SF950 - Let The Church Be The Church - 2 of 10 A BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF WORSHIP (Psalm 100 1-5)
Psalm 100:1-5
Introduction
We are studying the marks of a New Testament Church, they are:
Ø A New Testament Church Has a Biblical Theology
Ø A New Testament Church Has a Biblical Understanding of Worship
Ø A New Testament Church Will Preach the Word
Ø A New Testament Church Has a Biblical Understanding of the Gospel
Ø A New Testament Church Has a Biblical Understanding of Conversion
Ø A New Testament Church Has a Biblical Understanding of Evangelism
Ø A New Testament Church Has a Biblical Understanding of Church Membership
Ø A New Testament Church Has a Biblical Understanding of Church Discipline
Ø A New Testament Church Has a Biblical Understanding of Church Leadership
Ø A New Testament Church Has a Biblical Understanding of Church Growth
There is no greater privilege given to man than the worship of God. Therefore it behooves us to study carefully what the Scripture teach us about worshipping our wonderful God.
When you think of Church, what do you think of?
Are your thoughts positive?
Ø Friends
Ø Fellowship
Ø Spiritual growth
Ø Support
Ø God
Are your thoughts negative?
Ø Rules
Ø Hypocrites
Ø Long sermons
Ø Boring music
More specifically when you think of Worship, what do you think of?
Positive things…
Ø God's presence
Ø Upbeat tempo
Ø Positive, practical messages
Negative things…
Ø Irrelevant messages
Ø Music that you can't understand
Ø Boring, Boring, Boring
You may be like the little boy who asked his dad about the pictures in the foyer…Which service the morning or evening?
That isn't what the Psalmist thought of… Psalm 100:1-5
Three lessons about Worship:
1A Notice How we are to Worship
Worship is a celebration of God’s mighty deeds of salvation. (Robert Webber)
1B. We are to celebrate God's presence (100:1-2)
With our music (100:1)
Shout refers to the sound the trumpets!
Psalm 98:6 With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King.
Psalm 33:2 Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
With our mouths (100:2)
Psalm 95:2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
We are to anticipate God's blessings (100:4)
We are to come to worship with a thankful heart (100:4a)
Psalm 116:17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the LORD.
Psalm 103:1-2 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
We are to continue in worship with a joyful heart (100:4b)
Psalm 68:26 Bless God in the congregations, The Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
Psalm 106:1 Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
2A. Notice Whom we are to Worship (100:3)
He is the God of the covenant "the Lord, Himself is God" (100:3a)
He is the God who keeps His promises
Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
He is the God who cares for His people
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
He is the God of creation (100:3b)
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Everyone and everything were made by Him and for Him!
He is the God of compassion (100:3c)
John 10:14-15 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
He knows us intimately (John 10:15a)
He loves us passionately (John 10 15b)
3A. Notice Why we are to Worship
There is an essential reason - His goodness! (100:5a)
Good speaks of some thing that is of value
1 Chronicles 16:34 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
There is an eternal reason - His loving-kindness (mercy)! (100:5b)
Psalm 106:1 Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Forty One Times this phrase appears in the Bible
There is an enduring reason - His faithfulness (truth)! (100:5c)
Psalm 108:4 For Your mercy is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the clouds.
Psalm 119:90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.
Twenty times the OT reminds that He is a Faithful God!
Application – A Plea for Genuine Worship
The worship of God is a primary function of the church.
1B. Worship is not passive but active.
Worship is the work of the people directed toward God. We gather on the Lord's Day not so much to receive, but to offer sacrifices of praise (see Hebrews 13:15-16). We acknowledge what God has done for us and is doing for us. Thus, we bless Him and offer our gifts to Him, as well as our praise and adoration.
2B. Worship is primarily rooted in an event, the Christ event
It was in the Christ event that God revealed Himself as our loving and compassionate creator and redeemer. Worship is a response to the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ.
3B. Worship is primarily spiritual and symbolic.
Worship is only possible in and by the Holy Spirit, who prompts our love and praise of God. At the same time, we need to rediscover the wealth of resources available to help us highlight those symbols handed down to us by Christ, the apostles, and the experiences of the saints of the ages.
4B. We must prepare for worship.
5B. We must participate in worship
(1) We prepare to worship
(2) We hear God speak
(3) We respond to God
(4) God sends us forth.
Psalm 100:1-5
1A Notice __________________________ we are to Worship
Worship is a celebration of God’s mighty deeds of salvation. (Robert Webber)
1B. We are to celebrate God's __________________ (100:1-2)
With our music (100:1)
Psalm 98:6
Psalm 33:2
With our __________________________ (100:2)
Psalm 95:2
We are to __________________________ God's blessings (100:4)
We are to come to worship with a thankful heart (100:4a)
Psalm 116:17
Psalm 103:1-2
We are to continue in worship with a joyful heart (100:4b)
Psalm 68:26
Psalm 106:1
2A. Notice ____________________ we are to Worship (100:3)
He is the God of the covenant "the Lord, Himself is God" (100:3a)
He is the God who keeps His ___________________________
Genesis 12:1-3
He is the God who cares for His people
John 14:1-3
He is the God of creation (100:3b)
Colossians 1:16
He is the God of _________________________________ (100:3c)
John 10:14-15
He knows us intimately (John 10:15a)
He loves us passionately (John 10 15b)
3A. Notice __________________________ we are to Worship
There is an essential reason - His goodness! (100:5a)
Good speaks of some thing that is of value
1 Chronicles 16:34
Psalm 34:8
There is an eternal reason - His mercy! (100:5b)
Psalm 106
There is an _____________________ reason - His truth! (100:5c)
Psalm 108:4
Psalm 119:90
Application – A Plea for Genuine Worship
The worship of God is a primary function of the church.
1B. Worship is not _________________________ but active.
2B. Worship is primarily rooted in an event, the Christ event
3B. Worship is primarily __________________ and symbolic.
4B. We must __________________ for worship.
5B. Four parts of worship
(1) We prepare to worship
(2) We hear God speak
(3) We respond to God
(4) God sends us forth.