True Worship: A Heartfelt Response to God
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the profound topic of worship, exploring what it truly means to worship God in spirit and truth. Worship is not merely attending church, singing songs, or listening to sermons; it is a heartfelt response to the love and majesty of God. We began by celebrating the power of prayer and the joy of answered prayers, such as the birth of Livy Josephine Smith. We also acknowledged the transitions in our music ministry, thanking Tyler Harmon for his service and welcoming Matthew Braden and Craig Schaefer into their new roles.
We then shifted our focus to the essence of worship. True worship is not confined to Sunday services or specific acts; it is a lifestyle, a continuous offering of our hearts to God. We examined how the world often misguides us into worshiping other things—success, fame, material possessions—rather than God. Jesus' words in Matthew 6:21 remind us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. This means that our worship reflects what we truly value.
We discussed the importance of having a holy heart, one that is transformed by the renewing of our minds as stated in Romans 12:1-2. True worship requires us to be living sacrifices, continually dying to self and aligning our hearts with God's will. This transformation is not just for God's glory but also for our good, bringing healing and renewal to our lives.
Moreover, true worship is contagious. Our families, friends, and coworkers observe what we worship, and our genuine worship can inspire others to seek God. Finally, we emphasized that true worship is pleasing to God and must be directed solely to Him. Divided worship, where we try to balance our love for God with our love for worldly things, is unacceptable.
As we move forward, we must acknowledge our idols, confess our sins, and surrender fully to God. This is not just a high concept but a practical call to action. Let us strive to be a church that worships God with undivided hearts, continually seeking to align our lives with His will.
### Key Takeaways
1. True Worship is a Heartfelt Response to God's Love: Worship is not just about attending church or singing songs; it is a continuous, heartfelt response to the love and majesty of God. It involves offering our entire lives as a living sacrifice, aligning our hearts with His will. [32:48]
2. We Often Worship Other Things: The world misguides us into worshiping success, fame, and material possessions. Jesus reminds us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Our worship reflects what we truly value, and often, it is not God. [34:37]
3. True Worship Requires a Holy Heart: Romans 12:1-2 teaches us that true worship requires a holy heart, transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation is not just for God's glory but also for our good, bringing healing and renewal to our lives. [55:09]
4. True Worship is Contagious: Our genuine worship can inspire others to seek God. Our families, friends, and coworkers observe what we worship, and a contagious environment of true worship can lead others to Christ. [01:02:20]
5. True Worship is Solely for God: Divided worship, where we try to balance our love for God with our love for worldly things, is unacceptable. True worship must be directed solely to God, as He is a jealous God who desires our undivided hearts. [01:06:47]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[10:52] - Prayer for Healing and Praise for New Birth
[29:22] - Leadership Changes in Music Ministry
[31:36] - Introduction to Worship Series
[32:48] - Defining True Worship
[34:37] - The Problem of Worshiping Other Things
[36:41] - Jesus' Teaching on the Heart
[38:20] - The Impact of What We Worship
[40:29] - The Struggle of Worship in a Comfortable Culture
[44:40] - Paul's Example of Undivided Heart
[48:03] - True Worship Has Good Motivation
[52:17] - True Worship Requires a Holy Heart
[55:09] - Renewing Our Minds for True Worship
[59:34] - True Worship Will Renew Us
[01:02:20] - True Worship is Contagious
[01:04:59] - True Worship is Pleasing to God
[01:06:47] - True Worship is Only for God
[01:09:31] - Practical Steps for Becoming a Worshipful Church
[01:15:54] - Closing Prayer and Call to Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:21 - "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
2. Romans 12:1-2 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
3. Exodus 20:3 - "You shall have no other gods before me."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 6:21, what does Jesus say about the relationship between our treasure and our heart?
2. In Romans 12:1-2, what does Paul urge believers to do as their true and proper worship?
3. What command is given in Exodus 20:3 regarding other gods?
4. In the sermon, what examples were given of things people often worship instead of God? ([34:37])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of treasure in Matthew 6:21 help us understand what we truly value and worship?
2. What does it mean to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice according to Romans 12:1-2, and how does this relate to true worship? ([48:03])
3. Why is it significant that God commands us to have no other gods before Him in Exodus 20:3, and how does this relate to the idea of undivided worship? ([41:32])
4. The sermon mentioned that true worship is contagious. How can our genuine worship influence those around us? ([01:02:20])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: What are some things you might be treasuring more than God? How can you begin to shift your focus back to God? ([34:37])
2. Romans 12:1-2 talks about being transformed by the renewing of your mind. What practical steps can you take this week to renew your mind and align it with God's will? ([55:09])
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of having a holy heart. What are some specific ways you can guard your heart against idols and ensure it remains holy and dedicated to God? ([53:48])
4. Think about your family, friends, and coworkers. How can you model true worship in a way that might inspire them to seek God? ([01:02:20])
5. The sermon called for acknowledging and confessing our idols. What are some idols in your life that you need to confess and surrender to God? How can you make this a regular practice? ([01:09:31])
6. True worship requires continual sacrifice and surrender. What is one area of your life where you need to practice more surrender to God? ([01:05:34])
7. How can you create an environment in your home or workplace that encourages and fosters true worship of God? ([01:03:04])
Devotional
Day 1: Worship as a Heartfelt Response
True worship is a continuous, heartfelt response to the love and majesty of God. It is not limited to attending church services or singing songs but involves offering our entire lives as a living sacrifice. This means aligning our hearts with God's will and living in a way that reflects His love and grace. Worship is a lifestyle, a daily commitment to honor God in all that we do. It is about recognizing His sovereignty and responding with gratitude and obedience.
True worship requires us to be living sacrifices, continually dying to self and aligning our hearts with God's will. This transformation is not just for God's glory but also for our good, bringing healing and renewal to our lives. As we worship God with undivided hearts, we experience His presence and power in our lives, leading to spiritual growth and maturity. [32:48]
Romans 12:1-2 (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. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: What are some practical ways you can offer your life as a living sacrifice to God today? How can you align your daily actions with His will?
Day 2: Misguided Worship
The world often misguides us into worshiping success, fame, and material possessions. Jesus reminds us that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Our worship reflects what we truly value, and often, it is not God. We must examine our hearts and identify the idols that have taken God's place. These idols can be anything that we prioritize over our relationship with God, such as career ambitions, social status, or financial security.
True worship requires us to shift our focus from these worldly pursuits to God. It involves a conscious decision to place God at the center of our lives and to seek His kingdom above all else. By doing so, we align our hearts with His will and experience the fullness of His love and grace. [34:37]
Matthew 6:21 (ESV): "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: What are some things in your life that you may be prioritizing over your relationship with God? How can you begin to shift your focus back to Him?
Day 3: A Holy Heart
True worship requires a holy heart, transformed by the renewing of our minds. This transformation is not just for God's glory but also for our good, bringing healing and renewal to our lives. As we allow God to transform our hearts, we become more like Christ and reflect His love and grace to those around us. This process of transformation involves daily surrender and a commitment to live according to God's Word.
A holy heart is one that is set apart for God, free from the distractions and temptations of the world. It is a heart that seeks to honor God in all things and to live in obedience to His commands. By renewing our minds and aligning our hearts with God's will, we experience the fullness of His presence and power in our lives. [55:09]
Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to experience God's transforming power? How can you invite Him to renew your mind and heart today?
Day 4: Contagious Worship
Our genuine worship can inspire others to seek God. Our families, friends, and coworkers observe what we worship, and a contagious environment of true worship can lead others to Christ. When we live lives that reflect God's love and grace, we become a testimony to His goodness and faithfulness. Our worship becomes a powerful witness to those around us, drawing them closer to God.
True worship is not just about personal devotion but also about influencing others for Christ. As we worship God with undivided hearts, we create an atmosphere of praise and adoration that can impact those around us. Our worship can inspire others to seek God and to experience His love and grace in their own lives. [01:02:20]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: How can your worship influence those around you? What are some ways you can create an atmosphere of praise and adoration in your home, workplace, or community?
Day 5: Undivided Worship
Divided worship, where we try to balance our love for God with our love for worldly things, is unacceptable. True worship must be directed solely to God, as He is a jealous God who desires our undivided hearts. We cannot serve two masters; we must choose to worship God alone and to place Him at the center of our lives. This requires a conscious decision to let go of the things that distract us from our relationship with God and to seek His kingdom above all else.
Undivided worship involves a commitment to live according to God's Word and to honor Him in all that we do. It means surrendering our desires and ambitions to Him and trusting in His plan for our lives. By worshiping God with undivided hearts, we experience the fullness of His presence and power in our lives. [01:06:47]
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: Are there areas in your life where you are trying to balance your love for God with your love for worldly things? How can you make a conscious decision to worship God alone and to place Him at the center of your life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Worship isn't this thing that we can just put in a box and check off. It's not a task we can accomplish and move to the next thing. So why is this so important? Why is this so important, church? Why are we even talking about this? If any of this that I'm saying is new to you, great. We're going to be spending the next three weeks as a church unpacking what worship is, why we worship, and how we are called to worship." [33:39] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If we worship the things of this world, it should be no surprise to us that we become more and more like the world. That shouldn't be a shock to anyone. It shouldn't shock us when people who spend their time, their money, their energy, investing in the things of the world, start to look like the world." [38:20] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "True worship has a good motivation. Romans chapter 12. Starting in verse 1. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. You see, our primary motivation to worship should be that we have received abundant mercies from God." [48:03] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "True worship will renew us. Not only does renewing our mind help us come to God with a pure heart of worship, but true worship, is renewing. And this is the amazing thing about worship, because it's not just for the glory of God, but God has designed it for your good. Did you know that, church? God has designed worship to partially be for your good." [01:00:08] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "True worship is contagious. Worship of any kind really is contagious, whether it be true worship or vain worship. Here is the reality, church. We need to understand this. Your kids see what you worship. They know what has your heart. Your spouse knows what you worship. Your coworkers, they see what has your affections based on how you talk to them and the things that you say." [01:02:20] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "We all worship something other than God. I know that's a bold statement. And we're going to spend time unpacking that. Because I think if we can't get to the place where we understand that to be true, then we have no hope of bringing about a worship that is holy and acceptable to God. We often find that God does not have our undivided heart." [34:37] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "True worship requires a holy heart. Man, that's a big one. How can we have a holy heart when our affections want to worship idols? We love what we worship. Our hearts desire to worship and praise things other than God. How can we have a holy heart?" [52:17] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "True worship is pleasing to God. Back to Romans 12, 1. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Worship that is pleasing to God comes from those who are living sacrifices. A living sacrifice is not something that is sacrificed once and it is over. Hey, I have done that. I have accomplished that and now it is done. It is a constant, continual sacrifice of dying to self." [01:05:34] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "True worship is only for God. Only for God. We cannot divide our worship. God will not accept that. He is not looking for a dual allegiance to worship and love the things of this world and the things of God. No matter what the culture says, those things do not make sense." [01:06:47] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Church, we have to do something practical here. This is not just a high concept. We have to do something with this. How can we be a church of worship? How can we be a church of worship? The first thing we need to do we need to acknowledge the worship of idols to God. We need to acknowledge it. This is the part that no one likes. By the way, the word of God prompts us to change our lives in continually aligning our hearts with who God is." [01:09:31] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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