Watch your Step

Welcome: TURN to ECC. CH. 5

!! OPEN in PRAYER !!

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Introduction: Purpose for Gathering

I want you to THINK this MORNING about WHY YOU ARE HERE...

WHY DO YOU COME to CHURCH?

**NOTE GENERIC** BUT PERSONAL

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BECAUSE YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO? — FEEL GUILTY @ HOME

JUST WHAT YOU DO on SUNDAYS—ROUTINE

LIKE the MUSIC?

FRIENDS/TIME TOGETHER?

FUNNY STORY or TWO?

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Do you come OUT of OBLIGATION?? or LOVE??

DO WE EVER THINK ABOUT WHY?

CHURCH ANOTHER “TO-DO” LIST ITEM—

QUICKLY MOVED to “DONE” LIST…??

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THINK: WHY DO YOU COME to CHURCH...

(T) TEACHER - ADDRESSING ISSUE of WORSHIP in GOD’S HOUSE...

HOW WE OUGHT to LIVE...

PRAY TEXT CHALLENGES US

LOOK @ ECC. CH. 5… VS. 1-7....

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Passage Reading: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

Recap:

FOR MANY WEEKS—TEACHER HAS OFFERED OBSERVATIONS

FUTILITY of LIFE “UNDER the SUN” APART from GOD

WORLD HAS PROBLEMS

A FEW ADMONITIONS:

BE JOYFUL in GOD’S DAILY GIFTS

DON’T MAKE WORK YOUR GOD

TODAY: EXPLICIT COMMANDS...

— 4 THINGS—

FIRST ONE = in VS. 1...

(T) The teacher says:

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Passage Preaching:

Thought 1: Guard your Steps (V1)

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.

TEACHER WARNS:

GUARD STEPS

THINK ABOUT OUR WAY

INTENTIONAL/THOUGHTFUL…NOT CASUAL...

COMING to HOUSE of GOD — TEMPLE...

SOLOMON — 1ST TEMPLE

2ND TEMPLE

***N.T. BELIEVER CAN & SHOULD WORSHIP ANYWHERE (SEE JN. CH. 4)***

NEVERTHELESS… CHURCH BUILDINGS = SPECIALLY SET ASIDE W/ SPECIAL TIME for WORSHIP...

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GOING to WORSHIP?? GUARD your STEPS!

ONE SCHOLAR: “The southern steps leading up to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem feature alternating widths for each step, which would slow the worshipper down as he/she approaches the house of God.”[1]

PARSONAGE STEPS NEVER HAD ME THINKING this WAY!

WATCH YOUR STEP— OR END up on the GROUND...

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EVER READ O.T.?? YOU KNOW GOD HAS OPINIONS.

LEVITICUS— HOW an UNHOLY PEOPLE LIVE BEFORE a HOLY GOD.

SACRIFICES

STIPULATIONS

HUMANS DON’T COME to GOD on OUR TERMS…BUT on HIS...

YOU DON’T TREAT a HOLY GOD CASUALLY as UNHOLY PEOPLE...

SUMMARIZE, 3 EXAMPLES:

NADAB & ABIHU (LEV. CH.

UNAUTHORIZED FIRE on GOD’S ALTAR

UZZAH (2 SAM. CH. 6).

DON’T TOUCH the ARK

ANANIAS & SAPPHIRA (ACTS CH. 5)

LYING to HOLY SPIRIT...

GUARD YOUR STEPS—OR END UP on the GROUND...

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GOD = GOD… HE MAKES the RULES,, HE GETS to DO WHAT HE WANTS...

HE HAS GRACIOUSLY GIVEN US TERMS—

BUT HE EXPECTS HIS PEOPLE to TAKE WORSHIP SERIOUSLY

TEACHER: GUARD STEPS,, CHECK YOUR HEART,, CONSIDER YOUR WAY...

DON’T TREAT WORSHIP in GOD’S HOUSE CASUALLY.

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CONSIDER: DO WE ACTUALLY THINK BEFORE APPROACHING GOD?

COMING to CHURCH?

PRAYING?

READING SCRIPTURE?

OR… IS EVERYTHING on AUTOPILOT?

DRIVING & NO IDEA HOW YOU GOT WHERE YOU’RE AT??

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(V1B) BETTER to GATHER to LISTEN—THAN OFFER the SACRIFICE of FOOLS...

SACRIFICE of FOOLS = EVIL.

Sidney Greidanus: “Fools refers to those who bring unacceptable sacrifices to God.”[2]

RIGHT THING—WRONG WAY = UNACCEPTABLE...

BETTER to COME to RECEIVE—TO LISTEN— TO HEAR GOD’S WORD...

WE OUGHT to COME to WORSHIP & COME to LISTEN—

TO HEAR GOD SPEAK FROM HIS WORD—WHAT WE OUGHT to DO/LIVE.

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BUT CHURCH CAN BECOME BOX-CHECKING...

PRAYER CAN = BOX-CHECKING

BIBLE-STUDY CAN = BOX CHECKING

AGAIN ON AUTOPILOT—NOT GIVING ANY CONSIDERATION to WHAT WE’RE DOING...

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DO WE COME W/ REVERENT EXCITEMENT— TO WORSHIP GOD & HEAR HIM SPEAK to US?

MANY CHURCHES— TURNING HOUSE of WORSHIP into HOUSE of ENTERTAINMENT.

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY— BIBLE KICKOFF

ALLEGEDLY, ONE PASTOR:

“NO MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE, YOU’RE GOING to LAUGH” — I WAS APPALLED.

“SPIRITUAL TRUTHS & REALITIES CAN BE DRAWN OUT from SPORTS”

GOD HAS GIVEN US a BOOK!!

“SPIRITUAL TRUTHS & REALITIES” THAT DON’T POINT to CHRIST ARE of NO ADVANTAGE to US!!

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MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES— IN DEATH

OTHERS HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES— IN LIFE

TO GET GOD’S WORD to US in OUR LANGUAGE...

**REF. P.P. PIC— VS. 1**

&& SO WE CELEBRATE & THANK GOD BY KICKING IT ACROSS the STAGE WHILE WEARING FOOTBALL JERSEYS???

**THEIR DISCLAIMER: IT WAS a PROP**

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CHURCHES HAVE:

FOG MACHINES

LIGHTS

CAMERAS

ACTION

PROFESSIONAL WORSHIPERS & CONCERTS

WHY??

GOD is TOO BORING???

THE GOSPEL is TOO BORING???

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OTHER CHURCHES:

YOU & YOUR BLESSING.

HEALTHY

WEALTHY

PROSPEROUS

V. OSTEEN, “When you come to church, when you worship him, you’re not doing it for God really. you’re doing it for yourself, because that’s what makes God happy. Amen?”

GOD is MOST HAPPY WHEN WE’RE HAPPY.

WORSHIP = FOR US????

SAYING the QUIET PART OUT LOUD...

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WHAT ARE WE DOING WHEN WE GATHER as CHRISTIANS?

WHAT GOD WANTS?

OR OUR WANTS?

PEOPLE TREAT CHURCH SHOPPING LIKE BURGER KING “HAVE IT YOUR WAY”

“YOU RULE”

Last Wk: GUY DIDN’T SOUND TOO ENTHUSIASTIC—DON’T THINK HE BELIEVED IT!

IF I DON’T HAVE IT “MY WAY,” THEN I’M LEAVING.

@ CHURCH—HAVE IT GOD’S WAY. HE RULES.

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WHOSE IDEA WAS the CHURCH? GOD’S.

WHOSE CHURCH IS IT?? CHRIST’S

RIGHT ECCLESIOLOGY— CHURCH = FOR CHURCH PEOPLE.

ANDY STANLEY—DEEP & WIDE—

SO MANY CHURCHES ARE DEDICATED to ENTERTAINING NONBELIEVERS

WATERING DOWN the GOSPEL

UNHITCHING from O.T.

IS THIS WHAT GOD WANTS?

DO WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE’RE DOING?

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I PRAY WE GUARD OUR STEPS

I PRAY WE COME to LISTEN

OUR PRAYER: GOD SPEAK to ME...

NOT THAT OTHER PEOPLE NEED to HEAR THIS.

WE’RE ALL WORKS in PROGRESS.

WE ALL NEED GRACE.

WE ALL NEED to GROW.

I PRAY WE ALL YEARN to HEAR GOD SPEAK BY HIS SPIRIT...THROUGH HIS WORD...

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I PRAY WE DON’T TREAT the HOLY THINGS of GOD CASUALLY...

DO WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE’RE HERE FOR?

OR DO WE JUST COME & CHECK the BOX?

ONE HOUR SERVICE— & LEAVE WHEN YOUR TIMER GOES OFF??

GIVING an HOUR EACH NIGHT to YOUR FAVORITE SHOW, SOCIAL MEDIA, ETC.

(T) The teacher then continues with a SECOND ADMONITION on WORSHIP in GOD’S HOUSE:

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Thought 2: Don’t be Rash/God is in Heaven (V2-3)

2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

1. GUARD YOUR WAY in GENERAL

2. GUARD YOUR MOUTH/WORDS...

Psalm 141:3 (ESV)

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

WHY?

BECAUSE GOD is in HEAVEN— HE’S the CREATOR...

WE’RE MERELY HIS CREATURES...

HE HEARS EVERY WORD WE EVER SPEAK.

BAD NEWS FOR ME.

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WE AREN’T on the SAME PLANE…AS HIM...

GOD ISN’T MY CO-PILOT

HE ISN’T MY PEER

NOT MY BUDDY

HE’S LORD.

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WALK HUMBLY…BEING CAREFUL W/ WORDS...

REMEMBERING WHO WE’RE ADDRESSING! HE’S GOD!

HE’S FATHER—BUT HE’S GOD.

WE WOULDN’T SPEAK to A PRESIDENT/EARTHLY KING as CASUALLY & NONCHALANTLY as WE SPEAK to the KING of HEAVEN...

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(V3) PROVERB: MUCH BUSINESS RESULTS in DREAMS

TOO MANY WORDS RESULT in FOOLISHNESS...

(T) And now the teacher is going to FOLLOW UP W/ ANOTHER, SIMILAR ADMONITION...

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Thought 3: Vows and the Fear of the Lord (V4-7)

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

W/ WORDS in MIND— TEACHER ADDRESSES VOWS....

VOW? BETTER KEEP IT. & KEEP IT QUICK.

BETTER NOT to VOW AT ALL.

?? TIME PERMITTING: EXAMPLES of BAD BIBLICAL VOWS/PROMISES??

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YOU MIGHT BE THINKING: I’VE NEVER VOWED a VOW...

PROBABLY ALL of US HAVE PRAYED SOMETHING SIMILAR to:

GOD if YOU’LL BLANK .... THEN I’LL BLANK...

BRIBING/MANIPULATING GOD....

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Examples:

BRING ME THROUGH PRESENT TRIAL — THEN I’LL SERVE YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY— GO BACK to CHURCH…ETC...

NEW SCHEDULE @ WORK— THEN I’LL VOLUNTEER

ONE MORE CHANCE W/ WIFE— I’LL NEVER CHEAT/LOOK @ PORN AGAIN...

WINNING LOTTERY— I’LL GIVE 10%…20…30…50 to the CHURCH!

GOD WON’T BE MANIPULATED BY OUR VOWS...

HE KNOWS YOU AREN’T GIVING ANY of the LOTTERY WINNINGS to the CHURCH...

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WE MAKE PROMISES—WE’RE UNABLE to KEEP

WE MAKE PROMISES—WE FORGET.

BUT GOD DOESN’T.

YOU PROMISE SOMETHING to GOD?? HE REMEMBERS.

HE KNEW BEFOREHAND YOU WOULDN’T FULFILL IT!

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(V6) LET NOT YOUR MOUTH LEAD YOU to SIN...

(V6B) HISTORICAL CONTEXT (PROBABLY): VOW to GIVE to TEMPLE— TEMPLE MESSENGER— “IT WAS a MISTAKE”

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(V7A) DREAMS INCREASE (FROM MUCH BUSINESS)

WORDS INCREASE

VANITY.

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(V7B) GOD is the ONE YOU MUST FEAR...

FEAR of the LORD— BEGINNING of WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE...

LIVING LIFE W/ AWE-FILLED REVERENCE of GOD.

NOT TERROR.

KIDS— WANT THEM to KNOW WHO’S in CHARGE, RESPECT…NOT TERRIFIED.

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ONE DAY WE’LL HAVE to GIVE an ACCOUNT.

I OUGHT to GUARD MY STEPS… & WALK in HIS FEAR...

o I’m not terrified. But I am reverent.

o I’m not flippant. But I’m obedient.

o I’m not careless. But I’m careful.

o I’m not arrogant. But I know who is in charge and live that way.

(T) And so what is the teacher saying to us this morning?

I believe he’s telling us:

Preaching Idea:

As we gather, we must guard our steps, watch our mouths, and walk in His fear.

LIVING REVERENTLY BEFORE GOD in HEAVEN...

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE in a HOUSE of WORSHIP...

NOT TREATING HOLY GOD CASUALLY...

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Gospel:

WE OUGHT to BE THOUGHTFUL/INTENTIONAL

REMEMBER— WE COME on HIS TERMS!

HE’S the CREATOR—WE’RE CREATURE

HE MAKES the RULES—NOT US

HE’S the SOVEREIGN— WE’RE the SUBJECTS...

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MUST MAINTAIN THESE DISTINCTIONS—OR WE’LL TREAT HIM CASUALLY

CHURCH

PRAYER

WORD

CASUALLY.

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WE COME to HIM—ON HIS TERMS...

NEW COVENANT: ONLY THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST...

John 14:6 (ESV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

JESUS’ PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR SINS— ONLY WAY.

NOT MOHAMMED

NOT BUDDHA

NOT MYSTIC/SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

NOT “GOOD PERSON”

NOT: “GOOD WORKS”

CHURCH ATTENDANCE WON’T SAVE YOU

50 YEARS—SAME SEAT— PLAQUE on SEAT—WON’T SAVE YOU

(( I DO HOPE YOU COME to CHURCH))

YOUR SEAT in HEAVEN = SECURED ONLY THROUGH JESUS.

AS SINNERS—WE NEED a SAVIOR OUTSIDE OURSELVES...

ONLY WAY WE CAN STAND BEFORE the HOLY GOD— PERFECT SACRIFICE of JESUS

PAID FOR OUR SINS

SO WE COULD BE SAVED.

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CALL: IF YOU’RE HERE WITHOUT HOPE/WITHOUT ASSURANCE/HAVEN’T RECEIVED CHRIST—

I’D LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU AFTER SERVICE TODAY...

(T) But for those who have been forgiven, I want to ask you one more time:

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App:

· Why are you here today?

I PRAY THIS TEXT HAS CHALLENGED YOU.

IT’S CHALLENGED ME.

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WE CAN’T TREAT OUR HOLY GOD—CASUALLY.

As we gather, we need to guard our steps, watch our mouths, and walk in His fear.

WHEN WE COME to WORSHIP:

TRULY to WORSHIP HIM.

TO HEAR FROM HIS WORD.

IT’S ALL ABOUT HIM.

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**DOESN’T MEAN WE CAN’T ENJOY the OTHER ASPECTS of SERVICE**

WE SHOULD ENJOY CONNECTING W/ FELLOW BELIEVERS

LAST WK: 2 = BETTER THAN 1!

WE SHOULD ENJOY MUSIC— IT’S a GIFT GIVEN BY GOD...

WE SHOULD COME to CHURCH— EVEN IF WE DON’T FEEL LIKE IT.

ALL OUGHT to BE in HONOR of HIM...

KEEP the MAIN THING—THE MAIN THING.

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& WE COME to HEAR GOD SPEAK to US BY HIS SPIRIT…FROM HIS WORD...

WE COME NOT to OFFER SACRIFICE of FOOLS...

BUT to LISTEN.

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I PRAY WE DON’T TREAT the HOLY CASUALLY...

I PRAY WE DON’T COME JUST FOR WHAT WE GET OUT of IT.

I PRAY WE DON’T COME to CHECK a RELIGIOUS BOX.

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LET’S GUARD OUR STEPS— & WALK in HIS FEAR

IN an AWE-FILLED REVERENCE—KNOWING HE SEES & KNOWS ALL...

WHEN YOU COME to CHURCH—

SERIOUSLY CONSIDER WHAT YOU’RE COMING to DO…

NOT JUST ROUTINE...

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CLOSING:

CONSIDERING GOD in HEAVEN

WE’RE on EARTH

I’D LIKE to OFFER a MOMENT of SILENT REFLECTION

AFTER I PRAY…BEFORE CLOSING SONG……

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DWELL on HOW AWESOME HE IS...

HOW GOOD HE IS—SENDING HIS SON for US...

A MOMENT of FEW WORDS—HEARTS TUNED to HIM

NO MUSIC…NO WORDS…JUST REFLECTION.

NOT THINKING ABOUT DINNER

NOT THINKING ABOUT WORK

NOT THINKING ABOUT.....

OFFERING A MOMENT of UNDIVIDED,,

AWE-FILLED,,

REVERENT,,

REFLECTION & AFFECTION for HIM.

LET’S PRAY.

[1]Christopher R. Pascarella and Jordan W. Jones, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching, Kerux Commentaries (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Ministry, 2024), 114. [2]Sidney Greidanus, Preaching Christ from Ecclesiastes: Foundations for Expository Sermons (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 131.