Worship

John 4:1-38

intro:

What is Worship:

Worship is demonstrated in song, prayer, lifestyle, by individuals and an assembly, spontaneously and prearranged. Worship is the stirring by God’s Spirit of our spirit, emotion and will. It is a response of the whole person to God.- Bruce Zachary

The Reason:

The English word “worship” is derived from the Old English word “worthship” a word reflecting the worthiness of one receiving honor and devotion. Fundamentally, worship is about God, and for God. Worship is what God desires, and what He is worthy of. Our motive is to please God and glorify Him.

What is the reason we worship

It is an obligation

When it is an obligation what can take place

We loose sight of who we are worshipping

Who is God

We become religious in our worship

We have been free from obligation

OT Practices (Giving Heart)

We can loose sight of the mission

Worship is not an obligation

The one who is worthy

Intro:

Why is worship a basic to the Christian faith?

First God is the only one worthy of our worship.

He is a jealous God- define this.

He takes idol worship seriously

Well.. we were created to worship- God, Sin

Now that we live day to day what we worship will lead us and guide us

Let us go to our text:

From our text we learn about the characteristics concerning worship

Worship Satisfies (vs 4; 23; 32-34)

Us- living water - left her water pail

God- God is seeking

proskuneo, that we translate worship, can be defined as a kiss toward one in a token of reverence.

True worship is a reverent kiss toward God. God desires, requires and isseeking that relationship.

2. Worship is Spiritual (vs 23-24)

Worship is primarily spiritual

it does impact emotions and intellect

Worship will change the way you feel and think but this is not the reason for worship

Have you said I need a change, I need to know God more

Those are good, and yet they are a result of worship but we do need to see worship as spiritual..

God enjoys community with His children.

This is it!

3. Worship is not limited (vs 20-21)

1 Timothy 2:8 “8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”

4. Worship in truth

Philippians 3:3 “3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,”

5. Sin is a barrier to worship (vs 15-18)

It always gets in the way.

6. Worship is attractive (vs 35-38)

it attracts people to Jesus

Matthew 9:10 “10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples.”

Why are we returning to this basic of worship well

Psalm 134:2 “2 Lift up your hands to the sanctuary And bless the Lord.”

We become what we worship

Psalm 115:3–8 “3 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see; 6 They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell; 7 They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They cannot make a sound with their throat. 8 Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them.”

God is worthy of worship- everyones… what are His charateristics

There is not one type of worship

We all come from different backgrounds, different ways growing up… there is not one way… but there is order (sit, stand, knell, clap, praise vocally) but for the Glory of God not attention to you and me

You can be reserved, you can be joyful as long as you are being obedient and God is a God of order.. who cares what others think

What is happening in your life has an impact on how you worship

For some it is easy to worship with praise, some crying out to God is what you are doing… but isn’t this the important part of worship

For us as the church athentic worship is not seen on Sunday it is in the home, work, life, and then it reflective on Sunday

The basic of worship is found in its charateristics and next week we will spend time in the word fiding how we prepare ourselves to worship.

Let us pray