COMMITTED TO WORSHIP

(S1)

Sitting by the fire can be peaceful...

One day a pastor came to visit a church members who he had not seen in worship for sometime The man welcomed him into his home. As they sat together, a fire burned warmly in the fireplace.

The pastor said very little. Instead, he picked up the fireplace tongs, reached into the fire, and pulled out a single glowing coal. He placed it by itself on the hearth. They watched silently. At first, the coal glowed brightly. But within a few minutes, its light faded. Its warmth disappeared. Soon it became cold, dark, and lifeless.

Without saying a word, the pastor used the tongs to place the coal back into the fire. Almost immediately it began to glow again. Before long it was burning brightly with the rest of the coals. The church member looked at the pastor and said, "I understand. I'll see you on Sunday."

A coal can burn brightly when it is connected to the fire, but separated from the others it quickly loses its heat.

Hebrews 10:25 “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

Early Christians were under extreme persecution so meeting regularly was a necessity

worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. {Acts 2:46-47}

...a shift in the frequency of their meeting with a focus on the resurrection — Sunday

“On the first day of the week, they gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching...{Acts 20:7 }

John would later affirm this practice as the Lord’s Day

It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. {Revelation 1:10}

Translation—they went to church regularly; to praise God, and enjoy the fellowship of other believers

Church every Sunday...in those formative years, I discovered two things

— A growing desire to draw near to the God I came to know, and the necessity of regular worship—both were essential in my commitment of following Jesus...still are

Maybe you have experienced the same—If not, stick around long enough and you will...

...the erosion of the need for ‘regular worship’ is one of the most significant spiritual challenges facing the church today. Many believers still value faith, but participation in gathered worship has increasingly become occasional rather than habitual.

1. The culture of convenience Modern society encourages people to fit everything around personal schedules and preferences. Worship can become one option among many rather than a fixed priority.

2. Increased busyness Sports, work schedules, travel, entertainment, and family activities often compete with Sunday worship.

3. Digital substitution Online services are a blessing for those who are unable to attend, but some have come to view watching worship as equivalent to participating in the gathered body of Christ.

4. Individualized spirituality Many people say, "I can worship God anywhere," which is true. However, Scripture teaches both personal worship and corporate worship.

(S2)

“This casual mindset has quietly bled into our spiritual lives. The modern definition of a "regular churchgoer" has dropped from every week to just once or twice a month. Worship has shifted from an anchor in our calendar to an option on our weekend menu.”

SERIES...not about checking off boxes...rather taking a step-up towards living a more generous life.

12      commitments to grow closer in faith to Jesus Christ

16      commitments to grow in daily prayer

10      commitments to grow in daily Bible reading

16      commitments to grow in witnessing to others

7       commitments to grow toward serving

 3        Youth Commitment Cards

Taking a step up in worship attendance is not just about going to church more...its about the essential practice of regularly coming into the presence of God…

(S3)

The word worship has an “old English meaning WORTH-SHIP

“the act of assigning ultimate worth, value, or priority to something or someone, and letting that dictate your actions, thoughts, and devotion.”

...“we all worship something or someone...” The truth is...our commitment to worshipping with others, or lack of it, reveals WHO or WHAT we are COMMITTED TO

Corporate worship was never presented as optional for followers of Christ— Neglecting it; the embers of our passion, our focus, and our commitment to Christ will naturally fade...

"When worship becomes occasional, spiritual formation becomes accidental."

Today’s message is about embracing the life-giving power that Jesus brings when we draw near to God in worship

—OUR FAITH BURNS BRIGHTEST WHEN WE WORSHIP WITH REGULARITY

BIBLES - PRAYER

(S4) — Jewish tabernacle – holy place – holy of holies

In the Old Testament, worshipers honored God from a distance. Access to God, under the old covenant (law), was forbidden—priests/holiness of God—represented the people.

Hebrews 9:6–7 “...they regularly entered the first room as they performed their religious duties. But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people.

God’s presence was often hidden behind veils, restricted to the Holy of Holies, and accessible only to very few

The Wizard of Oz

Upon Jesus’s death—the curtain of the temple was torn in two—forgiveness of sin offered once and for all—Jesus became our way to a Holy God

Matthew 27:50–52 “as he released his spirit, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.”

Jesus transformed and transforms our worship—No longer do we simply admire God from afar; through Christ we are invited into His very presence — A NEW AND LIFE-GIVING WAY

(S5)

19 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.”

By his death worship changed from a distant observation of God to a personal encounter with Jesus who is God!

Worship is meant to be more than just about going to church—its about entering boldly into a most Holy place—where we find Jesus who keeps our embers of our faith glowing

"When we worship with regularity, spiritual transformation is no longer accidental its expected.”

Jesus opened the door to a new and life-giving way — they are to enter with confidence and regularity

Three incredible advantages offered the beleiver in Christ….(WBC)

First, they were to…

I. DRAW NEAR IN THE FULLNESS OF FAITH

(S6)

22 “let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”

The whole purpose for Christ’s redeeming work…was to restore us back to fellowship with God—to bring us from waywardness caused by sin, to wholeness…

Luke 15-11-24

A guilty conscience can be a barrier to our drawing near—Christ cleared the way into the presence of God offering forgivness; a moral cleansing that makes us right with God

The problem - was the people’s SIN in the face of God’s judgement— Because of unworthiness one could not bear to be in the presence of a sinless God. Sin was a barrier and if not fully delt with...it would become like a millstone around someone’s neck

Mark 9:42 ““But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.”

Tradition has it..

“A German monk named Martin Luther was laboriously cliumbing the steps of St Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, counting the beads and praying on each step—when suddenly a voice from heaven spoke these words of divind inspiration. “The just shall live by faith” (Heb. 10:38).” It is said the new and living way opened that day…the protestant reformation

John Wesley experienced a similar divine encounter — heart strangely warned, that he was truly forgiven

“Wesley stressed that God’s grace operates not only to convince us that Christ solved our sin-problem, but also to restore our capacity to love God and neighbor. This meant viewing Christ’s sacrifice more as a gift; and act of worship that purifies us and readies us for joyful service to God

Unstable faith thrives in isolation and silence, while guilt festers when unconfessed and unwitnessed. Consistent worship dismantles both by embedding you in grace-filled community and regular encounters with God’s transforming presence.

Jesus opened the way through forgiveness—we can boldly draw near with a sincere faith…Forgiveness once kept at a distance now as near as Jesus in your heart.

The second incredible advantages offered the beleiver in Christ…

II. The STEADFAST confession of Hope

(S7)

23 “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”

Barclay…regards this as a person’s Christian Creed—what one believes and the hope it brings

1 Peter 3:15 “you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”

While sincere faith is an incredible gift of the beleiver - confession of faith as a witness of Christ’ redeeming work is imperative.

Romans 10:8–9 “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And it is the very message about faith that we preach: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Jesus and the woman at the well..conversation turned away from her sin to worship

John 4:21 “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.” 23 “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.”

I wonder what that sounded like for the women who had known only one way. The religion she new had created barriers – Jerusalem was forbidden to the Samaritans.

Believe me a time is coming when...

12mph/100mph—Telegraph/Internet—Shopping in your underwear

Her worship was transformed by the revelation of who Jesus was…She was in the presence of God and she became a witness to the hope that had found her…

When we worship with regularity, what we belief is strengthened, so we can steadfastly be effective witnesses of Christ and salvation—The difference between just going to church and worship and is Jesus.

The third incredible advantages offered the beleiver in Christ…in worship

III. The ENDURING and LASTING love of God

(S8)

24 “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”

let us consider one another…

The Greek word (katanoeō) means to observe carefully, pay close attention to, think deeply about, or give thoughtful consideration. The writer is calling believers to intentionally think about how they can help others grow in Christ.

The cross on which Jesus was crucified—a T with perpendicular and horizontal beams.

…represents our relationship with God the father, heaven

…represents our outreach to others, the world

Every christian bears this two-fold relationship — love of God…love of man—The greatest commandment proclaimed by Jesus

Mark 12:30–31 “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.””

This enduring and lasting love of God; a gift meant to not only encourage but stir up in others…the desire to worship; to gather with other believers

—Its a call to take the vertical love we receive from God and channel it horizontally into the lives of the people around us. It turns encouragement from a nice thought into an intentional mission.

The Embers and the Wind

For nearly forty years, Arthur was the steady heartbeat of his small community. He noticed when a neighbor’s fence needed repairing, the one who left fresh vegetables from his garden on porches, and the first to sit quietly with a grieving friend. He didn't have much money, but he possessed an inexhaustible supply of patience and kindness. When people asked him where he found the energy to constantly care for others, Arthur would always smile, tap his worn Bible, and say, "I'm just passing on what was given to me. When you know how deeply you are loved by God, you can't help but let it overflow."

But then came the hardest winter of Arthur's life. Within the span of a few months, he lost his wife, Sarah, to a sudden illness, and his own health began to fail. For the first time in his life, Arthur stopped showing up. The curtains of his small house stayed drawn. The man who had spent a lifetime pouring into others had run completely empty. The grief was a heavy, suffocating blanket, and the cold winter days only made it worse. He felt forgotten, sitting alone in the dark, wondering if his purpose on earth was finished.

One Tuesday evening, there was a knock at his front door. Arthur sighed, slowly pushed himself up from his armchair, and opened it. Standing on his porch were six people from his community. Among them was David, a young man Arthur had mentored years ago when David was going through a messy divorce. Beside him was Elena, a single mother whom Arthur had helped by fixing her car for free so she wouldn't lose her job. They weren't just standing there with sad looks on their faces; they were holding bags of groceries, a hot homemade casserole, and tools.

"What is all this?" Arthur asked, his voice cracking. David stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Arthur’s shoulder. "Arthur, for decades, you looked at us and 'considered' what we needed. You stirred us up when we wanted to give up. You showed us God's love when we couldn't feel it. Now, it’s our turn to stir you up." They didn't just drop off food and leave. They came inside. Elena started a fire in the hearth. David sat at the table with Arthur and listened to him talk about how much he missed Sarah, letting him cry without trying to "fix" his pain. Another neighbor fixed a leaky faucet in the kitchen. Before they left, they all gathered around Arthur’s table—much like the gathering shown in the image of community support —and prayed together, reminding Arthur of the enduring hope they all shared.

As the door closed behind them, Arthur looked around his warm, brightly lit living room. The heavy blanket of despair hadn't completely vanished, but the freezing cold inside his heart was gone. He walked over to his table, picked up his Bible, and looked at Hebrews 10:24. He realized that the gift of encouragement isn't a one-way street. By allowing God’s love to flow through him for forty years, Arthur had planted seeds. In his darkest season, those seeds had grown into a forest of believers who knew exactly how to "spur him on" when his own fire had gone out.

"When worship becomes occasional, spiritual formation becomes accidental—When we worship with regularity, spiritual transformation is no longer accidental its anticipated”

When jesus put himself on that cross and took his last breath. Worship changed from a distant observation of God to a personal encounter with Jesus who opened a NEW and LIVING way to God...to a more generous life.

Graduates...there are many things to keep us from worshipping with regularity

The culture of convenience—Increased busyness—Digital substitution—Individualized spirituality

(S9)

But there are three incredible advantages offered the beleiver in Christ in worship

— DRAW NEAR IN THE FULLNESS OF FAITH — The STEADFAST confession of Hope — The ENDURING and LASTING love of God

Regular worship brings greater CONFIDENCE of being in the presence of God—“Worship opens the way…to a more generous life.”

Will you commit to grow in your desire to worship? (PAUSE)

Psalmist 122:1 when they said, "Let's go to the house of God," my heart leaped for joy.

Jesus is the new life-giving way - God’s generosity on full display!

(S10) —

A coal can burn brightly when it is connected to the fire, but separated from the others it quickly loses its heat.

OUR FAITH BURNS BRIGHTEST WHEN WE WORSHIP WITH REGULARITY