The Essence and Purpose of True Worship

Summary

### Summary

Good morning, church! As we gather on this Labor Day weekend, we embark on a new series about worship. Today, we reflect on the value of worship in our lives, asking ourselves why we worship, what worship is, and how we worship. Our scripture reading from 1 Chronicles 16:23-31 sets the foundation for this series, highlighting the importance of worship in the life of David and the people of Israel. David established a culture of worship by bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, celebrating with singing, dancing, and praising God.

Worship is not just a ritual; it is a profound expression of our relationship with God. It involves praising God, declaring His glory, and celebrating His marvelous works. Worship is about recognizing God's sovereignty, His role as Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. It is about telling the story of salvation, from God's covenant with Israel to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins. Worship is also about acknowledging God's provision and His continuous work in our lives.

A personal story from my mission trip to Jamaica illustrates the essence of worship. Mrs. Brown, a woman with seemingly nothing by our standards, demonstrated profound worship through her daily actions and gratitude to God. Her life was a testament to worshiping God in all circumstances, recognizing His glory in the mundane and the magnificent.

We are all created for worship, and we have a choice: to worship the one true God or to worship idols. Worship is not about us; it is about God. It is an opportunity to give ourselves fully to Him, to recognize His worth, and to offer our lives as a living sacrifice. As we gather for worship, let us remember that it is for an audience of one—God. Let us praise Him, tell of His salvation, and celebrate His marvelous works.

### Key Takeaways

1. The Essence of Worship: Worship is about recognizing and celebrating God's sovereignty, His role as Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. It involves praising God, declaring His glory, and acknowledging His marvelous works in our lives. Worship is not just a ritual but a profound expression of our relationship with God. [28:58]

2. Personal Testimony of Worship: Mrs. Brown's life in Jamaica exemplifies true worship. Despite having little by worldly standards, she worshiped God through her daily actions and gratitude. Her life teaches us that worship is about recognizing God's glory in all circumstances, whether mundane or magnificent. [32:06]

3. Created for Worship: Every person on this earth is created for worship. We have a choice to worship the one true God or to worship idols. Worshiping God involves acknowledging His worth and offering our lives as a living sacrifice. It is about giving ourselves fully to Him and recognizing His continuous work in our lives. [35:14]

4. Worship as a Declaration of Salvation: Worship involves telling the story of God's salvation, from His covenant with Israel to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is about celebrating God's provision and His continuous work in our lives. Worship is a reminder of God's saving grace and His promise of eternal life. [39:21]

5. Worship for an Audience of One: Worship is not about us; it is about God. It is an opportunity to give ourselves fully to Him, to recognize His worth, and to offer our lives as a living sacrifice. As we gather for worship, let us remember that it is for an audience of one—God. Let us praise Him, tell of His salvation, and celebrate His marvelous works. [49:36]

### Youtube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[24:43] - The Value of Worship
[25:19] - Opening Prayer
[25:50] - Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 16:23-31
[26:27] - David's Worship Culture
[28:00] - Celebrating with the Ark
[29:28] - Declaring God's Glory
[30:31] - Mrs. Brown's Example
[32:06] - Worship in Daily Life
[34:43] - Created for Worship
[36:16] - Why We Worship
[37:49] - What is Worship?
[39:21] - Telling of Salvation
[41:23] - Declaring God's Glory
[43:27] - Celebrating God's Works
[47:32] - How We Worship
[49:36] - Worship for an Audience of One
[51:09] - Giving Ourselves to God
[55:21] - Tim Keller on Worship
[58:01] - Closing Prayer and Communion

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1 Chronicles 16:23-31 (NIV)
> Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”

### Observation Questions
1. What actions does David instruct the people to take in 1 Chronicles 16:23-31 to worship God?
2. How did David establish a culture of worship in Jerusalem according to the sermon? ([27:27])
3. What was Mrs. Brown's attitude towards worship despite her circumstances, as shared in the sermon? ([32:06])
4. According to the sermon, what are some of the things we can worship other than God? ([35:14])

### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and celebrated with singing and dancing? ([28:00])
2. How does Mrs. Brown's example challenge our understanding of worship in daily life? ([32:06])
3. What does it mean to worship God as the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer, and how does this shape our worship practices? ([28:58])
4. How does the concept of worshiping for an audience of one change the way we approach worship services? ([49:36])

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: What are some "idols" that you might be tempted to worship instead of God? How can you refocus your worship on God alone? ([35:14])
2. Mrs. Brown found ways to worship God in her daily tasks, even in cleaning toilets. What are some mundane tasks in your life where you can incorporate worship? ([32:06])
3. How can you make your worship more about God and less about yourself? What practical steps can you take to shift your focus? ([49:36])
4. David celebrated God's marvelous works with great joy. How can you incorporate celebration and joy into your worship this week? ([28:00])
5. Worship involves telling the story of God's salvation. How can you share your personal testimony of God's work in your life with others this week? ([39:21])
6. Think about the last time you felt truly in awe of God's creation. How can you use those moments to deepen your worship and gratitude towards God? ([41:54])
7. Worship is about giving ourselves fully to God. What is one area of your life that you need to surrender to God as an act of worship? ([51:09])

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing God's Sovereignty
Worship is about recognizing and celebrating God's sovereignty, His role as Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. It involves praising God, declaring His glory, and acknowledging His marvelous works in our lives. Worship is not just a ritual but a profound expression of our relationship with God. When we worship, we are reminded of God's greatness and His continuous work in our lives. This recognition helps us to stay grounded in our faith and to live our lives in a way that honors Him. [28:58]

1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (ESV): "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all."

Reflection: Think about a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed. How can recognizing God's sovereignty help you find peace and strength in that situation today?

Day 2: Worship in All Circumstances
Mrs. Brown's life in Jamaica exemplifies true worship. Despite having little by worldly standards, she worshiped God through her daily actions and gratitude. Her life teaches us that worship is about recognizing God's glory in all circumstances, whether mundane or magnificent. This kind of worship is a testament to our faith and trust in God, regardless of our external circumstances. It challenges us to find ways to worship God in our daily lives, no matter what we are going through. [32:06]

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: Identify one mundane task you do daily. How can you turn this task into an act of worship and gratitude to God today?

Day 3: Choosing Whom to Worship
Every person on this earth is created for worship. We have a choice to worship the one true God or to worship idols. Worshiping God involves acknowledging His worth and offering our lives as a living sacrifice. It is about giving ourselves fully to Him and recognizing His continuous work in our lives. This choice is a daily decision that reflects our priorities and values. By choosing to worship God, we align our lives with His purpose and experience the fullness of His presence. [35:14]

Joshua 24:15 (ESV): "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Reflection: Reflect on one area of your life where you might be placing something or someone above God. What steps can you take today to re-prioritize and put God first in that area?

Day 4: Declaring God's Salvation
Worship involves telling the story of God's salvation, from His covenant with Israel to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is about celebrating God's provision and His continuous work in our lives. Worship is a reminder of God's saving grace and His promise of eternal life. By declaring God's salvation, we not only strengthen our faith but also share the hope of the gospel with others. This act of worship is a powerful testimony of God's love and redemption. [39:21]

Psalm 96:2-3 (ESV): "Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!"

Reflection: Think of one person in your life who needs to hear about God's salvation. How can you share the story of God's grace and redemption with them today?

Day 5: Worship for an Audience of One
Worship is not about us; it is about God. It is an opportunity to give ourselves fully to Him, to recognize His worth, and to offer our lives as a living sacrifice. As we gather for worship, let us remember that it is for an audience of one—God. Let us praise Him, tell of His salvation, and celebrate His marvelous works. This perspective shifts our focus from ourselves to God, making our worship genuine and heartfelt. It reminds us that our ultimate purpose is to glorify God in all that we do. [49:36]

Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Reflection: During your next worship time, whether alone or in a group, focus on God as your sole audience. How does this shift in perspective change the way you worship and experience God's presence?

Quotes

1. "What is the value. Of worship. In your life. Think about that for a moment. Why do we worship. What is worship about. How do we worship. And so. That's what we're going to think about today." [24:43] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "David was establishing. A worship culture. With his people. With God's people. With the tabernacle tent. They had had the. Temporary one that they had. Been traveling with for years. And they made sure. That they built up a tabernacle tent. Where the people would worship. And where the ark could. Rest. And then they brought the ark into the city. And what a party they had. It was a time to celebrate. It was a time of worship." [27:27] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Everyone on this celestial ball. Everyone on this earth is created is designed for worship. I want you to think about that for a moment. Everyone. Every single person. Think about the greatest person in the world. Think about the worst person in the world. They're all created by God for worship. And either we can worship the one true God who created the heavens and the earth. Who is the creator, sustainer and redeemer. Or we can worship somebody or something." [34:43] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Why do we worship? Because the Lord our God we're the reason we're here. We're the reason we have life. That we have air in our lungs. He's the reason that we have the beauty of creation. He's the reason we have whatever provisions we have. God created everything. Created us. And that's why we worship." [37:18] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "What is worship? It's praise. It's praise to God. To give Him glory. To raise our voices in songs. To raise our voices in prayers. To speak His name. To call on His name. Mark brought up that verse from Revelation. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. And we're going to read another one in just a minute. Right? Praise is worship. What is worship? It's about praising God. Celebrating those attributes of God. That He's sovereign. He's over all things. That He's a wonderful creator." [37:49] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "What is worship? It's the telling of salvation. Think about that for a moment. God's story. Really, this whole book covers it. Right? This whole book covers the story of salvation. God saved His people, Israel. He made a covenant with them. That He would be their God and they would be His people through Abraham. He saved the covenant by sparing Isaac's life. He continued to further the people of Israel as they grew." [38:51] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Worship has nothing to do with you and with me. Except that we participate in it. Worship is for an audience of one. The great expectation is when we enter these doors, we're not here just for our family. We're not here because it's good to be together as Asbury Church. We're not here to say Lord I need this and I need this and I need this. We are here to worship our God, the Creator, the Sustainer, the Redeemer. May we not take that for granted. Worship is about Him. Worship's not about us." [49:36] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "What I have found out in my life is the audience is one. But what a blessing I feel when I come to worship. I'm at more peace. Maybe through the songs. Maybe through the scripture. Maybe through a prayer. Maybe through just experiencing His power through the Holy Spirit in my life. When I come to worship often times I feel more of His love like when we do the sacrament of Holy Communion just to be reminded that God so loved the world. He gave His only Son for me." [52:12] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Tim Keller, great pastor. He's gone to glory now. And a great writer. He said worship is seeing what God is worth and giving Him what He's worth. And he wasn't just talking about one thing. He wasn't just talking about giving Him our praise. The praise that's due Him. The adoration that's due Him. The thanks that's due Him. The finances that's due Him. He was saying everything. What is God worth to you and to the world?" [54:50] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Friends that's worship. We've been given voices. We've been given the ability to stand. To raise our hands. We've been given the ability to dance. We've been given the ability to proclaim the marvelous works of our God. May we not take that for granted. Every day that we gather and corporately in worship. And we can worship every day in other places. But as we gather corporately the idea is it's not gathering to see what we can receive. But it's to worship him in audience of one." [58:01] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?