What is Christ Centered Worship?

Christ Centered Worship  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Defining worship and where things should be focused

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Introduction:

-Three Places that Idols can appear
a. Worshipping Things---The church building, our classroom in church, our picture on the wall, the pulpit that the original Pastor had
b. Worshipping ourselves--- Your music, your style of preaching, program times, your seat
c. Worshipping others--- My Pastor, My music director, My Sunday School teacher. My internet Pastor. So dependent a person that you cannot even hear from the Lord.

I. The Son Defines Worship

John 4:21–24 NASB95
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
What is Worship?
-Do obeisance, show respect, fall or prostrate before a person
What is Obeisance?
-To show deferential respect----this is more than bowing. This is a bowing where you recognize that the person you are bowing to is much greater than you.
-In western society we use “Bowing” to convey appreciation ex. after a performance the singer or dancer will bow in gratitude for the standing ovation received.
-This is term used in Jesus times had to do with more than just saying thank you it was a way of conveying to a person I recognize that you are much greater than me.

OT usage of the term:

Genesis 22:5 NASB95
5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”
-This is the story of Abraham going to sacrifice his son on Mt Moriah.
-Notice what Abraham said he was going to do. “Stay here with the donkey and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you”
-Abraham said he was going to worship on a Mountain with his son. The word worship in this text means “to bow down” so know was Abraham going on the mountain to bow down and just sit there. Absolutely Not. We can infer from this usage:
The ancient understood this word to mean more than bowing down it was an external sign of submission. It was both external and internal both the Heart and the Hands bowing down in humble submission.
In this text Abraham was going to kill his Son. He viewed this act of obedience as “Worship”
Tell me how the act of sacrificing his son could be considered worship?
-This tells us that worship is measured by your obedience to God’s commands no matter the cost.
John 4:19–20 NASB95
19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”
John 4:
In verse 20 the Samaritan woman made asked a question that is hidden behind a statement, what was she asking Jesus to do?
a.
-She wanted Jesus to pick between the Jews or Samaritans who had the right prescription for worship. She wanted him to pick which tradition did things the right way.
-The Samaritans worshipped on MT Gerizim & The Jews worshipped on the Temple Mount
-Jesus just pick which mountain is the right “place”
“you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship”
-Clearly she knew that Jesus was Jewish because she said “you people” say that Jerusalem is the “place” The Samaritan as well as the Jews the worship happened at a location. And that location was to be honored.
John 4:21 NASB95
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
How did Jesus clear up her confusion?
-Jesus says “neither” he wants her to know that a future time is coming when worship will not take place at a location.
-Now Jesus was not validating that the way they where doing worship ie. the temple was right in the first place. When Jesus started his public ministry the Jews had fallen far from what was prescribed in the OT. The temple was just supposed to a place that they meet to glorify God together and give praises to his name. The Temple was not meant to be worship or adored. It was just a location for sacrifices and corporate worship. When Jesus arrived the Temple was not just a location, but it was a an Idol. The Idolized that building.
-The answer that Jesus gave her was far superior than what she could imagine. He wanted her to know that True Worshippers will not be decided by ethnicity, or popularity.
How many times does Jesus use the word worship in verses 21-24? and why?
-8x----He uses the word extensively to make the point to the woman that Worship will not be confined to a location or a building. He is essentially redefining the term she used in (v.20)
John 4:22 NASB95
22 “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
(v.22) Jesus acknowledges and affirms to this woman that Salvation will come through the Ethnic Jews. Jesus was of the Tribe of Judah. But clearly by this conversation he was also saying that my Jewishness will not keep me from combining or grafting in Samaritans with each other.
John 4:23 NASB95
23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
(v.23) “But an hour is coming” this phrase tells us that Jesus is looking forward to a future time
(v.23) “and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” Jesus tells us about a future time while at the same time telling us that the time is now. Grammatically he is conveying the message that this time is future/soon.
How will true worshippers, worship God?
What does it mean to worship God in spirit and in truth?
(v.23) “In Spirit and in Truth”
a. In Spirit-Meaning that worship will start with physical emotions, external signs and physical acts of worship. But they will begin with a true heart change wrought in our hearts by the spirit of God. This is an internal work that you don’t see done by the Spirit. That eventually flows to external acts of worship that can be perceived.
b. In Truth—Honest, Biblical and Christ Centered Truth.
(v.23b) “For such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers” These are the kinds of people that the father is interested in fellowshipping with. Those worship God from a truly humbled and submitted heart. And those that worship him through Christ Centered teaching.
(v.24) “God is Spirit”
1 Kings 8:27 NASB95
27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!
Isaiah 66:1 NASB95
1 Thus says the Lord, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?
Jeremiah 23:23–24 NASB95
23 “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord, “And not a God far off? 24 “Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.
-This is a kind rebuke by Jesus implying “Don’t you ever confine God to a local, or Building” He cannot be contained, nor controlled
(v.24) “Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” this is a command by God not subject to our opinion this is a non-negotiable.

II. The Son shows us what worship look like

John 5:18–24 NASB95
18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21 “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 5:25–32 NASB95
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. 30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 31 “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. 32 “There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.
john 5
john 5:25-
How does the Son honor the Father in verse 19?
-by playing Simon says
How does the Son honor the Father in verse 20?
-by loving his Father
How honor towards the Son tied to honor of the Father?
-They are so inextricably tied together that to reject one is to reject the other. If you turn your back on Jesus you have turned your back on His Father.
John 5:25–30 NASB95
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. 30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
How does Jesus display his respect and honor for his father in verse 30?
-by doing nothing of his own initiative. He lived a totally dependent life on the father.
What was and is Jesus primary focus from verse 30?
-To do the will of him who sent him.
What truths can we learn from Jesus in these set of verses?
-Jesus worships the father by “copying his movements”
-Jesus worships the father by “loving his father” (this has to do with attitude)
-Jesus worships the father by “total submission to his will”

III. The Father point worship back to the Son

Matthew 17:1–6 NASB95
1 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified.
Matthew 17:1–5 NASB95
1 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”
Matthew 17:5 NASB95
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”
(v.1) This is a description of the Transfiguration. This is when Jesus took the three Peter, James, and John.
matthew
(v.1) This is a description of the Transfiguration. This is when Jesus took the three Peter, James, and John.
(v.1) This is a description of the Transfiguration. This is when Jesus took the three Peter, James, and John.
(v.2) And he was “metamorphow” he peeled back his humanity and his Heavenly Glory shined through. He also had a wardrobe change.
(v.3) Two of the OT saints came to meet him.
(v.4) Peter said to Jesus lets build some tabernacles for you, Moses and Elijah
(v.5) “While he was still speaking” while Peter was speaking there was a voice out of heaven that interrupted the conversation between Jesus and the disciples.
(v.5) “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased listen to Him!!” in the literal greek it reads “this is the son of me, the loved one, in whom I thought well, HEAR HIM!!” Now you remember I told you the Father interrupted Peter while Peter was talking about making a Tabernacle. The Father was essentially saying I don’t want your gift, nor your sacrifices. The Son points to the Father and now the Father point backs to the Son “HEAR HIM”
-This tells us right here a key principle of worship:
-The Father is not interested in our programs, he is not interested in our offerings, he is not interested in our teachings, he is not interested in our good works. He is interested in our absolute obedience to his Son.
-It is possible to get so consumed with external acts of worship that we missed the true intent of worship. The Church number responsibility can be found in the last phrase in (v.5) “LISTEN TO HIM” that’s a pretty simple principle.
What happened to the Disciples after they heard this from the Father?
-They fell down as dead men!!!!
So What is Christ Centered Worship?
-This is when the Bridegroom has no equals in our lives and in our churches!
End with a Warning; He is a jealous God he does not like anything before him.
Revelation 19:4–10 NASB95
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
-(v.10) Notice the Elders response to John bending down to worship him. The Angel said “Do not do that I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hole the testimony of Jesus; Worship God” This angel is clear we are not worship supernatural beings
Acts 10:25–26 NASB95
25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.”
(v.25) Cornelius had heard about Peter and he asked Peter to come and see him, so that he could hear the message of the cross. Cornelius as a gentile so he would be familiar with Polytheism meaning the worship of many God’s. He heard about the miracles that were being performed by the Apostles. So according to his belief there was not just one God, but many and Peter could be a demi-god. These were God’s that live on Earth. Peter had to lovingly straighten him out in (v.26)
What did Peter tell him in (v.26)?
-Peter lovingly put his hand underneath this man arm and lifted him up and told him “I too am just a man”
What was Peter communicating to this gentile?
There are not many Gods, There is only One God
All the Powers that I have manifested don’t come from me
Never should we give worship to a man, nor a supernatural being that is not Christ.
Matthew 14:33 NASB95
33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”
(v.33) Now you remember in Revelations when the Angel refused to receive any worship from John the Apostle. When it says in this verse that the disciples worshiped Him does Jesus refuse their worship??? No he does not.
What does that tell you about Jesus?
-Jesus knew and believe that he was deity the only one that was worthy of Honor and Praise.
Revelation 19:10 NASB95
10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
(v.10)
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