True Adoration: Centering Christ in Our Lives

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the theme of adoration, particularly in the context of the Christmas season. We began with a humorous story about a boy trying to negotiate with God for a bicycle, which served as a reminder that our relationship with God should not be transactional. Instead, we are called to adore Him with our whole hearts, as true adoration is an attitude of worship that places God first in our lives.

We delved into the story of the shepherds in Luke 2, who were uniquely called to witness the birth of Christ. Their experience reminds us that adoration is not just about being present but being truly amazed by who Jesus is. This amazement should lead us to share the good news with others, just as the shepherds did. We also reflected on the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, emphasizing that worship is not confined to a place or time but is a continuous act of spirit and truth.

The narrative of Simeon, who awaited the Messiah with great anticipation, illustrated the fulfillment of God's promises. Simeon's adoration was so profound that nothing else in his life could compare to the moment he saw Jesus. This challenges us to make Jesus our overwhelming first, the most precious aspect of our lives.

We also considered the story of David, who refused to offer God a sacrifice that cost him nothing. This teaches us that true worship involves sacrifice and that our adoration should be reflected in our willingness to give God our best, even when it costs us.

As we navigate the busyness of the Christmas season, let us not forget to adore Christ, making Him the center of our celebrations and our lives. May our adoration be evident in our actions, our giving, and our worship, as we recognize the immense value of God's grace and the joy of His presence.

Key Takeaways:

1. Adoration Beyond Transaction: Our relationship with God should not be transactional, like the boy negotiating for a bicycle. True adoration involves placing God first in our hearts and lives, recognizing that He knows our needs and desires. This requires a shift from seeking what we can get from God to offering Him our genuine worship and devotion. [01:08]

2. Worship in Spirit and Truth: The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman teaches us that worship is not confined to a specific place or time. True worship is a continuous act of spirit and truth, where we adore God in every aspect of our lives, not just during church services or special occasions. [03:23]

3. Amazement Leads to Action: The shepherds' amazement at witnessing Christ's birth led them to share the good news with others. When we are truly amazed by who Jesus is, it should move us to action, becoming messengers of His love and grace to those around us. [38:24]

4. The Overwhelming First: Simeon's encounter with Jesus exemplifies making Christ the overwhelming first in our lives. When Jesus is our most precious treasure, our adoration becomes natural and sincere, influencing every decision and action we take. [15:48]

5. Sacrificial Worship: David's refusal to offer God a sacrifice that cost him nothing highlights the importance of sacrificial worship. True adoration involves giving God our best, even when it requires sacrifice, as a reflection of our love and devotion to Him. [33:53]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:08] - The Story of the Boy and the Bicycle
- [03:23] - Worship in Spirit and Truth
- [15:48] - Simeon's Anticipation and Adoration
- [33:53] - David's Sacrificial Worship
- [35:03] - The Cost of True Adoration
- [36:13] - Creating an Atmosphere of Worship
- [37:19] - Adoration Beyond the Church Walls
- [38:24] - The Shepherds' Amazement and Action
- [39:35] - Being Moved by the Gospel
- [44:29] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Adoration in the Christmas Season

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 2:8-20 - The Shepherds and the Birth of Christ
2. John 4:21-24 - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
3. 2 Samuel 24:18-25 - David's Sacrificial Worship

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Observation Questions:

1. In Luke 2, what was the reaction of the shepherds after witnessing the birth of Christ, and how did it influence their actions? [38:24]

2. How does Jesus describe true worship in His conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4? [03:23]

3. What was David's response when offered a free threshing floor for sacrifice, and what does this reveal about his understanding of worship? [33:53]

4. How did Simeon's encounter with Jesus fulfill the promise he had received, and what was his reaction upon seeing Jesus? [15:48]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does the shepherds' amazement and subsequent sharing of the good news teach us about the nature of true adoration and its impact on others? [38:24]

2. In what ways does Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman challenge traditional views of worship, and how does it redefine the concept of adoration? [03:23]

3. How does David's insistence on offering a sacrifice that costs him something reflect the heart of true worship, and what can we learn from this about our own acts of worship? [33:53]

4. Simeon's declaration upon seeing Jesus suggests a deep fulfillment and adoration. How does this encounter illustrate the idea of making Jesus the "overwhelming first" in one's life? [15:48]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own relationship with God. Are there areas where you might be treating it as transactional, like the boy negotiating for a bicycle? How can you shift towards genuine adoration? [01:08]

2. Consider the busyness of the Christmas season. What practical steps can you take to ensure that Christ remains the center of your celebrations and daily life? [03:23]

3. The shepherds were moved to action by their amazement. Identify one way you can share the good news of Jesus with someone in your life this week. [38:24]

4. Simeon made Jesus his overwhelming first. What are some distractions or priorities in your life that might be competing with Jesus for that place? How can you address them? [15:48]

5. David's story teaches us about sacrificial worship. What is one area in your life where you can offer God your best, even if it requires sacrifice? [33:53]

6. How can you incorporate worship in spirit and truth into your daily routine, beyond just attending church services? [03:23]

7. Think of a time when you were truly amazed by who Jesus is. How did that experience influence your actions, and how can you recapture that sense of amazement in your current walk with God? [38:24]

Devotional

Day 1: Adoration Beyond Transaction
True adoration of God is not about what we can get from Him but about placing Him first in our hearts and lives. This involves a shift from a transactional mindset to one of genuine worship and devotion. The humorous story of a boy negotiating with God for a bicycle serves as a reminder that our relationship with God should not be based on bargaining. Instead, we are called to adore Him with our whole hearts, recognizing that He knows our needs and desires. This kind of adoration requires us to focus on offering our love and devotion to God, rather than seeking what we can receive from Him. [01:08]

"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you approached God with a transactional mindset? How can you shift your focus to offering genuine adoration and devotion to Him today?


Day 2: Worship in Spirit and Truth
Worship is not confined to a specific place or time but is a continuous act of spirit and truth. The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well illustrates that true worship transcends physical locations and is about adoring God in every aspect of our lives. This means that worship is not limited to church services or special occasions but is a daily practice of living in alignment with God's truth and spirit. By embracing this understanding, we can cultivate a lifestyle of worship that honors God in all that we do. [03:23]

"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, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine, beyond just attending church services? What specific actions can you take to worship God in spirit and truth today?


Day 3: Amazement Leads to Action
The shepherds' amazement at witnessing Christ's birth led them to share the good news with others. When we are truly amazed by who Jesus is, it should move us to action, becoming messengers of His love and grace to those around us. The story of the shepherds in Luke 2 reminds us that adoration is not just about being present but being truly amazed by who Jesus is. This amazement should inspire us to share the gospel and the love of Christ with others, just as the shepherds did. [38:24]

"And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them." (Luke 2:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: When was the last time you were truly amazed by Jesus? How can you share that amazement with someone in your life today?


Day 4: The Overwhelming First
Simeon's encounter with Jesus exemplifies making Christ the overwhelming first in our lives. When Jesus is our most precious treasure, our adoration becomes natural and sincere, influencing every decision and action we take. Simeon's anticipation and adoration of the Messiah illustrate the fulfillment of God's promises and challenge us to prioritize Jesus above all else. By making Christ the center of our lives, we can experience the profound joy and peace that come from knowing Him intimately. [15:48]

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21, ESV)

Reflection: What is currently the most precious treasure in your life? How can you make Jesus the overwhelming first in your heart and decisions today?


Day 5: Sacrificial Worship
David's refusal to offer God a sacrifice that cost him nothing highlights the importance of sacrificial worship. True adoration involves giving God our best, even when it requires sacrifice, as a reflection of our love and devotion to Him. This teaches us that worship is not just about convenience but about offering something valuable to God. As we navigate the busyness of life, let us remember to prioritize sacrificial worship, making Christ the center of our celebrations and our lives. [33:53]

"I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing." (2 Samuel 24:24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can offer a sacrificial act of worship to God today? How can you give Him your best, even when it requires sacrifice?

Quotes



And that's what's important about, well, kind of like the little story I just told about trying to kind of deal with God. God gave me this, and I'll do that. But we want to put our heart first. We want to, whenever we adore him, we're putting our heart first. And it's hard, especially this time of year. Most of the time, adoration is first and foremost an attitude of delightful worship. It's an attitude. It's an attitude. Whenever we adore him. [00:02:00] (29 seconds)


C .S. Lewis talked about an overwhelming first in one of his books. He talks about an overwhelming first. And, and I re I remember that when I was, I was looking at this, this, this word adore and we adore what is most precious to us. You can't adore something if it's not precious to you. But so, so we say, well, pastor, you want me to adore. [00:16:02] (23 seconds)


And the Bible says it about, so obviously he was a, he was a devout man. He was, he was a, um, he was a very smart man and he was waiting for the consolation of Israel. That consolation he's waiting for the comfort. He was waiting. Yeah. For the comfort of Israel. Yeah. the comfort understand that the nation of israel at that time was under uh roman oppression uh their their their religion was under oppression their government was under oppression everything that was they were under caesar. [00:20:02] (28 seconds)


And the holy spirit was upon him it just so happened the holy spirit told him that day to go to the temple and verse 26 says and it had been revealed to him by the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the lord's christ well how many knows that if if god promised you the holy spirit promised you you're going to see something before you die. [00:22:55] (23 seconds)


And the Bible says when he came in his parents brought in the child jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law and he saw him and he took him up in his arm and he blessed god and he said lord now you're letting your servant depart in peace according to your word for my eyes have seen your salvation this is one of the best pictures of adoration of i've ever seen. [00:25:47] (27 seconds)


I think the story of Simeon who came up after that, that Simeon, in my story, most of the, most of the Sunday school quarterlies back in the day, had Simeon, this old, swivel up old man. And when he got done, he just went somewhere and died. Because his eyes had seen the salvation of the Lord. I say, no, he was a young guy and he went out and he never saw anything the rest of his life that compared to what he just saw. [00:38:35] (27 seconds)


I want us to be so, so amazed at who God is that I want us to be moved by it. If you're amazed by it and you're moved by it, then you will be a messenger because of it. I want us to be a messenger by what we are moved by and we're moved by what we're amazed by. Amen. Why are you, why are y 'all such messengers of the gospel? Because we're, we're moved by the gospel. [00:39:35] (34 seconds)


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Transcript
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