Embracing Worship: Letting Go and Moving Forward
Summary
This morning, we continue our series, "Rooted in Worship," by diving into the Old Testament book of Haggai. Before we delve into the message, I want to introduce our summer interns who will be serving our church community. These young adults are dedicating their summer to grow spiritually and serve our congregation. Let's pray for them and ask God to guide and protect them throughout this journey. We thank God for their humble spirits and the joy they bring to our team. May this summer be a blessing to them and to our church. Amen. [49:42]
As we gather today, I want to remind you that next week we will be worshiping outdoors at ODU at 10:30 AM. This change is part of our effort to disrupt our usual routines and remind ourselves that worship is not confined to a building. Worship is about the people we are with and the God we serve. Sometimes, breaking away from our normal rhythms can lead to significant spiritual growth. [51:17]
Our focus today is on the book of Haggai, a prophet who spoke to the people of Judah after they returned from Babylonian exile. The temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed, and the people had started to rebuild it but got distracted by their own needs and desires. Haggai's message was a call to prioritize the worship of God and to rebuild the temple. He reminded them that their strength and ability to complete this task came from God, who promised to be with them. [57:23]
One of the key themes in Haggai is the importance of not dwelling on the past. We often idolize the past, thinking it was better than the present. However, God calls us to look forward and trust in His promises for the future. Christine Kane's book, "Don't Look Back," uses the story of Lot's wife to illustrate the dangers of lingering in the past. Jesus Himself tells us to remember Lot's wife because she was fixated on what was behind her, missing out on the future God had for her. [01:09:39]
Worship is not just about remembering the past but also about having faith for the future. The past can either deplete or fuel our worship. When we remember God's faithfulness in our lives, it gives us the strength to trust Him in the present and future. Haggai prophesied that the glory of the new temple would surpass that of the old one, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Jesus embodies the true temple and brings peace, making worship forward-looking and filled with hope. [01:14:38]
God's promises are central to our worship. The Westminster Catechism states that the chief end of people is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Our purpose is to reflect God's glory in all aspects of our lives. Sin disrupts this purpose by making us seek our own glory. However, when we put God at the center, we are connected to the source of life, which gives us everything we need. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, empowering us to worship God fully. [01:16:08]
As we close, I want to speak some promises over you. God's love endures forever, He never leaves us, He provides strength for the weary, He is our rescue and protection, He meets our needs, He comforts us, He hears our prayers, and He forgives us. These promises are yes and amen in Christ. Let's pray together, thanking God for His faithfulness and asking Him to help us worship Him with our whole hearts. [01:22:21]
Key Takeaways:
1. Worship Beyond the Building: Worship is not confined to a physical location or a set of rituals. It is about the people we are with and the God we serve. Disrupting our usual routines can lead to significant spiritual growth as we realize that worship is a lifestyle, not just an event. [51:17]
2. Letting Go of the Past: Holding on to the past can hinder our ability to worship God fully in the present. Jesus tells us to remember Lot's wife as a warning against fixating on what is behind us. Instead, we should trust in God's promises for the future and allow Him to lead us into new and greater things. [01:09:39]
3. The Power of Remembrance: Remembering God's faithfulness in the past fuels our faith in the present. By recounting the ways God has shown up in our lives, we gain the strength to trust Him in our current circumstances and future challenges. This practice helps us worship God even in the midst of difficulties. [01:11:34]
4. God's Promises and Our Purpose: Our primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Sin disrupts this purpose by making us seek our own glory. However, when we put God at the center of our lives, we are connected to the source of life, which empowers us to worship Him fully and live out our true purpose. [01:16:08]
5. Empowered by the Spirit: The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, giving us the power to worship God fully. This truth should dispel our fears and empower us to live boldly for God. When we are connected to God, we have everything we need to face life's challenges and fulfill our calling. [01:16:46]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[46:00] - Opening Prayer
[46:32] - Introduction of Summer Interns
[49:42] - Prayer for Interns
[51:17] - Worship Beyond the Building
[57:23] - Overview of Haggai
[01:09:39] - Letting Go of the Past
[01:11:34] - The Power of Remembrance
[01:14:38] - God's Promises and Our Purpose
[01:16:08] - Empowered by the Spirit
[01:22:21] - Speaking God's Promises
[01:32:14] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Haggai 2:1-9
2. Luke 17:32
3. 2 Corinthians 1:20
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#### Observation Questions
1. What was the main task that Haggai called the people of Judah to prioritize? ([57:23])
2. According to Haggai 2:4, what promise does God give to the people to encourage them in their work?
3. In Luke 17:32, Jesus tells us to remember Lot's wife. What was the consequence of her looking back?
4. How does 2 Corinthians 1:20 describe the promises of God in relation to Jesus?
---
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the people of Judah got distracted from rebuilding the temple, and how does this relate to our own distractions today? ([57:51])
2. What does it mean to "idolize the past," and how can this hinder our worship and spiritual growth? ([01:09:39])
3. How does remembering God's faithfulness in the past help us to trust Him in the present and future? ([01:11:34])
4. What does it mean that all of God's promises are "yes" in Christ, and how should this impact our daily lives? ([01:17:55])
---
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you were distracted from prioritizing your relationship with God. What steps can you take to refocus on Him this week? ([57:51])
2. Are there areas in your life where you are holding onto the past? How can you begin to let go and trust in God's future promises for you? ([01:09:39])
3. Think of a specific instance where God showed His faithfulness in your life. How can you use this memory to fuel your faith in a current challenge you are facing? ([01:11:34])
4. How can you incorporate the practice of remembering God's promises into your daily routine? Consider using a journal or a daily devotional. ([01:12:59])
5. In what ways can you disrupt your usual routines to experience spiritual growth, as suggested by the idea of worshiping beyond the building? ([51:17])
6. How can you ensure that your worship is forward-looking and filled with hope, rather than being stuck in past experiences? ([01:14:38])
7. Identify one promise of God that you find particularly encouraging. How can you meditate on this promise throughout the week to strengthen your faith? ([01:20:31])
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This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of the sermon and apply them to your lives. May your discussions be fruitful and lead to significant spiritual growth.
Devotional
Day 1: Worship Beyond the Building
Worship is not confined to a physical location or a set of rituals. It is about the people we are with and the God we serve. Disrupting our usual routines can lead to significant spiritual growth as we realize that worship is a lifestyle, not just an event. Next week, the congregation will worship outdoors at ODU at 10:30 AM, a change intended to remind us that worship is not limited to a building. This shift in routine can help us grow spiritually by breaking away from our normal rhythms and focusing on the essence of worship.
Worship is about the community and the God we serve, not the physical space we occupy. By stepping out of our comfort zones and usual settings, we can experience a deeper connection with God and each other. This practice encourages us to see worship as an integral part of our daily lives, not just something we do on Sundays. [51:17]
Bible Passage:
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV)
Reflection:
How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine outside of the church building this week?
Day 2: Letting Go of the Past
Holding on to the past can hinder our ability to worship God fully in the present. Jesus tells us to remember Lot's wife as a warning against fixating on what is behind us. Instead, we should trust in God's promises for the future and allow Him to lead us into new and greater things. The book of Haggai emphasizes the importance of not dwelling on the past. The people of Judah were called to rebuild the temple and prioritize the worship of God, rather than getting distracted by their own needs and desires.
God calls us to look forward and trust in His promises for the future. By letting go of the past, we open ourselves up to the new and greater things God has in store for us. This forward-looking perspective is essential for spiritual growth and effective worship. [01:09:39]
Bible Passage:
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19, ESV)
Reflection:
What is one thing from your past that you need to let go of to fully embrace God's future for you?
Day 3: The Power of Remembrance
Remembering God's faithfulness in the past fuels our faith in the present. By recounting the ways God has shown up in our lives, we gain the strength to trust Him in our current circumstances and future challenges. This practice helps us worship God even in the midst of difficulties. Haggai prophesied that the glory of the new temple would surpass that of the old one, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
When we remember God's past faithfulness, it strengthens our faith and trust in Him. This remembrance is a powerful tool for worship, as it shifts our focus from our current struggles to God's unchanging nature and His promises. [01:11:34]
Bible Passage:
"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds." (Psalm 77:11-12, ESV)
Reflection:
Take a moment to write down three specific instances where you have seen God's faithfulness in your life. How can these memories strengthen your faith today?
Day 4: God's Promises and Our Purpose
Our primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Sin disrupts this purpose by making us seek our own glory. However, when we put God at the center of our lives, we are connected to the source of life, which empowers us to worship Him fully and live out our true purpose. The Westminster Catechism states that the chief end of people is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
When we align our lives with God's purpose, we find true fulfillment and joy. Sin may try to divert us, but keeping God at the center ensures that we live out our true purpose and reflect His glory in all aspects of our lives. [01:16:08]
Bible Passage:
"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:36, ESV)
Reflection:
What is one area of your life where you find yourself seeking your own glory instead of God's? How can you realign this area to reflect God's glory?
Day 5: Empowered by the Spirit
The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, giving us the power to worship God fully. This truth should dispel our fears and empower us to live boldly for God. When we are connected to God, we have everything we need to face life's challenges and fulfill our calling. God's promises are central to our worship, and His Spirit empowers us to live out these promises.
Understanding that the Holy Spirit dwells within us gives us the confidence and strength to worship God fully and live out our faith boldly. This empowerment is crucial for overcoming fears and fulfilling our God-given purpose. [01:16:46]
Bible Passage:
"But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:10-11, ESV)
Reflection:
What is one fear or challenge you are currently facing? How can the knowledge that the Holy Spirit dwells within you help you overcome it?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Yes, in your own strength, you're going to be tired. You're going to be weary. You're going to run out. But he says, when you're connected to me and you put me at the center of your life, you're connected to the source of life, which is giving you everything that you need. You're daily bread for the task that is before you. Listen, for some of you this morning, the word is this. Don't give up. Don't give up on the good work that God has called you to. Some of you are tired. Some of you are weary. Some of you are like, I just need to do the other thing, not because God is calling you, but because it's easier. Don't go there because it's easier. You go where God calls you. Amen?" [01:02:22]
2. "Listen, we see in, in first John, the Bible says this perfect love cast out all what fear. And so one of the things that hinders our worship before God is that we get so consumed by the fear of the world and the fear of what's happening to us, or a lot of times the fear of what might happen to us, that we allow the things of this world to consume us to a degree that we no longer are able to worship God because we've become paralyzed by the things that we're facing and the things we're looking at." [01:03:23]
3. "It's been so easy to think about how do we go back to what was before? But sometimes God's not asking us to go back. He has a new future for us. And he wants to rearrange some things and some things in our lives in order that we live into the new vision of what God has for us." [01:09:03]
4. "Your past can deplete your worship, or the past can fuel your worship. The past can deplete it, or it can fill it. Let me explain. He asks us, he says, remember the former days. And what, sometimes what we do with nostalgia and the throwback of thinking of the past is sometimes what we begin to do is we begin to worship the past in such a way that we worship the past more than we worship God in the presence. He says, don't do that. Don't do that. Don't idolize the past and make it a God in your life." [01:06:56]
5. "The promise, see this is the problem we make with God's promises. The problem with the promises is that we make the promises all about us. We make us the center of God's promises as if God is orbiting around us as he fulfills his promises. But what the scriptures are saying is that, yes, you benefit and there is great blessing in God's promises, but the promises are all, all connected to a person who is a living temple who said, I will come and this temple will be raised, it will be destroyed, but in three days it will be raised up again. Who conquered death and who is alive and whose name is Jesus." [01:18:32]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Worship is more than just a place that you go to, but it is a people that you are with. And so I want to encourage you next week, come out, it's family friendly." [52:14]
2. "So, God is speaking through Haggai. And it's interesting that he calls these three leaders, and he calls them to live into their strength, to live into their identity. He tells them three different times to be strong. Be strong. Don't grow weary. Don't give up. Don't give up on the worship and the good work that God has called you to. Does anyone need to hear that this morning? Anybody need to hear that word this morning, that man, life is hard, and it can be draining. But God is speaking to you and where he's called you to work, in that work situation that's hard, that house situation that's hard, that marriage that is hard. God is saying to you, be strong. Don't grow weary. Don't grow tired. I know it's hard, but be strong, declares the Lord Almighty." [01:00:51]
3. "Remember Lot's wife because what she did is she was so fixated of wanting to think about the past rather than having a vision for where God was leading her. And so we see, Christine Kane says it this way. She says this about lingering in the past. She says if we linger in the past, we run the risk of becoming an idolized version of what really was. We linger in the past, we run the risk of becoming an idolized version of what really was. Let me ask you this morning, are you lingering in a place or longing for what was? Are you living so much in the past that it's keeping you from able to worship God in the future?" [01:10:13]
4. "Worship remembers the past in order to give you faith for the future. So there is a power in remembering. There is a power in, in recounting and retelling the story of God in your life. That is why it's so important that we remind ourselves of how God is faithful in our life because we see that the past, the past that you've lived, the history that you've gone through can give you faith to worship God in the present and even in the middle of a storm. Even in the hardship of life, you remember when God showed up in this story." [01:11:34]
5. "It's saying that God's promises that at the new temple that he will one day build are far greater than what was in the past. So that's part of why we have to let go of the past and not make it a God, is that God's promises for the future are even greater. And what we know because of Jesus is that the ultimate fulfillment of all of this is because of the person of Christ who embodies the ultimate temple and brings true peace. Therefore, worship is forward-looking, filled with hope and trust in God's promises. Worship is believing God for all that he has said he will do and trusting in his promises for your life." [01:14:38]
6. "The Westminster Catechism, the catechism had asked a question and a response. The first question of the Westminster Catechism is this, what is the chief end of people? Why do people exist? What is the purpose of it? That's the question. And the answer is this, to enjoy God and to worship him forever. Your purpose in your life is to bring glory to the one who created you. Your purpose in this life, in this world, is to reflect back to the creator how good and how great he is." [01:15:26]
7. "The same spirit that rose Jesus from the dead is alive in you. So, so the way that we have to do that is instead of being in fear of the things of this world, we have a healthy fear of reverence of a God who is able, a God who is willing, and a God who never, never ends. Amen?" [01:03:56]
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