Extravagant Worship: Transforming Lives Through Forgiveness
Summary
In today's message, I explored the profound encounter between Mary Magdalene and Jesus, drawing from Luke chapter 7. This encounter, though not explicitly about the empty tomb, is a precursor to the resurrection story and offers us a glimpse into the radical transformation that Jesus brings into the lives of those who truly encounter Him.
I began by reflecting on the common realities that plague many people's lives—feelings of pointlessness, foolishness, darkness, senselessness, confusion, and a lack of thankfulness. These feelings are symptomatic of a deeper issue, which is a lack of true worship. Worship, as I defined it, is the homage that is due to God alone, and it is sinful and idolatrous to render such homage to any created being or thing.
Our hearts are designed to seek something beyond ourselves, as Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God has set eternity in the human heart. This design is meant to lead us to pursue God, in whom our restless hearts find their rest. However, when we direct our worship towards anything other than God, we find ourselves trapped in a cycle of death—frustration, disease, heartache, and all forms of spiritual decay.
The story of Mary Magdalene, or the sinful woman as she is referred to in Luke 7, is a powerful illustration of what true worship looks like. Despite her past, she approaches Jesus with an alabaster jar of perfume, weeping, wiping His feet with her hair, kissing them, and anointing them with perfume. Her actions are a beautiful and intimate expression of worship, born out of a deep understanding of the forgiveness she has received.
Jesus uses this moment to teach Simon the Pharisee about the nature of forgiveness and love. He tells a parable of two debtors, one owing a great deal and the other a lesser amount. Both are forgiven by their creditor, and Jesus asks Simon who would love the creditor more. Simon correctly answers that it would be the one who was forgiven more. Jesus then applies this to the sinful woman, stating that her many sins have been forgiven, as her great love has shown.
This encounter with Jesus is a call to extravagant worship, a worship that recognizes the depth of our debt and the greatness of God's forgiveness. It is a worship that is not just a song or a ritual, but a life lived in gratitude and service to God.
In conclusion, I encouraged the congregation to renounce the idols in their lives and embrace a new reality of life and peace in Christ. I offered practical ways to worship God with our very lives, such as sharing our rescue stories, worshiping with reverence and awe, and channeling our passions in ways that glorify God.
Key Takeaways:
- True worship is a response to the recognition of our own spiritual bankruptcy and the immeasurable grace we have received in Christ. When we understand the depth of our debt and the cost of our forgiveness, our worship becomes a natural outpouring of gratitude and love. [26:08]
- Extravagant worship is not about the outward display but the inward transformation. It is the intimate and personal offering of our whole selves to God, much like the sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet with her tears and perfume. This kind of worship is marked by vulnerability and a disregard for the opinions of others. [23:04]
- Worship is the remedy for the soul's deepest aches. When we worship God in spirit and truth, we find the peace and purpose that elude us when we chase after idols. Worship reorients our hearts toward the eternal and satisfies our longing for something more. [07:48]
- The story of the forgiven debtors teaches us that our love for God is proportional to our awareness of His forgiveness. Those who grasp the magnitude of their forgiven sin are the ones who love God most fervently and serve Him most devotedly. [24:17]
- Worship is not a compartmentalized activity; it is a lifestyle. Every aspect of our lives, from our passions to our daily routines, can become an act of worship when we do them for the glory of God. This holistic approach to worship leads to a life that is fully integrated and centered on Christ. [31:57]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 7:36-50 - The story of the sinful woman anointing Jesus' feet.
2. Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
3. Romans 1:20-21 - "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."
#### Observation Questions
1. What actions did the sinful woman take when she encountered Jesus in Luke 7:36-50? How did she express her worship? [19:10]
2. According to Ecclesiastes 3:11, what has God set in the human heart, and how does this relate to our pursuit of Him?
3. In Romans 1:20-21, what are the consequences of not worshiping God as described by Paul? How does this passage describe the state of those who do not glorify God?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of the sinful woman in Luke 7 illustrate the concept of extravagant worship? What does her behavior teach us about the nature of true worship? [23:04]
2. Ecclesiastes 3:11 mentions that God has set eternity in the human heart. How does this idea influence our understanding of human restlessness and the search for meaning?
3. Romans 1:20-21 speaks about the futility and darkness of those who do not worship God. How does this passage help us understand the root issue of idolatry and its impact on our lives? [07:08]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the story of the sinful woman in Luke 7. How can you express your gratitude and worship to God in a way that is as sincere and vulnerable as her actions? [19:10]
2. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has set eternity in our hearts. What are some ways you can reorient your daily life to focus more on eternal things rather than temporary distractions? [07:48]
3. Romans 1:20-21 describes the consequences of not worshiping God. Are there areas in your life where you have placed something or someone above God? How can you begin to shift your focus back to Him? [07:08]
4. The sermon mentioned that worship is a lifestyle, not just a ritual. What are some practical ways you can incorporate worship into your daily routines and activities? [31:57]
5. The pastor encouraged sharing our rescue stories as a form of worship. Can you think of someone in your life who needs to hear your story of how God has transformed you? How will you share it with them this week? [32:33]
6. The sermon highlighted the importance of worshiping with reverence and awe. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverence in your personal worship time? [33:07]
7. Consider your passions and interests. How can you channel these in ways that glorify God and serve His kingdom? What specific steps will you take this week to align your passions with God's purposes? [33:47]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship as Gratitude for Grace
True worship emerges from a heart that recognizes its own spiritual poverty and the vastness of grace received. This understanding of our indebtedness to God's mercy transforms our worship into a genuine expression of thankfulness and love. Worship is not merely a song or a ritual; it is the outpouring of a heart that has grasped the cost of its forgiveness and responds in gratitude. When one acknowledges the depth of their sin and the height of God's forgiveness, worship becomes more than a duty—it becomes a joy and a natural response to God's love.
"O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure." - Isaiah 25:1
Reflection: How does the awareness of your forgiven sins shape the way you worship God in your daily life?
Day 2: The Heart of Extravagant Worship
Extravagant worship is characterized by an inward transformation that manifests in a deeply personal and vulnerable offering of oneself to God. It is not concerned with external appearances but is marked by a heart that seeks to honor God above all else. Like the woman who anointed Jesus' feet, true worshipers give of themselves without regard for the opinions of others, focusing solely on the One they adore. This kind of worship requires a willingness to be open before God, allowing every part of one's being to be an expression of worship.
"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." - John 4:23
Reflection: In what ways can you practice vulnerability in your worship to allow for a deeper connection with God?
Day 3: Worship as the Soul's Remedy
Worship is the antidote to the soul's deepest yearnings. Engaging in true worship—worship in spirit and truth—leads to the peace and purpose that elude those who pursue idols. When worship is directed towards God, it reorients the heart towards the eternal and satisfies the longing for something greater. This pursuit of God in worship is what the soul craves, and in it, one finds the fulfillment that cannot be found in the temporal things of this world.
"For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." - Psalm 107:9
Reflection: What idols have you been chasing, and how can you redirect your focus to worship God more fully?
Day 4: Love Proportional to Forgiveness
The parable of the forgiven debtors illustrates that love for God grows in proportion to one's awareness of His forgiveness. Those who recognize the magnitude of their forgiven sins are the ones who love God most passionately and serve Him most devotedly. This understanding fosters a deep sense of humility and a fervent desire to love and serve God, acknowledging that every act of kindness and every gesture of love is a response to the grace that has been lavishly poured out upon us.
"Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." - Luke 7:47
Reflection: How does the realization of God's forgiveness in your life inspire you to love and serve Him and others?
Day 5: Worship as a Lifestyle
Worship is not confined to a specific time or place; it is a lifestyle that permeates every aspect of one's existence. When every action, from the mundane to the significant, is done for the glory of God, life itself becomes an act of worship. This holistic approach to worship integrates one's faith into every facet of life, ensuring that Christ is at the center of all that one does. By living in this way, every moment becomes an opportunity to honor God.
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31
Reflection: What are some practical ways you can turn everyday activities into acts of worship to God?
Quotes
"Our hearts beat for something more than ourselves. God designed our hearts this way. Ecclesiastes chapter 3:11 says he has set eternity in the human heart and God designed our hearts to be this way so that we could pursue him. I'm reminded of this famous quote by St Augustine that said our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee." [07:48]
"Worship is the homage rendered to God which is sinful and idolatrous to render to any created person, place or thing. God Alone is worthy of our worship, he alone is worthy of Our Praise why because he made everything, he made the heaven and the Earth and everything in it, why because he sustains all things, he is the very source of life itself." [10:33]
"If we worship anything other than God those above realities on your note sheet like this is so foolish or what's the point of life they lead to death. I'm talking about death in all of its Myriad of different forms like frustration and disease and heartache and everything associate with that unforgiveness and bitterness and many many other things right that's what idol worship leads you down." [12:32]
"This woman, this sinner, she brings an alabaster jar of perfume, stands behind Jesus At His Feet weeping, and again she could not care less what anyone thought. She began to wet his feet with her tears, she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, poured perfume on them. Can you imagine a more intimate and extravagant expression of worship?" [23:04]
"The story that Jesus told Simon, it's easy to understand, right? It served as a springboard to my next point though, which is so huge... The greater Revelation that you have of this, the easier it is to be like Mary Magdalene and worship extravagantly in your life. That's what he wants, that's what he created you for, but you need this Revelation." [26:08]
"Jesus died on the cross for our sins and he paid the price on our behalf so we don't have to pay it for all of eternity, it's already paid for. And so he offers this incredible free gift of forgiveness for all of our sins. Learning about this stuff, it makes me want to worship God in a really extravagant an intimate way." [30:03]
"Renounce the idols in your life of which there's a thousand and one in our culture, right? You deceive yourself into thinking that this Idol is going to give you ultimate satisfaction and it ends up leading to death. So renounce that which is bringing about that reality and embrace a whole new reality of life and peace." [31:16]
"Share your rescue story with others. Oh my goodness, have you been rescued? Do you experience freedom from Hurts, Habits, Hang-Ups? Do you experience victory in your life? Do you experience a joy that's indescribably glorious and a hope that will never disappoint you? Then share it with others, share it with others." [31:57]
"Worship the Lord through your passion. We can be passionate about things and we can really love things but don't love things seriously because it could easily become an idol. What you can worship God with your passion though, whoa that's super cool. Give it God glory through the passion that you have, he doesn't want you to give up your passion, he wants to sanctify it." [33:47]
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