Worship That Lift’s Gods Most Important Product

INTRODUCTION:

(NOW)

“If the churches took half the money that they was making and gave it back to the community we’d be alright. If they’d take half the buildings that they used to praise God and gave it to people who need God, we’d be alright. We’d be alright. Have you seen some of these churches lately? There’s ones that take up the whole block in New York [city]. It’s homeless people out here! Why ain’t God letting them stay there? Why these folks got gold ceilings? Why God need gold ceilings to talk to me? Why do God need colored windows to talk to me? Why God can’t come where I’m at, where He sent me? If God wanted to talk to me in a pretty spot like that, why He send me here then? You know what I mean? That make Ghetto kids not believe in God. Why? So that’s wrong, religion!...”

Deacon Nicholson - People are God’s most important product.

(THEN)

CIT: Worship is meaningless when it does not result in justice and righteousness.

CIM: Make Justice the center of your worship to God.

PREPOSITION: How do we worship God by placing people at the center our rituals.

Reevaluate whether your Worship is pleasing to God. (vv. 21-23)

EXP: I hate, I despise, I take no delight, I will not accept, I will not look upon, Burnt offering - forgiveness, Grain offering - Commitment to God, peace offering - communion with God or right relationship

ARG: James 1:27 (pure religion), James 2:14-26 (faith without works - Poorly clothed people)

ILL: Our first chimney mishap.

APP:

Make justice your consistent worship ritual. (v. 24)

EXP: Let just roll down like waters,

ARG:

ILL: Energizer Bunny

APP:

Don’t make necessary what God does not require. (v. 25)

EXP: While the israelites were in the wilderness, God didn’t not require sacrifice. God did not save the Israelites because they sacrificed. He saved them because they are oppressed. He accepts worship from his people when the liberate.

ARG:

ILL: focused on the wrong bullseye.

APP: