Check your Heart

Adult Sunday School

Theme: Check Your Heart Before You Worship

Main Text: Malachi 1:6–14

Supporting Texts: Romans 12:1; Psalm 51:17

In Romans 12 verse 1 Paul is appealing to us by the mercies of God, Paul is specifically speaking of the mercy of God in this scripture as all the ones just before. In the second portion of this passage we know God made radical provision for the lost through His Son Jesus Christ, and in this view we are called by God to offer our commitment to HIM.

Here Paul is not looking for favor when he writes I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, however he is telling us of our obligation to God. It is our obligation to think about what Christ has done for us, and to make our Commitment accordingly.

Our commitment is to surrender our sacrifice ourselves as a reasonable and spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:1 NKJV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Psalm 51:17 NKJV

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

broken: a state of humility, repentance, and a contrite spirit that acknowledges one’s sinfulness and need for God.

Contrite: crushed or broken in spirit by sorrow and remorse for one’s sins.

We can break this verse down into 5 different portions, they are as follows:

Sorrow for our sins:

profound grief and sorrow for mistakes and for having offended God.

Humility:

involves recognizing one’s own inability to achieve spiritual goals through personal will and letting go of our pride and self-sufficiency.

Repentance:

a desire to change, to abandon sin, and to make up for past wrongs.

Surrender: yielding one’s own desires to God’s will and plan for one’s life, and a willingness to be reconstructed by Him.

Dependence on God:

an acknowledgement that healing, forgiveness, and transformation are gifts that come from God.

When you worship are being fully sincere and worshiping with your heart, or are you looking around and raising your hands because everyone else is?

God wants authenticity in your worship.

Goal: To help believers examine the sincerity of their worship and renew their commitment to giving God their best.

1. INTRODUCTION (5 min)

Opening Thought:

“When you come before God — are you bringing Him your best, or just what’s left?” Objective:

God Centered:

Worship focuses on God alone, acknowledge God’s qoneness and greatness.

Spirit and Truth:

Worship as a heartfelt, and honest expression from your spirit, be guided by God’s truth.

Willing surrender:

surrender you whole being, including your body, mind, and your will. Be a living sacrifice.

Love:

worship flows from a place of deep love and gratitude for what God has done.

Selfless and Humble:

Prioritize God’s glory over the worship of yourself.

Your life:

When we worship it is not just Sunday, we worship with our lifestyle of obedience, righteousness, and living with a pure heart.

To awaken awareness that worship is more than attendance or singing — it’s about the heart and attitude we bring before God. Discussion Starter:

- When was the last time you truly felt in awe of God in worship? - Why do you think it’s easy to slip into 'going through the motions'?

2. SCRIPTURE STUDY — MALACHI 1:6–14 (10 min)

Read Aloud:

Malachi 1:6–14 “A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ “You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts. “But now entreat God’s favor, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts. “Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,” Says the Lord of hosts, “Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the Lord of hosts. “But you profane it, In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled; And its fruit, its food, is contemptible.’ You also say, ‘Oh, what a weariness!’ And you sneer at it,” Says the Lord of hosts. “And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?” Says the Lord. “But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished— For I am a great King,” Says the Lord of hosts, “And My name is to be feared among the nations

. Background:

God is expressing His love for the children of Israel, but, God also demands our express sincere and honorable worship. Here In Malachi God is pointing out that there is no reverence and a lack of true worship to Him, we are seeing that God is not more important than worldly things, with complete dishonor in sacrificing lame and blemished offerings. This is directed toward the priests and the people giving irreverent attention to God.

Shouldn't we be giving God our undivided attention?

We see here as God points out that He would prefer no worship at all over receiving the absolute worst sacrifices. God wants our whole attention during worship, He deserves our undivided attention, praise and worship doesn’t He?

- The priests and people brought blemished, crippled, and diseased animals as sacrifices. - God’s response shows that He desires honor, respect, and sincerity — not leftovers.

Are we giving God our best or are we giving Him our table scraps?

Main Observation:

God equates disrespect in worship with dishonor to His name.

Discussion Questions:

- Why do you think God took this so personally?

- What might 'blemished sacrifices' look like in our lives today?

-could it be while we are listening to His word being preached and texting our BFF?

Who is more important to us man or God?

3. GOD CARES ABOUT THE HEART BEHIND THE OFFERING (10 min)

Key Point:

The issue wasn’t the animals — it was the attitude, the position of their hearts, their hearts was fixated on earthly things. Their earthly things were regarded at a higher priority than God. Quote to Emphasize:

“God isn’t looking at the gift’s value; He’s looking at the heart that gave it.”

Did we give from the heart or did we give to make ourselves look better? Application:

We can serve, sing, or give — but if our hearts are indifferent, it’s not worship. Reflective Question:

- Have I been guilty of giving God leftovers? - What would 'bringing my best' look like this week?

4. GOD DESERVES OUR BEST BECAUSE HE GAVE HIS BEST (10 min)

Read Romans 12:1: “Present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice… this is your spiritual service of worship.”

This means our entire being.… body, mind, and our actions to God as holy and acceptable offering of spiritual worship. Teaching Point:

Worship is not confined to Sunday mornings — it’s a lifestyle of surrender.

Romans 12:1 NKJV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

God calls all believers to present their bodies as “living sacrifices” which means their whole life not just on Sunday but everyday as an act of worship.

Discussion Questions:

- What does it practically look like to live as a 'living sacrifice'? - Where might God be calling you to give Him your best instead of your minimum?

5. TRUE WORSHIP IS HUMBLE AND HONEST (5 min)

Read Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” Key Point:

God doesn’t want performance; He wants repentance. He wants you not part of you, but, all of you. Discussion Prompts:

- How does humility affect the way we worship? - What’s the difference between looking spiritual and being surrendered?

Psalm 51:17 NKJV

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

6. REFLECTION & RESPONSE (5 min)

Personal Reflection:

Invite quiet time for self-examination. Ask each participant: “Have I been offering God my best — or my leftovers?” Group Prayer Prompt:

“Father, we don’t want empty worship. Help us to honor You with pure hearts, sincere gratitude, and our best in everything we do.” Take-Home Challenge:

Choose one area this week to intentionally give God your best — time, prayer, service, or gratitude.

Summary Points

- God deserves honor and excellence in our worship. - True worship begins with a sincere heart. - Worship is a daily lifestyle, not a Sunday performance. - God values a humble and repentant spirit more than a flawless routine.