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This is the section of Deuteronomy that we tend to skim over or just skip. Not only are most of the concerns of the law no longer relevant (anyone planning to lay siege to a city? Cook a baby goat in its mother’s milk? Anyone?), but as Christians we are no longer bound to uphold the laws of the old covenant. So why read them? When we understand why God gave them—to set his people apart and make a distinction between his people and the surrounding culture—we can appreciate the wisdom of his boundaries and find all kinds of principles therein that apply to our quest to create a godly legacy today.

Notes

Transcript

Handout

Have the kids draw a picture of your church family?

By Jake Kircher

Summary: What is real worship? Let’s look back at the Temple and fast forward to our time and figure this thing out.

Have the kids draw a picture of your church family!

Thank Tyler?

Quick intro?

***Have hanging curtain in the room***

If you are new here,

Text HELLO to 720-571-8979

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We are in a series on the book of Deuteronomy called promises.

We are working our way through, Deuteronomy

The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible, and the final book of the Torah. This is after the exodus, after they had left the captivity in Egypt. It’s also at the end of the 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Israelites were fearful and didn’t follow God. A whole generation of people died in the desert and that is where Deuteronomy begins. Deuteronomy is a series of speeches from Moses where he's calling the next generation of Israel to be faithful to the covenant with their God.

s a series of speeches from Moses where he's calling the next generation of

Deuteronomy begins with Moses standing in front of this new generation explaining the Torah and it's from here that the design and purpose of the book unfolds. Deuteronomy is a series of speeches from Moses where he's calling the next generation of Israel to be faithful to the covenant with their God. At the center of the book is a collection of laws, which are the terms of the covenant between God and Israel. Some of the laws are new, but many are repeated from the laws given earlier at Mount Sinai, and that's actually where this book gets its name -from the Greek word “deuteronomion” which means “a second law”.

00:32 is a series of speeches from Moses where he's calling the next generation of

00:06 the Torah. After the exodus from Egypt, Israel was at Mount Sinai for one year

00:36 Israel to be faithful to the covenant with their God. At the center of the book

After the exodus from Egypt, Israel was at Mount Sinai for one year entering into a covenant with their God. And then they had the disastrous road trip through the wilderness and the exodus generation disqualified themselves from entering into the land promised to Abraham. And so Deuteronomy begins with Moses standing in front of this new generation explaining the Torah and it's from here that the design and purpose of the book unfolds. Deuteronomy is a series of speeches from Moses where he's calling the next generation of Israel to be faithful to the covenant with their God. At the center of the book is a collection of laws, which are the terms of the covenant between God and Israel. Some of the laws are new, but many are repeated from the laws given earlier at Mount Sinai, and that's actually where this book gets its name -from the Greek word “deuteronomion” which means “a second law”.

At the center of the book is a collection of laws, chapters 12-26 which are the terms of the covenant between God and Israel. Some of the laws are new, but many are repeated from the laws given earlier at Mount Sinai, and that's actually where this book gets its name -from the

00:11 entering into a covenant with their God. And then they had the disastrous

00:40 is a collection of laws, which are the terms of the covenant between God and

00:36 Israel to be faithful to the covenant with their God. At the center of the book

Greek word “deuteronomion” which means “a second law”

00:40 is a collection of laws, which are the terms of the covenant between God and

00:15 road trip through the wilderness and the exodus generation disqualified

00:44 Israel. Some of the laws are new, but many are repeated from the laws given earlier

There is a great video giving an overview of Deut and it goes in depth to about the shema. That we covered in previous weeks.

Chapters 12-26 is this collection of laws, that we tend to skim over or just skip.

00:48 at Mount Sinai, and that's actually where this book gets its name -from the Greek

00:19 themselves from entering into the land promised to Abraham. And so Deuteronomy

00:44 Israel. Some of the laws are new, but many are repeated from the laws given earlier

As we heard earlier for the Garrett family, it starts out in Ch 12 explaining their worship.

Deuteronomy 12:1–5 NIV

These are the decrees and laws you must be careful to follow in the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you to possess—as long as you live in the land. Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills and under every spreading tree, where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places. You must not worship the Lord your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go;

Moses tells the people several times in this chapter, you must not worship in the way these surrounding countries worship.

in vs 31 he explains it even more.

The New International Version Chapter 12

31 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.

32 See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.

This wasn’t a call to be judgemental, he was saying don’t be pulled away to do evil by worshiping false gods.

in 12-16a, Moses tells them they were to have one central temple where one God would be worshipped and also God was to be worshipped in Israel's care for its poor.

03:21 where one God would be worshipped and also God was to be worshipped in

So for example, all Israelites were to set aside one tenth of their annual income to be given to the temple, but another tenth was to be set aside every three years and given to the poor.

03:24 Israel's care for its poor. So for example, all Israelites were to set aside

03:29 one tenth of their annual income to be given to the temple, but another tenth was

And these are the kinds of laws that put Israel on the cutting edge of justice in comparison to their ancient neighbors - and it was all bound up with their worship of God.

03:34 to be set aside every three years and given to the poor. And these are the

03:37 kinds of laws that put Israel on the cutting edge of justice in comparison to

The next section verses 16b-18 outlines the character qualities of Israel's leaders so the elders, the priests, the Kings, these were all placed under the authority of the Covenant laws which God said that he would enforce by sending prophets to keep the leaders accountable. So in contrast to Israel's neighbors where kings were thought of as divine and a law in and of themselves, Israel's leaders were subordinate to the law and the prophets.

03:42 their ancient neighbors - and it was all bound up with their worship of God. The

03:46 next section outlines the character qualities of Israel's leaders so the

03:50 elders, the priests, the Kings, these were all placed under the authority of the

03:54 Covenant laws which God said that he would enforce by sending prophets to keep

Following this is a large section 19-26 of laws about Israel’s civil life, so rules about marriage, and family, and business, and also about social justice - about their legal system and how it was to protect widows, and orphans, and immigrants. And then these are concluded by more laws about worship.

03:59 the leaders accountable. So in contrast to Israel's neighbors where kings were

04:03 thought of as divine and a law in and of themselves

As we read these laws, a few things to remember,

04:06 Israel's leaders were subordinate to the law and the prophets. Following this is a

04:10 large section of laws about Israel’s civil life, so rules about marriage, and family,

These laws were given to a people in specific place for a specific time.

These laws were give to separate God’s people. When you look at some of the surrounding countries and how they worshiped their god’s, all of a sudden laws that seemed harsh or bizarre become much more clear.

As we read these laws, a few things to remember, first of all, these are the terms of the Sinai covenant given specifically to ancient Israel living in a culture that's very different from yours.

04:15 and business, and also about social justice - about their legal system and how

You see that God is pushing Israel to a higher level of justice than was ever known before. And so finally try to discern what core principles of wisdom or justice underlie any particular law, and you’ll discover some really profound things.

first of all, these are the terms of the Sinai covenant given specifically to ancient Israel living in a culture that's very different from yours.

04:19 it was to protect widows,

04:20 and orphans, and immigrants. And then these are concluded by more laws about worship.

And so, two, it's not going to be helpful to compare these laws with modern laws from the very different culture. Rather, these were given to set Israel apart, and so we need to compare these laws with those of Israel's neighbors, like in Assyria or Babylon. And when you do that all of a sudden laws that seemed harsh or bizarre become much more clear. You see that God is pushing Israel to a higher level of justice than was ever known before. And so finally try to discern what core principles of wisdom or justice underlie any particular law, and you’ll discover some really profound things.

04:24 Now, here's some tips for reading all of these laws. Remember, first of all, these

04:28 are the terms of the Sinai covenant given specifically to ancient Israel

04:33 living in a culture that's very different from yours. And so, two, it's not

04:37 going to be helpful to compare these laws with modern laws from the very

So here's an extra credit assignment: go see how

04:41 different culture. Rather, these were given to set Israel apart, and so we need

04:45 to compare these laws with those of Israel's neighbors, like in Assyria or

Paul the Apostle does this very thing in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 9 vs nine, and he quotes a law from Deuteronomy, chapter 25 verse four,

04:49 Babylon. And when you do that all of a sudden laws that seemed harsh or bizarre

04:54 become much more clear. You see that God is pushing Israel to a higher level of

04:58 justice than was ever known before. And so finally try to discern what core

05:03 principles of wisdom or justice underlie any particular law, and you’ll discover some

05:08 really profound things. So here's an extra credit assignment: go see how

05:12 Paul the Apostle does this very thing in his first letter to the Corinthians,

05:15 chapter 9 vs nine, and he quotes a law from Deuteronomy, chapter 25 verse four,

When we understand God did this to set his people apart and make a distinction between his people and the surrounding culture—we can appreciate the wisdom of his boundaries and find all kinds of principles therein that apply to our quest to create a godly legacy today.

00:52 word “deuteronomion” which means “a second law”. Now surrounding these laws are two outer

00:22 begins with Moses standing in front of this new generation explaining the Torah

00:48 at Mount Sinai, and that's actually where this book gets its name -from the Greek

It’s kinda crazy, we planned this series last year and how fitting it is that in a time we are being told to separate ourselves with these stay at home orders and physical distancing from others,

00:28 and it's from here that the design and purpose of the book unfolds. Deuteronomy

00:58 sections of Moses’ speech. Each of these are broken up into two parts themselves. and it's from here that the design and purpose of the book unfolds. Deuteronomy

00:52 word “deuteronomion” which means “a second law”.

Not only are most of the concerns of the law no longer relevant to us.

anyone planning to lay siege to a city? Cook a baby goat in its mother’s milk? Anyone?), but as Christians we are no longer bound to uphold the laws of the old covenant. So why read them? When we understand why God gave them—to set his people apart and make a distinction between his people and the surrounding culture—we can appreciate the wisdom of his boundaries and find all kinds of principles therein that apply to our quest to create a godly legacy today.

to keep the vulnerable healthy and to keep the virus from spreading.

It’s kinda crazy, we planned this series last year and how fitting it is that in a time we are being told to separate ourselves with these stay at home orders and physical distancing from others, to keep healthy and to keep the virus from spreading.

I don’t know about you but I can start have my eyes glass over with the amount of information, the amount of details and just want to ignore all of it. Which is clearly not good. There are things we all need to understand and listen to both now and from this reading of the law,

Why did God want us to

So from this huge section, 14 chapters, I want to focus on a narrow part, that I think relates to all of us today.

And that is this statement, don’t worship in the way they do.

I want to quickly recap what we talked about last week and then are going to dive right in. (I know you guys probably want to know what this hanging sheet is for but you’ll have to wait and we’ll get to it in a few minutes.) Alright, so last week, we started a series about worship and talked about how sometimes the biggest obstacle to real worship is ourselves and our selfish nature. Specifically we looked at three me-monsters: 1) Worship is not about coming to get and be filled up but instead it is about coming to give ourselves to God and to others. 2) Worship is not about all the things we use to worship (music, prayers, liturgy, PowerPoint, etc.) but instead is about our attitudes. 3) Worship is not about a single person but instead is about a whole group of people, who are all different, coming together and, again, giving to God and each other.

I want to dive into . The As you turn there, today we are going affirm what real worship is and why it is so necessary. Let’s read that passage together and take a look at what worship was way back at the beginning of the Bible.

Deuteronomy 12:4–5 NIV

Don’t worship in the way they do. Very similar to what we are told in Romans

With that recap in our minds I want to dive into . As you turn there, today we are going affirm what real worship is and why it is so necessary. Let’s read that passage together and take a look at what worship was way back at the beginning of the Bible.

This is very similar to what we are told in Romans 12

Deuteronomy 12:4–14 NIV

You must not worship the Lord your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you. You are not to do as we do here today, everyone doing as they see fit, since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the Lord your God is giving you. But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety. Then to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the Lord. And there rejoice before the Lord your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns who have no allotment or inheritance of their own. Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please. Offer them only at the place the Lord will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you.

***Read

Don’t worship in the way they do. Very similar to what we are told in Romans

Romans 12:2 NIV

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Worship of God, way back in the day of Moses, all the way to the early church in Rome and then coming forward to the present day, was supposed to be different from what and how the world worshiped.

Worship to God, way back in the day of Moses, all the way to the early church in Rome and then coming forward to the present day, is supposed to be different from what and how the world worships.

To me, that sounds pretty similar to the passage we looked at last week. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Worship to God, way back in the day of Moses, all the way to the early church in Rome and then coming forward to the present day, is supposed to be different from what and how the world worships.

It’s fact that every person worships, it’s just a matter of what and how.

What do people in our culture typically worship?

It is fact that every person worships, it’s just a matter of what and how. What and how do people in our culture typically worship? [Self, money, power, the opposite gender, etc. – more often than not it is about ourselves or about things]. This just confirms and puts more weight to what we talked about last week and what worship is not. So, but what was worship for the Israelite people in the times of Moses?

We worship:

Self

Money

Power

The opposite gender

Security

More often than not it is about ourselves or about things

So, but what was worship for the Israelite people in the times of Moses?

Worship was about coming to God.

In verses 5, 11 and 13-14 it makes it very clear that worship is about coming to God, wherever He is.

12:5 you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose

12:11 to the place the Lord your God will choose

you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose

to the place the Lord your God will choose

12:14 only at the place the Lord will choose

only at the place the Lord will choose

He didn’t want the people of Israel getting all mixed up with the cultures around them and going to their temples. He wanted them to make sure they were worshipping no other gods but only Him. That is why he wanted to allocate a specific place to do so. They had to go to the temple to worship God.

The New International Version Chapter 12

11 Then to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you

In verses 5, 11 and 13-14 it makes it very clear that worship is about coming to God, wherever He is. He didn’t want the people of Israel getting all mixed up with the cultures around them and going to their temples. He wanted them to make sure they were worshipping no other gods but only Him. That is why he wanted to allocate a specific place to do so.

5 But you are to seek the place the Lord your God

The second thing the Israelites were commanded to do in their worship was

2. Worship was about giving back to God

12:6 bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed

12:11 bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the Lord.

12:14 Offer them only at the place the Lord will choose

Offer them only at the place the Lord will choose

Verses 6, 11, and 14 reinforce this principle. The people would not be going to the Temple to get anything for themselves but instead they would go with the mindset of giving to God and in fact, those offerings at the time would be used to take care of the Temple, the priests and the poor.

3. Worship was about celebrating and rejoicing who God is and what He was done

Third, worship was about celebrating and rejoicing who God is and what He was done in their lives. Verses 7 and 12 speak to this idea and in fact verse 7 says that all the families are to come together, bring their offerings and have a feast to celebrate.

That sounds a lot like that church potluck dinner. The spanish speaking ministry knows how to plan an amazing potluck. We never leave hungry when they’re in charge! They are always so generous. Everyone came to God, gave what they had, and thanked God for everything He was doing. When this happened, no doubt everyone left being filled up, encouraged, and full of joy.

12:7 There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.

12:12 And there rejoice before the Lord your God

And there rejoice before the Lord your God

4. Worship was about joining together in joy and celebration.

Fourth, it was about joining together in that joy and celebration. It wasn’t about just one person but the entire community joining together in worship of God.

12:7 There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.

There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.

12:12 And there rejoice before the Lord your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites

And there rejoice before the Lord your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites

12:18 you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns

He said you, your families, your servants, your household, and the priests, come together and worship.

What’s interesting to me this word that we have translated as worship is `asah

עָשָׂה

It is used to mean way more the coming to church and singing songs or even going to the temple, although that is clearly commanded. This word ASAH

is translated.

Worship, cancel debts, celebrate, follow carefully, observe, follow, done, be careful to obey, be sure to follow, made, make, do

be sure to follow

What is interesting to note with all of this is the direct translation of the word worship in the Hebrew text. Generally, the word that is used means to “bow down” or to be “prostrate,” which signifies respect, awe, and the power of another person. Another word that is used means to “fall down,” again with a similar connotation. The third main word, and this is kind of interesting in my opinion, the word means to “serve, work or labor;” in other words putting other people before ourselves.

What is fascinating to me is the most common way this word asah, that is translated here as worship is used several thousand times in the old testament to mean, serve, work labor, create, do.

the word means to “serve, work or labor;” in other words putting other people before ourselves.

You see worship isn’t just what we do on a Sunday morning when we sing a song all together. And thank God it’s not. It is what we do, it is the work we complete it is what we create.

the pictures we have the kids draw? Which by the way are amazing!!

Keep on sending those in!

But, It’s not just a craft, to keep them busy.

Those drawings, the play-dough figures they make, or husbands, the “honey do list” -the project your wife made you complete, those can and should be part of our worship to God.

But, back to Deuteronomy

Roughly, 500 years after God spoke these words about worship to the people, was when the specific place was completed with the building of the Temple. All of the people were to go to the Temple in order to worship God; bringing their offerings and sacrifices there.

Worship was a very serious thing for their culture and in fact it was pretty dangerous because in order to come into God’s presence, the people had to be clean and innocent of sin. ( – The wages of sin is death!).

They couldn’t go in themselves . They could only be represented by the priest.

The Temple itself was broken up into sections for different people to worship God.

In the center towards the back was a place called the Holy of Holies and it was separated from everything else by, and do you know what separated it?

The Temple itself was broken up into sections for different people to worship God. In the center towards the back was a place called the Holy of Holies and it was separated from everything else by, anyone want to take a guess, by a hanging curtain. It was behind this curtain that the Ark was placed which was a sacred box where God hung out. It was in the Holy of Holies that God’s presence dwelt. It was only the High Priest who was allowed to go into this place once a year and when he did, he would actually have a rope tied around his ankle just incase he wasn’t spiritually clean and died.

A hanging curtain.

It was behind this curtain that the Ark was placed which was a sacred box where God hung out.

It was in the Holy of Holies that God’s presence dwelt. It was only the High Priest who was allowed to go into this place once a year and when he did, he would actually have a rope tied around his ankle just incase he wasn’t spiritually clean and died, so they could drag him out.

Walking out of the Holy of Holies brought you to the Sanctuary where the High Priest and other (high end) priests could go regularly.

Walking out of the Holy of Holies brought you to the Sanctuary where the High Priest and other higher end priests could go regularly. Not in God’s presence, but pretty close. From there, you’d walk out of the Sanctuary to the Court of Priests, which is pretty self explanatory (where all the priests could worship); again, slightly farther away from God’s presence. Then we move farther away into the Israelites court which is where all the Jew’s could come. And actually, not all the Jews, but just the men. The woman, had their own separate area, cleverly called the Women’s Court, that was just a bit farther away from God’s presence than where the men could go. And then finally, there was one more section that was the Temple Precincts which was where any Gentiles, or non-Jews, could go.

Not in God’s presence, but pretty close. From there, you’d walk out of the Sanctuary to the Court of Priests, which is pretty self explanatory (where all the priests could worship); again, slightly farther away from God’s presence.

Then we move farther away into the Israelites court which was where all the Jew’s could come. And actually, not all the Jews, but just the men.

The women, had their own separate area, cleverly called the Women’s Court, that was just a bit farther away from God’s presence than where the men could go.

And then finally, there was one more section that was the Temple Precincts which was where any Gentiles, or non-Jews could go.

So all in all, worship in the Old Testament was very hierarchical in that God’s presence was reserved to this one place and depending on who you were dictated how close you could get to God.

Let’s fast forward from the time the Temple was built to the time of Christ.

So all in all, worship in the Old Testament was very hierarchical in that God’s presence was reserved to this one place and depending on who you were dictated how close you could get to God. So what does this have to do with us? Well, understanding the way worship was in the Old Testament will help us understand something very important about worship for us now. Let’s fast forward from the time the Temple was built 1,000 years to the time of Christ.

So what does this have to do with us? Well, understanding the way worship was in the Old Testament will help us understand something very important about worship for us now. Let’s fast forward from the time the Temple was built 1,000 years to the time of Christ.

Jesus came to earth to restore our relationships with God, to bring us close to himself.

To be Emmanuel God, with Us.

Jesus came to earth to restore our relationships with God, to forgive us our sin and disobedience to God, invite everyone to come into the presence of God, no matter who you were. In , as Jesus was on the cross, he shouts out “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani,” which meant, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” He knew first hand what it was like to be removed from God’s presence and that it was not good. So, in verse 50, Jesus shouts that again and then gives up his spirit and dies. Then verse 51 tells us something that might seem strange to us reading today but was so important. The verse tells us that, “At that moment [the moment Jesus breathed his last breathe for all of mankind] the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple [separating the Holy of Holies and God’s presence from everyone] was torn in two, from top to bottom.” ***Tear curtain in half***

to forgive us our sin and our disobedience

Jesus invites everyone to come into the presence of God, We all have that opportunity through Jesus.

no matter who you are, no matter what you have done.

jesus has already paid the price for all my sin and all your sin.

When Jesus was on the cross, we read this in Matthew 27

Matthew 27:46 NIV

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

, as Jesus was on the cross, he shouts out “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani,” which meant, “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” He knew first hand what it was like to be removed from God’s presence and that it was not good. So, in verse 50, Jesus shouts that again and then gives up his spirit and dies. Then verse 51 tells us something that might seem strange to us reading today but was so important. The verse tells us that, “At that moment [the moment Jesus breathed his last breathe for all of mankind] the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple [separating the Holy of Holies and God’s presence from everyone] was torn in two, from top to bottom.” ***Tear curtain in half***

Jesus knew first hand what it was like to be removed from God’s presence and that it was not good.

He knew first hand what it was like to be removed from God’s presence and that it was not good. So, in verse 50, Jesus shouts that again and then gives up his spirit and dies. Then verse 51 tells us something that might seem strange to us reading today but was so important. The verse tells us that, “At that moment [the moment Jesus breathed his last breathe for all of mankind] the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple [separating the Holy of Holies and God’s presence from everyone] was torn in two, from top to bottom.” ***Tear curtain in half***

So, in verse 50, Jesus shouts that again and then gives up his spirit and dies. Then verse 51 tells us something that might seem strange to us reading today but was so important. The verse tells us that,

Matthew 27:51 NIV

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split

This was the curtain in the temple separating the Holy of Holies and God’s presence from everyone was torn in two, from top to bottom.”

“At that moment [the moment Jesus breathed his last breathe for all of mankind] the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple [separating the Holy of Holies and God’s presence from everyone] was torn in two, from top to bottom.” ***Tear curtain in half***

The barrier that separated God and the people was taken away and destroyed by Jesus.

The book of Hebrews tells us

What was this signifying and communicating about our worship? Really we can look at it in two different ways. Let’s turn in our Bibles to to help us with the first way.

Hebrews 10:19–25 NIV

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

***Read

The writer of Hebrews tells us, that through Jesus, God’s presence is no longer reserved for the best of the best but now is available to everyone.

The first way to look at it is that worship and God’s presence are not reserved for the best of the best but now is available to everyone. The Holy of Holies was opened up so that everyone can boldly come into the presence of God because of Christ’s death on the cross. No matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you’ve been, we can all come to Jesus just the way we are, bring whatever it is we have to offer Him, and praise Him for the things He has done in our lives. Real worship should remind us of the hope that we have through Christ’s death and again, this should be done with others. I love the way the writers of Hebrews uses plural language throughout this whole section and then ends saying that we cannot “neglect meeting together.”

The Holy of Holies was opened up so that everyone can boldly come into the presence of God because of Christ’s death on the cross.

No matter who you are, what you’ve done, or where you’ve been, we can all come to Jesus just the way we are, bring whatever it is we have to offer Him, and praise Him for the things He has done in our lives.

Real worship should remind us of the hope that we have through Christ’s death and again, this should be done with others. I love the way the writers of Hebrews uses plural language throughout this whole section and then ends saying that we cannot “neglect meeting together.”

Our worship is no longer reserved for just the Temple.

The curtain tearing represents that God is not just in the Holy of Holies anymore but that His presence is available everywhere and that he is all around us!

The second way to look at it is that worship and God’s presence are not reserved for just the Temple anymore. The curtain tearing represents that God is not just in the Holy of Holies anymore but that His presence was available everywhere and that he is all around us! From this perspective, worship really becomes a lifestyle and not just something that happens at church or youth group or anywhere else. Worship should be happening at school, on the sports field, at home, at church, at youth group, at Young Life, at work…everywhere!

From this perspective, worship really becomes a lifestyle, it is all you do and all you create, and not just something that happens at church or the teen ministry or campus ministry anywhere else.

Worship should be happening in the small, mundane things of life, worship should start in our home and carry over to every part of who we are.

From this perspective, worship really becomes a lifestyle and not just something that happens at church or youth group or anywhere else. Worship should be happening at school, on the sports field, at home, at church, at youth group, at Young Life, at work…everywhere!

I want you to understand what God offers you, the ability to be forgiven of all we have done, to be washed by the waters of Baptism into Jesus Christ, to live a new life, that is sure of your future and secure that your past is just that the past.

I invite you, if you never looked at the scripture for yourself, or if you have never been baptized for the forgiveness of your sins,

Text HELLO to 720-571-8979

we would love to connect with you wherever you are and help you see the amazing future that God has in store for you.

When you really break it down, worship is coming to God, no matter who you are and no matter where you are, giving yourself – your talents, intellect, resources, time, etc. to God and to others and then celebrating and rejoicing what God has done for you and will do for you

You don’t have to stay separated from God behind a curtain, tear it down and come into God’s glorious light.

Let’s pray for communion.

***End with Flyleaf video from All Around Me***

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