Rooted Identity: The Essence of Honest Worship
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound theme of identity and worship, emphasizing that our identity is rooted in God's desire for us, not in our own efforts. This understanding liberates us from the pressure of constantly trying to muster enough desire for God, allowing us to rest in His perfect love. Our identity as God's children is intertwined with our mission to encourage our community toward wholeness in Jesus. This mission is grounded in the core values of Grace Church, which have been shaped by our history and continue to guide us today.
We delved into the story of Mary of Bethany, who exemplifies honest worship. In Luke 10, Mary chooses to sit at Jesus' feet, prioritizing His presence over the busyness of service. This act of devotion highlights the importance of focusing on Jesus, even amidst life's demands. Mary's choice reflects a purity of heart and a single-minded focus on God, reminding us that true worship involves both listening and learning from Jesus.
In John 11, we see Mary in a moment of grief, bringing her sorrows to Jesus. Her honest expression of pain is a form of worship, acknowledging that God is the one who can help us in our struggles. This teaches us that worship is not limited to moments of joy but extends to our times of sorrow and questioning.
Finally, we witness Mary's extravagant act of worship in John 12, where she anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume. This act symbolizes her complete devotion and willingness to give everything to Jesus. It challenges us to consider what we are willing to offer in our worship and how we can live lives that reflect His worth.
As we continue to explore the core values of Grace Church, we are reminded that worship is not confined to Sunday mornings but is a way of life. It involves sitting at Jesus' feet, crying out to Him in our pain, and giving Him all we have. This is the essence of honest worship, and it is a part of our DNA as a church community.
Key Takeaways:
1. Identity Rooted in God's Desire: Our identity is not based on our efforts but on God's desire for us. This understanding frees us from the pressure of trying to generate enough desire for God, allowing us to rest in His perfect love. Our identity as God's children is intertwined with our mission to encourage our community toward wholeness in Jesus. [42:32]
2. Mary's Choice of Devotion: In Luke 10, Mary chooses to sit at Jesus' feet, prioritizing His presence over the busyness of service. This act of devotion highlights the importance of focusing on Jesus, even amidst life's demands. Mary's choice reflects a purity of heart and a single-minded focus on God, reminding us that true worship involves both listening and learning from Jesus. [49:10]
3. Worship in Grief: In John 11, Mary brings her sorrows to Jesus, expressing her pain honestly. This teaches us that worship is not limited to moments of joy but extends to our times of sorrow and questioning. By bringing our grief to God, we acknowledge that He is the one who can help us in our struggles. [53:40]
4. Extravagant Worship: Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with costly perfume in John 12 symbolizes her complete devotion and willingness to give everything to Jesus. This challenges us to consider what we are willing to offer in our worship and how we can live lives that reflect His worth. [54:41]
5. Worship as a Way of Life: Worship is not confined to Sunday mornings but is a way of life. It involves sitting at Jesus' feet, crying out to Him in our pain, and giving Him all we have. This is the essence of honest worship, and it is a part of our DNA as a church community. [01:03:51]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [42:32] - Identity Rooted in God's Desire
- [44:53] - Core Values of Grace Church
- [46:38] - Mary of Bethany's Devotion
- [47:47] - Martha's Service and Distraction
- [49:10] - Mary's Choice of Devotion
- [50:46] - Honest Worship and Proclamation
- [52:10] - Worship in Grief
- [53:40] - Bringing Sorrows to Jesus
- [54:41] - Extravagant Worship
- [01:02:45] - Grace Church's Legacy
- [01:03:51] - Worship as a Way of Life
- [01:04:50] - Communion Invitation
- [01:06:31] - Receiving Communion
- [01:14:36] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 10:38-42
- John 11:32-35
- John 12:1-8
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 10:38-42, what does Mary choose to do when Jesus visits, and how does Jesus respond to Martha's concerns? [46:38]
2. How does Mary express her grief in John 11:32-35, and what does this reveal about her relationship with Jesus? [52:10]
3. Describe Mary's act of worship in John 12:1-8. What does this act signify about her devotion to Jesus? [54:41]
4. According to the sermon, how does the story of Mary of Bethany illustrate the concept of honest worship? [49:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Mary's choice to sit at Jesus' feet in Luke 10 suggest about the priorities of a disciple? How does this contrast with Martha's actions? [49:10]
2. In John 11, how does Mary's honest expression of grief serve as a form of worship? What does this teach us about the nature of worship during difficult times? [53:40]
3. How does Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet in John 12 challenge our understanding of what it means to offer everything in worship? [54:41]
4. The sermon emphasizes that worship is a way of life. How does Mary's example in these passages illustrate this concept? [01:03:51]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you feel pressured to generate enough desire for God? How can you rest more in His perfect love? [42:32]
2. Like Mary, how can you prioritize sitting at Jesus' feet amidst the busyness of life? Identify one practical step you can take this week to focus more on Jesus. [49:10]
3. Think about a time of grief or struggle in your life. How can you bring your sorrows to Jesus as an act of worship, acknowledging His ability to help you? [53:40]
4. Consider what you are willing to offer in your worship. Is there something valuable in your life that you feel called to give to Jesus as a sign of your devotion? [54:41]
5. Worship is described as a way of life. How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine beyond Sunday mornings? What specific actions can you take to live a life of honest worship? [01:03:51]
6. Reflect on the core values of your church community. How can you contribute to encouraging your community toward wholeness in Jesus through your worship and actions? [44:53]
7. Have you personally discovered a life of honest worship? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Jesus and live out this calling more fully? [01:03:51]
Devotional
Day 1: Identity Anchored in Divine Desire
Our identity is not a product of our own efforts but is deeply rooted in God's desire for us. This understanding liberates us from the constant pressure to generate enough desire for God, allowing us to rest in His perfect love. As God's children, our identity is intertwined with our mission to encourage our community toward wholeness in Jesus. This mission is grounded in the core values of Grace Church, which have been shaped by our history and continue to guide us today. Embracing this identity means recognizing that our worth and purpose are defined by God's love and calling, not by our achievements or failures. [42:32]
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you been trying to define your identity through your own efforts? How can you begin to rest in the truth that your identity is rooted in God's desire for you today?
Day 2: Devotion Over Distraction
In Luke 10, Mary of Bethany chooses to sit at Jesus' feet, prioritizing His presence over the busyness of service. This act of devotion highlights the importance of focusing on Jesus, even amidst life's demands. Mary's choice reflects a purity of heart and a single-minded focus on God, reminding us that true worship involves both listening and learning from Jesus. Her example challenges us to evaluate our own priorities and consider how we can cultivate a heart that seeks God's presence above all else. [49:10]
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)
Reflection: What distractions in your life are keeping you from sitting at Jesus' feet? How can you intentionally create space to prioritize His presence this week?
Day 3: Worship Through Grief
In John 11, Mary brings her sorrows to Jesus, expressing her pain honestly. This teaches us that worship is not limited to moments of joy but extends to our times of sorrow and questioning. By bringing our grief to God, we acknowledge that He is the one who can help us in our struggles. Mary's example shows us that honest expression of pain is a form of worship, as it invites God into our deepest struggles and allows Him to bring healing and comfort. [53:40]
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, ESV)
Reflection: What grief or pain are you currently experiencing that you need to bring to Jesus? How can you express this honestly to Him in worship today?
Day 4: Extravagant Devotion
Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with costly perfume in John 12 symbolizes her complete devotion and willingness to give everything to Jesus. This challenges us to consider what we are willing to offer in our worship and how we can live lives that reflect His worth. Mary's extravagant worship invites us to examine our own hearts and consider what we hold dear, encouraging us to offer our best to Jesus in response to His immeasurable worth. [54:41]
"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16, ESV)
Reflection: What is one thing of value that you can offer to Jesus as an act of worship this week? How can this act of devotion reflect His worth in your life?
Day 5: Worship as a Lifestyle
Worship is not confined to Sunday mornings but is a way of life. It involves sitting at Jesus' feet, crying out to Him in our pain, and giving Him all we have. This is the essence of honest worship, and it is a part of our DNA as a church community. Embracing worship as a lifestyle means integrating our faith into every aspect of our lives, allowing our relationship with Jesus to shape our actions, decisions, and interactions with others. [01:03:51]
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine beyond Sunday services? What specific actions can you take to live a life that reflects your devotion to Jesus?
Quotes
"Relating to God hangs on God's perfect love for us. Now that doesn't undermine the crucial role that desiring God plays in our formation. Some days are hard days. Some days are good days and sweet days. Some days we're ready to praise and sing and shout, and that's awesome. And some days we just do it because we know that we need to do it. So we have a role to play, but putting all the weight of our identity on whether we are conjuring up enough desire for God sustains a false perception of our spiritual life." [00:43:15] (31 seconds)
"And we get to play a role in that to respond to all the things that He does for us. That identity of being those who chase after God, whether out of discipline or delight on any given day, and knowing that He greatly desires us, that He calls us by name, that He knows us, and He wants us to be His children. That leads us to our mission, which Pastor BJ spoke to us about last week. Our mission of encouraging our community toward wholeness in Jesus. And when you go out on a mission, you better know who you are and what's most important." [00:43:55] (35 seconds)
"That's just who Grace Church is. The good thing is that there are always new iterations, new ways to grow in these areas, new ways of spreading the gospel and discipling. And so we continue today to seek the Lord, to be led by the Spirit, and to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Today, we're going to focus on that first core value of worship, honest worship, bringing our whole selves to God, the joys and the sorrows. And we're going to look at that through the life of Mary of Bethany in the New Testament books of Luke and John." [00:45:43] (36 seconds)
"But I want us to remember today that the Lord is not just worthy of our service. He is worthy of our service. He is worthy of our time, and our service, and our flurries of activity, and all the things that we can do for him. He is absolutely worthy of our attention, and our study, our listening, and then our witness of who he is and what he has done." [00:48:33] (18 seconds)
"She was sitting there as a disciple, essentially equal to a disciple in the fact that to sit at the feet of a rabbi is to be listening and learning, focusing on the teaching of the master, and putting it to work. She was sitting there as a disciple, and putting it to work. Together in your mind, working on it, thinking on it. To sit at the feet of a rabbi was what you did if you wanted to be a rabbi yourself." [00:49:22] (26 seconds)
"And Jesus confirmed and encouraged her right to do so. He said she had chosen the right thing. The better thing that Mary has chosen is a purity of heart, a single-minded focus, and honest worship that shows there is someone big enough and good enough to merit our whole devotion. And this news is too good to keep to ourselves. She believed that. She lived that. She was preparing to go. She was preparing to go together with the world. And then she was motivated to tell the good news of Jesus through her life. She wasn't preoccupied with serving or some other thing. She was focused on Jesus." [00:50:10] (36 seconds)
"Honest worship doesn't just make us feel good for an hour on Sunday mornings, or let us come in and relieve the tension of the week, and cry a few tears. There's nothing wrong with that. We've all had our times. We've done that quite possibly. But honest worship urges us to proclaim the good news and the power and the love and the holiness of the one at whose feet we sit in reverence and awe." [00:50:46] (25 seconds)
"Friends, the God who calls our names in our grief is worthy of our worship. John 11, 32 says, when Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. She brings these sorrows to the Lord. She cries out to him. Yes, she's angry. She's sad. She's worried all the feelings." [00:53:16] (25 seconds)
"But did you know that when we question the Lord in our grief and other troubles, that is honest worship? Because it means that we know he's the one who can help us. He knows the answers. He is in control. And so I say to you, friends, bring that grief, bring your worries, bring your sorrows. Don't just think that we have to praise the Lord of that. We're only worshiping him whenever we're happier. It's a good day. Come to this place, come to the altar in your home, wherever that is on your worst and hardest day and say, Lord, I don't understand why I'm here or why I'm going through this or what you're doing, or are you working or how you're working God? What is up with all these things?" [00:53:40] (40 seconds)
"So today we're going to come to communion and celebrate and remember the sacrifice and the gift of Jesus through the bread and juice. That his body was broken and his blood was spilled for all of us. I think this is a wonderful sacrament and time that the church family has together to remember what Jesus did for us. But again, we don't just take it and receive it and thank the Lord, although that's an important step. We go out." [01:05:31] (28 seconds)
"The altars are open as well, if you'd like to take a moment and pray after you've received your elements. But let's just stand, just come one row at a time, even will be fine as you watch and wait and follow suit. And we're just going to take a moment to sit at the Lord's feet, to give him whatever our joys and pains are, and to be ready to go out and to share his love and to give him all that we have." [01:07:46] (25 seconds)
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