, since He is so good to us?

Close:

What are some of the responses of your mind or your heart when you stand at the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, or view part of the Grand Canyon, or feel the sand on the beach as you watch the waves roaring toward land, or watch the sunrise or sunset over the horizon of the ocean? What happens when you see a beautiful snowfall, or fields of flowers in a myriad of riotous color, or a double rainbow?

Has it crossed your mind to wonder at the number of songs that have been written about the beauty of God, or of Jesus, and you think, how do they know He is beautiful? Suddenly, as you watch the sky with hundreds of shades of blue, pink, and purple, with white clouds and a golden sun, your breath is taken away by the beauty, and you grasp the fact that it takes One whose beauty is beyond imagination to create such amazing loveliness here on earth.

Why do we worship Him? Because He made us like Himself, to love, to have emotion, to work, to desire holiness, and so much more. And He provided a way for us to live with Him forever. We worship Him for giving His Son so that we don’t have to die in our sins and wretchedness. We don’t have to go to Hell where Satan will be, and where life will go on forever without anything except horror. He didn’t have to make that way for us. He could have left us in our sins, and in Hell, for eternity.

Worship Him? Why would we not? He is everything that satisfies our soul’s desire.

By Sandy Day

May 28 2023

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