Untitled Sermon

2018-09-30-FSW-3-What's Worship?

Introduction We are looking at ways in the series of keeping ourselves in the love of and knowledge of God in a world that would rather God disappear all together. A couple of weeks ago, we see that God has given us his assurance that in all that is happening in our world, he remains sovereign and Lord of all. Last week, we talked about Scripture… about the sitting in the Word of God, and inwardly digesting his revelation to us, in such a way that it becomes first nature. Today… we look at another of our values… Worship. Oxford English Dictionary defines “worship” (in part) this way: “Great admiration or devotion towards a person or principle.” Our Value statement on worship says this: “Worship is central to the community as the upward expression of praise, union and commitment to God, capturing Jesus as the Head of the Church.” This is a great value statement. But, by itself, it’s speaking mostly about function. Worship is the centre of activity of the church community; it involves a recognition of God; it unites us with him; reveals a commitment to him, all the while moving toward the Eucharist, honouring Jesus as the head of the church. Great statement of function: That’s what worship does for us. What constitutes for us, good, authentic, relevant worship? What helps us to stay focus on the object of our praise? What should keep us from honouring time, or money, or the ball game, during worship? ILLUSTRATION: Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well has much more to tell us about worship, than what we might see here on the surface. . Setting the Stage. Jesus is out in the middle of the day and decides to go for a walk. He reaches a place called Jacob’s Well, where a Samaritan woman, a “non-Jewish” woman, was retrieving water. They talk about a lot of stuff, including their differences and from the beginning of the conversation, Jesus is trying to draw into a new knowledge; he is drawing her to Himself. Inviting her, if you will, to see him as the anticipated Messiah. On his own, he reveals her entire life to her; she has had many husbands, and she is currently living with another. The woman is astounded that Jesus knows so much about her, and he has convinced her about something she says… What does it tell us? things - The “where” v.19-21 - “ The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Some background: The Samaritans are a Jewish sect, but we are unsure when the actual split occurred. We do know that in the 4th century BC, 400 years before this woman meets up with Jesus, the Samaritans built a temple on Mt. Garizim, to rival the temple in Jerusalem. The Samaritans believed that this mountain was the only holy place for sacrifice. This is a bold curiosity. Some people say that she is deflecting from the mention of her sin, but I agree with J.C, Ryle (and others) who says - here she is, before a prophet, and the old question between the Jews and the Samaritans come up in her mind. 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.” This is the easiest thing to understand about this passage. Jesus says, the old temple system of worship is on it’s way out, and it won’t make a difference where you worship… the Mt Garizim, the Temple in Jerusalem, won’t matter. You can honour God anywhere. Jesus is emphasizing that at the time of his death, there will be no more need for a sacrificial altar, there will be no more need for a priestly, holy room in the centre of the Temple. The sacrificial system of outward worship in the giving up of an animal sacrifice will not be necessary. No special place will be needed. True worship no long depends on the Temple rituals. Because of Jesus’ giving his life as the Lamb of God, you can meet God anywhere. But Jesus is not finished with the woman. He just explained WHERE, but he needs to let her know that it matters WHO you worship. v. 22 - “ You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.” The Greek is emphatic, Jesus is drawing a contrast here. Some background: The Samaritans only held to the Pentateuch - the first five books of the Bible. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy… that’s it. They didn't believe in the Messiah coming from the line of David; rather, their "Restorer" would be a man like Moses, who would come in the last day to restore proper worship to Mt Garizim. Leon Morris says: “When we consider that they rejected the writings of the prophets, the psalms, the historical books of the Old Testament and much more, we see that their knowledge of God was... very limited.” - their worship was imperfect. Jesus is saying to her, “Look, the object of your worship is unknown to you.” The Samaritans stood “outside the stream of God’s revelation, so their worship cannot possibly be characterized by truth and knowledge.” The statues and rules of God are given to Israel and no other nation (). The word of the Lord comes out of Mt Zion [Jerusalem] (). Last week, we looked at the importance of God's word in understanding who God is. And so, worship will reflect your understanding - or lack of understanding - who God is. Which is what I like about our Anglican Liturgy. It brings out so much of God's Word... it is rich in scripture, with an emphasis on reading and teaching as we prepare to participate in the memorial Eucharist. Revelational: If you want to worship the God of the bible, you have to know what your bible says about God. You gotta know the whole story of God’s relationship with his people to truly understand the God you worship. True worshipers are determined by revelation.. the revelation of God’s word, the revelation of Jesus. We see in v.26 that Jesus will make this revelation to the woman, and she will go and share the news with her people.

So far…. true worshipers understand that Jesus is the final sacrifice, and no sacrificial system will earn honour from God - that nothing we can do in the physical sense, can earn God’s honour. And…. True worshipers are born when Jesus is made known to them by the reading or preaching of the word. That all that needs to be know about God is contained in the ancient Jewish texts, and in the gospels and epistles.

And Lastly…..

True worshipers worship in spirit and truth —- v.23-24: “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” In the Greek, 'spirit and truth' are to be taken together. Don Carson says: ”There are not two separable characteristics of the worship that must be offered: it must be ‘in spirit and truth’, i.e. essentially God-centred, made possible by the gift of the Holy Spirit, and in personal knowledge of and conformity to God’s Word-made-flesh, the one who is God’s ‘truth’, the faithful exposition and fulfilment of God and his saving purposes” God is spirit, and so we worship in spirit - spirit to spirit, if you will - determined by the truth that God has revealed concerning himself. Jesus is central to this, as He is the living revelation of God. The time is coming and the hour is now here when those to whom God has shown himself through Jesus Christ, will be spiritually reformed by his truth and will thus bow before the Lord in worship and adoration. “Worship in truth,” means worship through the one true way of access to God, without the medium of he sacrifices or priesthood, which were ordained till Christ died on the cross. Before Christ, [man] worshipped through types, and shadows, and figures, and emblems. After Christ they worshipped in truth.” Conclusion (What does it say again?) Worship is not simply spending time in prayer… it is not a self-serving means to “energize” ourselves for ministry. It is first and foremost, praise and adoration to the rock of our salvation; an offering up of our whole selves in God’s presence, with thanksgiving; as people of his flock; the sheep of his hand (, ). True worship begins with Jesus… it involves Jesus…. it ends with Jesus.

Application (What do we do about it?) .Everybody worships something. And the lessons of this passage help us to fix our worship precisely where it belongs. "True worship comes from the heart, and it is honest, not put-on. It is not something you do with your body while your mind is somewhere else. It is not just showing up for church and mouthing hymns and closing your eyes during prayer while you think about …the preparations you have to make for Sunday dinner.” Or how long the sermon is… whatever… “ In every congregation, {… in this congregation here this morning… ] God is looking for those who mean what they are singing and what they are praying. He is seeking true fellowship with those who have put their trust in Him.” How do we maintain faithful worship in a secular world? By always recognizing in adoration and thanksgiving, the God who offers you salvation through Jesus Christ. By bringing your whole self to him, knowing that you are a sinner who is saved by the once-offered sacrifice of Jesus Christ… and pouring out praise and honour and giving God the glory due his name, with all of your heart, all of you soul and all of your mind.