Faith: The Heart of Acceptable Worship
Summary
The sermon begins with a discussion on the concept of sacrifice that is acceptable to God. The speaker highlights that God himself instituted offerings involving blood and grain in Israel, which were pleasing to Him. However, the speaker suggests that the key to understanding this concept lies not in the specific offerings made on the altar, but rather in the faith with which they were offered. The speaker refers to the book of Hebrews, which states that Abel offered a blood offering in faith, while Cain's offering lacked faith. The speaker emphasizes that it is the sacrifice of praise to God offered in faith that is acceptable to Him.
The sermon then delves into the story of Cain and Abel from Genesis chapter 4. Cain brings an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord, while Abel brings the firstborn of his flock and their fat. God respects and accepts Abel's offering, but does not respect or accept Cain's offering. The speaker emphasizes that God does not accept all forms of worship and that it is important to know what kind of worship is pleasing to Him. The common explanation that Abel's offering was a blood sacrifice while Cain's was not is mentioned, but the speaker suggests that there may be more to it.
The speaker underscores the importance of faith in our offerings to God. It is not the physical offering that matters, but the faith and sincerity behind it. The speaker uses the story of Cain and Abel to illustrate this point. Abel's offering was accepted because it was offered in faith, while Cain's was rejected because it lacked faith. The speaker emphasizes that God looks at the heart and the faith behind our offerings, not just the offerings themselves.
The speaker also highlights the importance of understanding what kind of worship is pleasing to God. Not all forms of worship are acceptable to Him. The speaker uses the story of Cain and Abel to illustrate this point. Abel's offering was accepted because it was pleasing to God, while Cain's was rejected because it was not. The speaker suggests that there may be more to the story than just the type of offering, hinting at the importance of the heart and faith behind the offering.
Key Takeaways:
- The speaker emphasizes that it is not the physical offering that is important to God, but the faith with which it is offered. Abel's offering was accepted because it was offered in faith, while Cain's was rejected because it lacked faith. This teaches us that God values sincerity and faith over physical offerings. [23:33]
- The speaker highlights that not all forms of worship are acceptable to God. It is important to understand what kind of worship is pleasing to Him. This teaches us that we should strive to worship God in a way that is pleasing to Him, not just in a way that is convenient or comfortable for us. [20:46]
- The speaker suggests that there may be more to the story of Cain and Abel than just the type of offering. This implies that the heart and faith behind the offering are also important. This teaches us that God looks at the heart and the faith behind our offerings, not just the offerings themselves. [21:24]
- The speaker emphasizes that it is the sacrifice of praise to God offered in faith that is acceptable to Him. This teaches us that our worship should be a sacrifice of praise offered in faith. This means that our worship should be sincere, heartfelt, and offered in faith. [22:10]
- The speaker uses the story of Cain and Abel to illustrate the importance of faith in our offerings to God. This teaches us that our offerings to God should be made in faith, not just out of obligation or tradition. This means that our offerings should be sincere and heartfelt, not just a routine or ritual. [22:52]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 4:3-5 (NKJV)
> "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell."
2. Hebrews 11:4 (NKJV)
> "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks."
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the different offerings that Cain and Abel brought to the Lord? (Genesis 4:3-4)
2. How did God respond to Abel's offering compared to Cain's offering? (Genesis 4:4-5)
3. According to Hebrews 11:4, what was the key difference between Abel's and Cain's offerings?
4. What does the speaker suggest is the main reason God accepted Abel's offering but not Cain's? [23:33]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the speaker emphasize that it is not the physical offering that matters to God, but the faith behind it? [23:33]
2. How does the story of Cain and Abel illustrate the importance of faith in our worship and offerings to God? [22:52]
3. What does it mean when the speaker says that God looks at the heart and the faith behind our offerings? [21:24]
4. How can we understand the concept of "sacrifice of praise" as mentioned in the sermon? [22:10]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you gave an offering or performed an act of worship. Was it done out of faith and sincerity, or out of obligation? How did it feel different? [22:52]
2. The speaker mentions that not all forms of worship are acceptable to God. How can you ensure that your worship is pleasing to Him? What changes might you need to make? [22:10]
3. Think about your current approach to worship and offerings. Are there areas where you might be going through the motions rather than offering in faith? How can you change this? [23:33]
4. The sermon suggests that God values the heart and faith behind our offerings. How can you cultivate a heart of faith and sincerity in your daily life and worship? [21:24]
5. How can you make your worship a "sacrifice of praise" that is heartfelt and offered in faith? What practical steps can you take to ensure your worship is sincere? [22:10]
6. Reflect on the story of Cain and Abel. How can you apply the lessons from their story to your own life, especially in terms of faith and sincerity in your relationship with God? [22:52]
7. Identify one specific way you can offer a sincere and faithful act of worship this week. How will you ensure that it is done with the right heart and faith? [23:33]
Devotional
Day 1: The Significance of Faith in Offerings
Faith is the cornerstone of our offerings to God. It is not the physical offering that holds importance, but the faith with which it is offered. Abel's offering was accepted because it was offered in faith, while Cain's was rejected because it lacked faith. This teaches us that God values sincerity and faith over physical offerings. [23:33]
Hebrews 11:4 - "By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks."
Reflection: Reflect on your recent offerings to God. Were they made out of faith and sincerity or out of obligation and tradition?
Day 2: Understanding Pleasing Worship
Not all forms of worship are acceptable to God. It is important to understand what kind of worship is pleasing to Him. This teaches us that we should strive to worship God in a way that is pleasing to Him, not just in a way that is convenient or comfortable for us. [20:46]
John 4:23-24 - "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. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
Reflection: Consider your worship practices. Are they designed to please God or to fit into your comfort zone?
Day 3: The Heart Behind the Offering
There may be more to the story of Cain and Abel than just the type of offering. This implies that the heart and faith behind the offering are also important. This teaches us that God looks at the heart and the faith behind our offerings, not just the offerings themselves. [21:24]
1 Samuel 16:7 - "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"
Reflection: Reflect on your recent offerings to God. Were they made with a sincere heart and faith or were they merely a ritual?
Day 4: The Acceptable Sacrifice of Praise
It is the sacrifice of praise to God offered in faith that is acceptable to Him. This teaches us that our worship should be a sacrifice of praise offered in faith. This means that our worship should be sincere, heartfelt, and offered in faith. [22:10]
Hebrews 13:15 - "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name."
Reflection: Reflect on your recent acts of worship. Were they a sacrifice of praise offered in faith or were they merely a routine?
Day 5: The Importance of Faith in Offerings
The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the importance of faith in our offerings to God. This teaches us that our offerings to God should be made in faith, not just out of obligation or tradition. This means that our offerings should be sincere and heartfelt, not just a routine or ritual. [22:52]
James 2:17 - "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: Reflect on your recent offerings to God. Were they made out of faith and sincerity or were they merely a routine or ritual?
Quotes
"The sacrifice that is acceptable to God is one that involves blood did not God himself Institute serial offerings and grain offerings in Israel that were completely delightful to him." [23:33]
"I don't think that we can get to the root of this question by looking at what was offered on the altar and when we get to the book of Hebrews it doesn't say by faith Abel offered a blood offering and Cain offered a non-bloody offering no the difference was one was the sacrifice of the praise to God that was offered in faith and the other was not in faith." [23:33]
"Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat and the Lord respected Abel and his offering but he did not respect Cain and his offering stop right there." [20:46]
"God does not accept all forms of worship that are offered to him and we need to know that that's a scary thought because what if your worship is not acceptable to him what if your worship is offensive to him what if my worship is displeasing to him." [22:10]
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