More than a manger 2 - Worship the Gift Christmas deserves.

Text: Revelation 5:6–14; Revelation 7:9–12

“At Christmas, we celebrate the greatest gift ever given — God gave His Son to us.

But the Christmas story doesn’t end with God giving.

It also shows us people bringing gifts to Jesus.

Wise men came and worshiped — and then they opened their treasures.

And today, worship is still the way we bring our gifts to the King.”

CIT: Because Christ has redeemed a people from every tribe, nation, and tongue, heaven is filled with worship—and the church on earth participates in that worship through prayer, giving, singing, and obedient response unto the Lord.

Proposition: Christmas is the story of the gift God gave to us. Worship is the story of the gifts we give back to Jesus.

I. WORSHIP BEGINS WITH A VISION OF THE LAMB TELLS US WHO RECEIVES THE GIFT

(Revelation 5:6–7)

Revelation 5:6–7 KJV 1900

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

True worship flows from seeing Christ as He truly is.

EXPLANATION

John does not first describe music, emotion, or movement.

He describes the Lamb.

• “A Lamb as it had been slain” — sacrifice

• Standing — resurrection

• In the midst of the throne — authority

Worship in heaven begins with revelation, not preference.

ARGUMENT

We do not worship to feel better.

We worship because the Lamb is worthy.

If worship in heaven begins with Christ revealed, then worship on earth must do the same.

Christmas reveals the Lamb who came.

Revelation reveals the Lamb who reigns.

The church worships between the manger and the throne.

When Christ is rightly seen, worship is not forced—it is inevitable.

ILLUSTRATION

Isaiah didn’t plan to worship.

John didn’t schedule worship.

They saw the Lord, and worship erupted.

Vision always precedes worship.

APPLICATION

• Come to worship prepared to see Christ, not evaluate a service

• Measure worship by reverence, not reaction

• Ask: Is Christ central in my worship, or am I?

II.  WORSHIP IS THE GIFTS WE BRING TO JESUS IN WORSHIP

Heavenly worship includes prayer, giving, and singing—all directed unto God.

EXPLANATION

1. PRAYER AS WORSHIP — “UNTO THE LORD”

Key Texts

• Revelation 5:8 (KJV)

“…golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.”

• Psalm 141:2

“Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense…”

• Luke 11:2

“When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven…”

Prayer is not the pause between worship elements — it is worship.

In heaven:

• Prayers rise to God, not toward people.

• Prayers are treasured, stored, and presented before the throne.

When the church prays, heaven listens.

Application Line:

“When we pray together, we are doing on earth what is already happening in heaven.”

2. SINGING AS WORSHIP — “UNTO THE LORD”

Key Texts

• Colossians 3:16

“…singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

• Ephesians 5:19

“…singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

• Revelation 5:9

“And they sung a new song…”

Singing is directed vertically, not performatively.

In heaven:

• Singing is doctrinal.

• Singing is unified.

• Singing is Christ-centered.

We are not singing to impress others—we are singing unto the Lord.

Application Line:

“If heaven sings truth about Christ, the church must sing truth about Christ.”

3. GIVING AS WORSHIP — “UNTO THE LORD”

Key Texts

• Matthew 2:11

“They presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

• 2 Corinthians 9:7

“God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Hebrews 7:8 KJV 1900

And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Giving is not fundraising — it is offering.

From the manger to the throne:

• The first response to Christ was giving.

• Giving is described as sacrifice, fragrance, pleasing to God.

We don’t give to the church; we give through the church unto the Lord.

Application Line:

“What we place in the offering plate is lifted to the throne when it is given in faith.”

4. THE ALTAR CALL AS WORSHIP — RESPONSE “UNTO THE LORD”

Key Texts

Response is not disruption — it is completion.

Worship is not finished when the song ends —

worship is fulfilled when the heart responds.

The altar is:

• Surrender

• Repentance

• Obedience

• Consecration

If worship reveals Christ, response is the natural result.

Application Line:

“When we step forward, kneel, repent, or surrender, we are offering ourselves unto the Lord.”

“If worship in heaven includes prayer rising like incense, offerings given in gratitude, songs declaring redemption, and redeemed people standing before the throne — then everything we do in a worship service is meant to be done unto the Lord.

Prayer is worship.

Giving is worship.

Singing is worship.

Response is worship.”

Worship is not a moment in the service — it is the direction of the heart.

Everything we do is unto the Lord.1. Prayer as Worship

Revelation 5:8; Psalm 141:2

Prayer ascends like incense before God.

Heaven treats prayer as treasured worship, not filler.

If heaven worships God through prayer, offering, and song, then the church is not inventing worship—it is imitating heaven.

We do not:

• Pray to be heard by people

• Give to fund a budget

• Sing to create a mood

We do all of it unto the Lord.

ILLUSTRATION

At Christmas, wise men didn’t speak first.

They didn’t sing first.

They fell down and worshiped—and then they gave.

Worship has always moved from revelation → response.

APPLICATION

• Pray knowing heaven receives it

• Give knowing God delights in it

• Sing knowing Christ is the audience

Worship is not what we do in front of others—it is what we offer unto God.

III.  WORSHIP IS COMPLETED BY RESPONSE UNTO THE LORD (THE ALTAR)

Biblical worship always invites a personal, obedient response to God’s revelation.

EXPLANATION

Scripture consistently links worship with commitment.

• Romans 12:1 — present your bodies

• Matthew 11:28 — Come unto me

• Proverbs 16:3 — Commit thy works unto the LORD

The altar is not about movement—it is about surrender.

Proverbs 16:3 (KJV)

“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

Why this verse works for an altar call

• Commit = roll, entrust, yield (Hebrew galal)

• Unto the LORD = vertical direction (worship language)

• Established = made firm, set, secured

An altar call is not about emotion — it is about commitment.

2. BIBLICAL THEOLOGY: ALTARS BEFORE “ALTAR CALLS”

Before there were altar calls, there were altars — physical places of response to God.

Old Testament Pattern

Altars were built when people:

• Responded to revelation

• Repented

• Worshiped

• Made vows

• Committed themselves to obedience

Examples:

• Genesis 12:7–8 – Abraham built an altar after God appeared

• Exodus 20:24 – God invites worship at the altar

• Joshua 24:15–26 – Public commitment: “Choose you this day…”

• 1 Kings 18 – Elijah calls Israel to choose whom they will serve

Altars marked moments of decision, not mere devotion.

An altar call is simply the New Covenant expression of this ancient biblical instinct:

When God speaks, people respond.

3. NEW TESTAMENT SUPPORT: PUBLIC RESPONSE TO GOD

While the New Testament does not prescribe a method, it repeatedly shows a pattern of public, immediate response.

A. Jesus Invited Visible Response

• Matthew 11:28 – “Come unto me…”

• Matthew 4:19–22 – They left nets immediately

• Luke 9:23 – “Let him deny himself…” (decisive action)

Jesus didn’t merely inform — He called for response.

B. Apostolic Preaching Expected Response

• Acts 2:37–38

“Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

• Acts 16:30

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Preaching assumed a moment where truth demanded a decision.

C. Public Confession Was Normal

• Romans 10:9–10 – confession with the mouth

• Matthew 10:32 – confess me before men

• Baptism itself = public response

The New Testament assumes that faith expresses itself outwardly.

An altar call is simply a contextualized opportunity for that response.

4. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE ALTAR CALL

A. Early Church

• Converts often responded publicly at the conclusion of preaching.

• Responders were dismissed or invited forward.

• Confession, repentance, and commitment were communal.

No formal “altar call,” but public response was expected.

B. The First Great Awakening (1700s)

• Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield

• Emphasized conviction, repentance, and immediate response.

• Still cautious about emotional manipulation.

C. Second Great Awakening (1800s)

This is where the modern altar call takes shape.

• Charles Finney introduced the “anxious bench”

• Public invitation for those under conviction to come forward

• The goal: decision and commitment

D. 20th Century Evangelism

• Billy Sunday, Billy Graham

• Invitations were simple, Scripture-based, and reverent

• Focused on repentance, faith, and surrender

Billy Graham said:

“The invitation is simply giving people an opportunity to act on what God has said to them.”

• Prayer — incense before God

• Giving — sacrifice unto the Lord

• Singing — truth declared

• Response — life surrendered

Worship is incomplete without response.

ARGUMENT

When God reveals Himself, neutrality is not an option.

The altar call is not manipulation.

It is not emotional pressure.

It is simply space to obey what God has already said.

If prayer is worship,

and giving is worship,

and singing is worship,

then response is worship too.

Worship is incomplete without obedience.

ILLUSTRATION

In Revelation 7, the redeemed are not seated casually.

They are standing before the throne, declaring salvation.

Response is always the posture of true worship.

APPLICATION (STRONG & CLEAR)

• If God convicts → respond

• If God calls → surrender

• If God directs → commit

Use Proverbs 16:3 plainly:

“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

An altar call is simply the church saying:

“Now is the time to commit your way unto the Lord.”

“At Christmas, heaven came down and revealed Christ.

In Revelation, heaven opens and reveals Christ.

And between the manger and the throne, the church worships—

through prayer,

through giving,

through singing,

and through surrender.”

Worship is not a moment in the service—it is the direction of the heart.

Everything we do is unto the Lord.