Restoring Our Passion For Worship

Introduction:

“Dear God,

Thank you for letting us go to church today.

I had a good class. I liked to sing when the whole congregation sings.

It was so much fun.

I wish you had been there.

Amen.”

Mother:“Oh, honey, what makes you think God wasn’t there today?”

Boy:“Nobody looked like they thought God was there!”

Mother:“Son, God is always with us when we go to worship.”

Boy:“If God was there, why wasn’t everybody excited about him being there?”

Mother: “Good Question”

What would the little ones think about our worship?

Would they think God was here?

Would they See excitement?

Would they see enthusiasm?

It is easy to simply “sit through worship”

Routine

Ritualistic

No Excitement

No Effort Put Into It

1. When We Focus On Whom We Worship

The God We Worship

Creator (Psa. 33:6-9; Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11)

Almighty (Rev. 4:8, 11)

Great & Awesome (Neh. 1:5; 4:14)

Holds world in hands (Isa. 40:12-17)

Eternal (Exo. 3:14)

Knows all & sees all (Heb. 4:13)

With whom all things are possible (Jer. 32:17)

Saved us from torment by his grace (Eph. 2:4)

The Purpose We Have

Matt. 4:10

Rev. 22:9

1 Cor. 10:31

More than a duty – it is a grand privilege!

Mindset should be – we are here to glorify God!

The Focus of the Service

Psalm 95:1-7

The Day is God’s

Rev. 1:10 – This is the Lord’s day

Why then:

Treat it like any other day?

Treat it like it is merely the Lord’s hour?

Treat it like we are making great sacrifice to worship?

How would you feel about a day that is your day? – Yet little focus is on you?

The Effort He Deserves

The best we can offer – this is GOD we are worshipping!

Abel gave of the firstborn of his flock (Gen. 4:4)

Inferior animals were not acceptable (Mal. 1:7-8)

Our effort & participation should be our best!

Approach should not be casual (attitude, attire, attention)

Deserves more than a quick hit & rush!

2. When We Devote Time to Worship

Length of Time is Proportional to Level of Interest

We spend more time on things we are most interested in

Do you spend a long time at sporting events, or school functions?

Do you spend a long time going hunting, fishing, boating, golfing etc.?

Do you spend a long time playing video games or board games, cards, etc.?

Do you spend a long time watching T.V. or movies?

What about your time spent worshipping God?

Time Spent in Worship is Time Well Spent

Deuteronomy 31:9-13 – “thou shalt read this law before Israel in their hearing…”

Nehemiah 8:3,18 – “And he read … from early morning until midday … Also day by day … he read in the book of the law…”

Mark 6:34-35 – “And he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent…”

Acts 2:41,46 – “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them saying … And day by day … with one accord in the temple…”

Acts 20:7-11 – “and continued his message until midnight … Paul continued speaking … talked a long while…”

3. When We Pour Our Hearts into Worship

Worship is Not a Ritual – But Comes From the Heart

.John 4:24 – in spirit

Careful thinking while we worship

Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:24-29)

Giving (2 Cor. 9:6-7)

Singing (Eph. 5:19)

Prayer (Jas. 5:16)

Study of Word (Acts 20:7)

Self-Examination – 2 Cor. 13:5

2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

Did I concentrate?

Did think on words of the prayer?

Did I follow the thoughts of the songs?

Did I listen to the sermon?

Did I focus on the sacrifice of Christ in Lord’s Supper?

Was I diligent in my participation?

First Century Disciples – Poured Their Hearts into Worship in Spite ofPersecution & Death

Being persecuted didn’t stop some (Heb. 10:25)

hebrews 10:25 context

Persecutions

• Heb. 12:4 - resistance

• Heb. 12:1-6 - Chastening = Suffering

• Heb. 12:12 - discouraged

• Heb. 10:33 - made spectacles

Heb. 10:34 - loss of possessions / prison

“As manner of some is”

“Some may have been deterred by the fear of persecution, as those who were thus assembled would be more exposed to danger than others” (Barnes).

Something - causing the problem:

Whatever it was - not a legitimate excuse.

Whatever it was - should have assembled.

Either not specifically address - or persecution implied

Threat of death didn’t stop some (Rev. 2:10)

4. When We Are Excited about Worship

Possible to Overreact & Lose All Enthusiasm

.Overreact to Emotionalism or Pentecostalism

Easy to go to the other extreme

Glad - Psalm 122:1

To be gleeful

Literally, “to brighten up”

•Translated: Cheer, Rejoice, Merry

•Be glad and rejoice (Rev. 19:7)

Fervent - Rom. 12:11

To be hot, boil

Use of Liquids (boil) – Solids (glow)

Zealous - Titus 2:14-15

Same root as fervent: To be hot, boil

To have warm feelings

Burn - Luke 24:32

•Set on fire

•Light

Heartily - Col. 3:23

Literally, from the soul

•With life & vitality

•Translated, Spirit, Life

Might - Ecc. 9:10

•Vigor

•Force & Power

•Ability, Strength