Embracing Community and Worship in God's Presence

Devotional

Day 1: Worship as a Throne for God

Our worship gatherings are not mere rituals but opportunities for God to move among us with sovereign power. When we truly worship, God is enthroned in our praises, bringing salvation, healing, and restoration. This calls for a heart condition that is open and ready to experience God's presence. Worship is not just about singing songs but about creating a space where God can dwell and work in our lives. It is an invitation for God to manifest His power and love among us. [06:55]

Psalm 22:3-4 (ESV): "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them."

Reflection: How can you prepare your heart to truly worship God today, creating a throne for Him in your praises?

Day 2: Faithfulness in Uncertainty

In times of uncertainty, we are called to remain faithful to God. Our faith should not waver even when we do not see His hand at work. We must trust that God is always faithful and loving, opening our eyes to His glory and reaching out to others with the new life of the Holy Spirit. Faithfulness means trusting in God's character and promises, even when circumstances are challenging. It is about holding on to the truth that God is with us and for us, no matter what we face. [15:00]

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

Reflection: What is one area of uncertainty in your life where you need to trust God's faithfulness today?

Day 3: The Church as a Community

The church is not a building but a community of believers. Our relationships within the church are crucial, and we must take them seriously. We are called to get to know one another, challenge each other, and shine a little prophecy into each other's lives, building a strong, united body of Christ. The church exists for the benefit of non-members, to be an incubator for new believers. It is a place where we can grow together, support one another, and reach out to the world with the love of Christ. [36:38]

Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Reflection: How can you invest in a relationship within your church community today to build a stronger, united body of Christ?

Day 4: Unique Roles in God's Plan

Each of us is a unique piece of God's jigsaw puzzle, with specific roles to play in the church. God has created us to do good works, which He has prepared in advance. We must be receptive to God's shaping and carving in our lives, allowing Him to use us to accomplish His purposes. Embracing our unique roles means recognizing that we are all essential parts of the body of Christ, each contributing to the whole in a way that no one else can. [42:21]

1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (ESV): "But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body."

Reflection: What unique gifts and talents has God given you, and how can you use them to serve His purposes in your church community today?

Day 5: Sharing the Good News

As a united church, we must share the good news of God's love with the world. We are one body in union with Christ, and we must use our gifts to support, honor, and love one another. Let us pray for strength and guidance to be active parts of the body of Christ, sharing His love and gifts with those around us. Sharing the good news is not just about words but about living out the love of Christ in our actions and relationships. [45:01]

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can share the love and message of Christ with today, and how will you do it?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Welcome to Lehman Baptist Church. Today, we gather not out of habit but with a yearning to worship God, who is always with us and loves us deeply. We are reminded that our gatherings are not just rituals but opportunities for God to move among us with sovereign power, bringing salvation, healing, and restoration. Our worship should be a throne for God, where He is enthroned in our praises.

We are called to remain faithful to God, even in times of uncertainty, and to open our hearts to His presence. Our worship is not just about singing songs but about experiencing God's faithfulness and love. We are encouraged to open our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts to the glory of what God is doing in the world and to reach out to others with the new life of the Holy Spirit.

The church is not a building but a community of believers. We are the body of Christ, and our relationships hold us together. We must take these relationships seriously, getting to know one another, challenging each other, and shining a little prophecy into each other's lives. The church exists for the benefit of non-members, to be an incubator for new believers.

God has placed each of us in the church as unique pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, each with a specific role to play. We are created to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us. We must be receptive to God's shaping and carving in our lives, allowing Him to use us to accomplish His purposes.

As a united church, we must share the good news of God's love with the world. We are one body in union with Christ, and we must use our gifts to support, honor, and love one another. Let us pray for strength and guidance to be active parts of the body of Christ, sharing His love and gifts with those around us.

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Key Takeaways

1. Worship as a Throne for God: Our worship gatherings are not mere rituals but opportunities for God to move among us with sovereign power. When we truly worship, God is enthroned in our praises, bringing salvation, healing, and restoration. This calls for a heart condition that is open and ready to experience God's presence. [06:55]
2. Faithfulness in Uncertainty: In times of uncertainty, we are called to remain faithful to God. Our faith should not waver even when we do not see His hand at work. We must trust that God is always faithful and loving, opening our eyes to His glory and reaching out to others with the new life of the Holy Spirit. [15:00]
3. The Church as a Community: The church is not a building but a community of believers. Our relationships within the church are crucial, and we must take them seriously. We are called to get to know one another, challenge each other, and shine a little prophecy into each other's lives, building a strong, united body of Christ. [36:38]
4. Unique Roles in God's Plan: Each of us is a unique piece of God's jigsaw puzzle, with specific roles to play in the church. God has created us to do good works, which He has prepared in advance. We must be receptive to God's shaping and carving in our lives, allowing Him to use us to accomplish His purposes. [42:21]
5. Sharing the Good News: As a united church, we must share the good news of God's love with the world. We are one body in union with Christ, and we must use our gifts to support, honor, and love one another. Let us pray for strength and guidance to be active parts of the body of Christ, sharing His love and gifts with those around us. [45:01]
### [45:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:55] - Call to Worship
[15:00] - Prayer for Faithfulness
[16:47] - Prayer for Peace
[18:01] - Prayer for the Nations
[23:04] - Prayer for Comfort
[29:18] - Announcements
[30:17] - Short Message Introduction
[36:38] - The Church as a Community
[37:47] - The Body of Christ
[38:52] - Spring Harvest Experience
[40:16] - God's Chosen People
[41:51] - The Church as a Jigsaw Puzzle
[42:21] - Unique Roles in God's Plan
[43:24] - Created for Good Works
[45:01] - Sharing the Good News
[46:04] - Reflection and Prayer
[58:03] - Closing Song and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Jude 1:24-25 say about God's ability to keep us from falling away and present us without fault? How does this relate to our worship gatherings? [06:55]
According to Ephesians 2:10, what are we created for, and who has prepared these works for us? [42:21]
In Romans 12:4-8, what are some of the different gifts mentioned, and how are they meant to be used within the body of Christ? [43:55]
How does the sermon describe the church as a community and the importance of relationships within it? [36:38]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of worship as a throne for God (Jude 1:24-25) change the way we approach our worship services? [06:55]
What does it mean to remain faithful to God in times of uncertainty, and how can we practically do this in our daily lives? [15:00]
How can we identify and use our unique roles and gifts within the church as described in Romans 12:4-8? [43:55]
What are some practical ways we can take our relationships within the church seriously and build a strong community of believers? [36:38]

Application Questions

Reflect on your personal worship experience. How can you prepare your heart to make your worship a throne for God, where He is enthroned in your praises? [06:55]
Think of a recent time of uncertainty in your life. How did you respond in faith, and what can you do to strengthen your faith in future uncertain times? [15:00]
Identify one specific gift you believe God has given you. How can you use this gift to serve and support your church community this week? [43:55]
Consider your relationships within the church. What steps can you take to get to know someone better, challenge them, or encourage them in their faith journey? [36:38]
How can you be more receptive to God's shaping and carving in your life, allowing Him to use you to accomplish His purposes? [42:21]
Think of a non-member or someone new to the faith. How can you reach out to them and share the good news of God's love this week? [45:01]
Reflect on the idea that the church exists for the benefit of non-members. How can you contribute to making your church an incubator for new believers? [36:38]

Sermon Clips

1. "Be sure of this, when God really gets involved with the gathering of his people, you may as well forget this is just. The King must do what the King must do. He will move among his people in sovereign power, bring salvation, healing and restoration. God in the midst of his people. May God bring us to that condition of heart and quality of praise, which he can be enthroned." [06:55] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Church isn't built of brick and stone, but of the people. So when we meet together, that's church. What matters in church is the people. What holds church together is not water, but relationships. Which means that we have to take our relationships seriously. We have to. We have to get to know one another, talk to one another, challenge one another, shine a little prophecy in people's life." [36:38] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We are the body of Christ. And when we become Christians, we enter into a huge family of believers in which God resides through his people. God wants us to accomplish his purpose. We are one family. God's family. Whether we like it or not, we're all related. Brothers and sisters. Sean and cousins. In Christ. That was a little joke. I didn't joke about it. God is building us together for a greater plan. That this glory might be seen on earth." [37:47] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God's body, the church, is the instrument through which people from every tongue, tribe and nation will be gathered and added to his body. Spring harvest went back in 1993 when quite few people would enter the church. It was a wonderful time. quite a few people could come in to church. It really reminded me of what the church was like. For those of you who've never been here it's an absolutely amazing experience." [38:52] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God has placed different shaped Christians like you and me in just the right place to be Christ's body on earth. God has a plan for each one of us. God continues to shape you every day of your life. You need to be receptive to what God wants each one of us to do. As individuals and also as a church." [42:21] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "God has chosen each one of us to do good work within his body. Ephesians 2, 10 For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good work which God prepares in advance for us to do. God is shaping us and carving out the images of Jesus in our life that we might be a testament of God's love and faithfulness to those around it. We are created to do good work. It is what we are called to do as Christians. We have all the resources of God to do it." [43:24] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God's trickster will never have a missing piece. God will always be there to fill in the gaps and show you the picture his church, his people, the people here at the amount is always complete. Corinthians 1 verse 2 God's love is precious that he sent his son to die on the cross for you. As a united church we must share the good news of his love to all the world. Let's not let our 22nd century ideas allow the body of Christ to become like the church of Collins, a divine church. We are one church, one body in union with Christ Jesus." [45:01] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "We thank you for the value you've placed on this. Calling each one of us to be active part of the body here on earth. We thank God for directing us and building us together through the bond of every spirit. We ask God to teach us more of what it means to be a body of believers, supporting, honoring and loving one another as our Lord put us." [45:32] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Habakkuk 3, 16b-19 of the Street Bible Whatever happens, I celebrate God Party in my heart Because he liberates me Even if the shelves are empty Even if the cupboards are empty I'll party, celebrate God When project fail, when the screen goes blank I'll party, celebrate God He liberates me The God who runs the cosmos is what keeps me going He makes me every step as sure-footed as a deer on the mountain I can climb because of his energy and his protection." [01:04:16] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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