True Worship: An Overflow of Love for God
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound connection between love and worship, emphasizing that true worship cannot exist without love. Worship is not merely a ritual or a set of actions; it is an overflow of love that begins with God's love for us. We delved into the concept of true worship versus false worship, highlighting that true worship is characterized by worshiping God in spirit and truth, as described in John 4:23. This form of worship is an expression of love that is both authentic and aligned with God's desires.
We examined the biblical foundation of worship, tracing its roots to the Old English term "worth-ship," which means to give something worth or value. Worship, therefore, is about demonstrating the value we place on God through our actions and expressions. It is an outward demonstration of our love for God, and it requires us to be unashamed, authentic, and passionate, much like a child expressing love for a parent.
The sermon also touched on the importance of understanding worship as a language of expression. Worship is not confined to singing or music; it encompasses various postures and actions that reflect our love for God. We discussed the significance of worshiping in a way that aligns with God's preferences, as outlined in the Bible, and the importance of approaching worship with a heart full of love and gratitude.
Furthermore, we explored the idea that worship is the only gift we can truly give to God. While other spiritual practices like prayer and reading the Bible benefit us, worship is solely about giving back to God. It is an act of love that acknowledges His worthiness and expresses our gratitude for His love and faithfulness.
In conclusion, worship is an overflow of love that begins with God's love for us. It is a powerful expression of our relationship with Him, and it has the potential to transform our lives and the lives of those around us. As we go about our daily lives, let us strive to make worship a central part of our existence, allowing it to shape our actions, words, and interactions with others.
Key Takeaways:
1. True Worship Requires Love: True worship cannot exist without love. It is an expression of our love for God, rooted in His love for us. Worshiping in spirit and truth means aligning our hearts with God's desires and expressing our love authentically. [36:22]
2. Worship as an Expression of Value: Worship is about demonstrating the value we place on God. It is an outward expression of our love and gratitude, reflecting the worth we attribute to Him. This expression can take many forms, including singing, serving, and living a life that honors God. [40:29]
3. Worship Begins with God's Love: Our ability to worship starts with God's love for us. He loved us first, and our worship is a response to that love. Understanding this truth helps us to worship with sincerity and depth, acknowledging God's faithfulness and grace. [50:59]
4. Worship is the Only Gift We Can Give to God: While other spiritual practices benefit us, worship is solely about giving back to God. It is an act of love that acknowledges His worthiness and expresses our gratitude for His love and faithfulness. [54:34]
5. Worship as an Overflow of Love: Worship is an overflow of God's love in our lives. As we engage in worship, we allow God's love to fill us and overflow into the lives of others. This overflow can bring healing and transformation to those around us, demonstrating the power of worship in community. [01:19:10]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [32:13] - Introduction and Personal Stories
- [33:26] - Challenges and God's Work
- [36:22] - The Essence of Worship
- [36:57] - True Worship vs. False Worship
- [38:55] - The Greatest Commandment
- [40:29] - Understanding Worship
- [42:29] - Worship's Impact on Life
- [46:36] - Demonstrating Value Through Love
- [48:07] - Childlike Love and Worship
- [50:06] - Worship and Sacrifice
- [50:59] - Worship Starts with God's Love
- [54:34] - Worship as Love Expressed God's Way
- [56:16] - Misconceptions About Worship
- [58:21] - Choosing Joy in Worship
- [01:01:27] - The Tabernacle and Worship
- [01:06:36] - God's Specific Way of Worship
- [01:08:14] - Worship as the Only Gift to God
- [01:09:39] - Illustration: Overflow of Love
- [01:12:08] - Worship's Impact on Family
- [01:14:15] - God's Unconditional Love
- [01:16:52] - The Power of Life Groups
- [01:18:14] - Serving as an Expression of Worship
- [01:19:10] - Worship as an Overflow of Love
- [01:20:04] - Worship's Impact on Others
- [01:21:07] - Worship Leaders and Fullness
- [01:22:37] - Benefits of Worship
- [01:24:27] - Challenge: Reflect Worship in Life
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Connection Between Love and Worship
Bible Reading:
- John 4:23
- Matthew 22:36-38
- 1 John 4:19
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Observation Questions:
1. According to John 4:23, what are the characteristics of true worshipers, and how does this relate to the concept of worshiping in spirit and truth? [36:57]
2. In Matthew 22:36-38, what does Jesus identify as the greatest commandment, and how does this commandment relate to the idea of worship? [38:55]
3. How does the sermon describe the origin of the word "worship," and what does this imply about the nature of worship? [40:29]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the idea that worship is an expression of love and value towards God? [46:36]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding that worship begins with God's love for us, as mentioned in 1 John 4:19, change the way we approach worship? [50:59]
2. The sermon suggests that worship is the only gift we can give to God. How does this perspective influence our daily spiritual practices and priorities? [01:08:14]
3. What does it mean to worship God in a way that aligns with His preferences, and how can this understanding impact our worship experience? [01:06:36]
4. How does the concept of worship as an overflow of love challenge or affirm your current understanding of worship? [01:19:10]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current worship practices. How can you ensure that your worship is an authentic expression of love for God, rooted in His love for you? [36:22]
2. Consider the ways you demonstrate the value you place on God in your daily life. What specific actions can you take this week to express this value more clearly? [40:29]
3. Worship is described as an overflow of God's love in our lives. Identify one area in your life where you can allow God's love to overflow into the lives of others. How will you do this? [01:19:10]
4. The sermon mentions that worship is not confined to music or singing. What are some non-musical ways you can express worship in your daily routine? [46:36]
5. How can you incorporate the understanding that worship is the only gift we can give to God into your spiritual disciplines, such as prayer and Bible reading? [01:08:14]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt disconnected from worship. What steps can you take to re-engage and align your worship with God's desires? [56:16]
7. The sermon challenges us to make worship a central part of our existence. What practical changes can you make in your life to prioritize worship and allow it to shape your actions and interactions with others? [01:24:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Love as the Foundation of Worship
True worship is deeply rooted in love, beginning with God's love for us. It is not merely a ritual or a set of actions but an authentic expression of our love for God. Worshiping in spirit and truth means aligning our hearts with God's desires and expressing our love genuinely. This form of worship transcends mere actions and becomes a heartfelt response to the love we have received from God. As we understand and embrace this love, our worship becomes a natural overflow, reflecting the depth of our relationship with Him. [36:22]
1 John 4:19-21 (ESV): "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."
Reflection: Think of a specific way you can express your love for God today that goes beyond words. How can this act of love influence your worship?
Day 2: Demonstrating God's Worth through Worship
Worship is about demonstrating the value we place on God. It is an outward expression of our love and gratitude, reflecting the worth we attribute to Him. This expression can take many forms, including singing, serving, and living a life that honors God. By understanding worship as an expression of value, we are reminded that our actions and attitudes should consistently reflect the high regard we have for God. Worship is not confined to a specific time or place but is a lifestyle that honors God in all we do. [40:29]
Psalm 96:7-9 (ESV): "Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!"
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you can better demonstrate the value you place on God. What practical steps can you take to honor Him in this area today?
Day 3: Worship as a Response to God's Love
Our ability to worship starts with God's love for us. He loved us first, and our worship is a response to that love. Understanding this truth helps us to worship with sincerity and depth, acknowledging God's faithfulness and grace. When we recognize that our worship is a response to God's love, it transforms our perspective and deepens our connection with Him. This understanding encourages us to approach worship with a heart full of gratitude and reverence, knowing that it is a privilege to respond to His love. [50:59]
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent experience where you felt God's love profoundly. How can you use this experience to fuel your worship today?
Day 4: Worship as a Gift to God
While other spiritual practices benefit us, worship is solely about giving back to God. It is an act of love that acknowledges His worthiness and expresses our gratitude for His love and faithfulness. Worship is the only gift we can truly give to God, and it is a powerful way to honor Him. By focusing on worship as a gift, we shift our perspective from receiving to giving, recognizing that our worship is a meaningful offering to God. This understanding encourages us to approach worship with intentionality and devotion, knowing that it is a precious gift to our Creator. [54:34]
Hebrews 13:15-16 (ESV): "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."
Reflection: Consider what it means to offer your worship as a gift to God. What specific act of worship can you offer today that reflects your gratitude and love for Him?
Day 5: Worship as an Overflow of Love
Worship is an overflow of God's love in our lives. As we engage in worship, we allow God's love to fill us and overflow into the lives of others. This overflow can bring healing and transformation to those around us, demonstrating the power of worship in community. When we worship, we are not only expressing our love for God but also allowing His love to impact those around us. This understanding encourages us to view worship as a communal experience, where our love for God can inspire and uplift others. [01:19:10]
Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 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."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who could benefit from the overflow of God's love through your worship. How can you intentionally share this love with them today?
Quotes
1. "Worship is really a broad subject. It's too broad to talk about in one Sunday. Especially. A few minutes in a Sunday. And so I'm not really going to talk about worship as a like everything about worship. I can't. It's impossible. And we're talking about one particular subject, one one topic of of worship. And and I'll touch on a couple of things in other in other ways about worship. But mostly what I'm going to talk to you about today about is the very thing that worship is that worship with without it. Worship is not worship. If that makes any sense at all. And I'll tell you what it is here in a second. At the end of the message, I'm going to I'm going to give you a challenge or a task or a charge. Have you want to think about it of something that I want you to do throughout your week and in your life? And I think it'll I think it'll really affect you and help you in your life. So today, the title of the message is an overflow of love and overflow of love." ([00:35:23] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "You cannot have worship. You cannot have true worship without love. You cannot have true worship without love. There is a such thing as true worship and false worship. Did you guys know that there's a such thing as true worship and false worship? And so I'm going to read before we get to Matthew. There's this scripture that that'll kind of explain what I just said. John 423 says, But the time is coming. Indeed, it's here now when true worshipers will worship the father in spirit and in truth. The father is looking for those who will worship him that way." ([00:36:44] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "To demonstrate our love for God. Our worship should be just as unashamed, just as authentic, worry -free, just as excited, just as passionate, just as physical, just as verbal, all the ways that a child that loves their daddy is, is the way that we're supposed to be with God. So to define what worship is for you, worship is love expressed God's way. Love expressed God's way. And I'll give you another definition that you can think of it as. Is that worship is giving back, giving God back the love that he gives to us." ([00:49:19] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "Worship starts with God's love, not ours. So we read in Matthew 22, Jesus replied, you love, you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. That's the first and greatest commandment. First John 419 says we love because he first loved us. We love because he first loved us. Remember I said, worship starts with God's love. Not ours. And some people, some people tend to think that God only loves us because we chose or made the decision to follow him and, and to love him. And that's just not true. You know, God, God loved us way before we loved him. God found us way before we found him." ([00:50:59] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "Worship is the only gift that we can give to God. It's the only gift that we can give to God. Worship is the only thing that has nothing to do with us. It's the only gift that you can give, and so many people, so many people unfortunately rob him every single day of the only thing that we can give to him. Have you ever thought about that? There's only one thing we can give him. We can't give him, we can give him our time, which you'll learn actually would be a form of worship. You can't give him your money. You can give it to the local church like you're supposed to, like he's asked you to do, but you can't take those things to heaven whenever you die." ([01:07:26] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "Worship is the only thing we can give to him. Worship isn't a song. It's not a genre of music. It's not a style. It's not a buffer of time to get more people into the room or give the pastor that speaking or the pastor some time to breathe and kind of think and go over his notes. It's none of those things." ([01:08:32] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "Worship is an overflow of love. It's not singing. That's an expression of worship. But what happens is this. We came to church. You know, we maybe prayed on the way in. And then life happens. You stop at a gas station maybe and you go, I just want to get a Coke. A Coke, by the way, means any kind of soda in the South. I don't know how, but it's not like just Coca -Cola. What happens is, you know, you walk in and maybe the clerk goes, hey, you have to have a mask on. And you forgot your mask today. And you're just, I'm so thirsty. I just need a Coke. And so you're a little sad now and you get a hole. And oh, man. You start to leak." ([01:12:21] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "So this is what happens. You come back to church on Sunday and God starts pouring into you again. But you've still got problems. That's okay, though. God's saying, I'm still going to pour into you. I'm still going to love you. I'm still going to give you everything. You know, He can pour a lot faster than you can take in and that you can leak. He can give you a lot more love than you can handle. Even though you've got problems, He'll still love you and He'll still continue to pour into you." ([01:14:29] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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9. "And let me just tell you this about a life group. You would never, you'll never receive fully God's love without people that are in the same mindset and love God. You know, if they're around you at the same time, you can receive so much more. I tell you, I tell this story all the time about when we were back in Texas, we were a part of a life group and my wife had, I don't know, like nine or 12 or something picture frames that she wanted me to hang up. And I was like, okay, I can do this. And she wanted them spaced a particular way. And I'm like, I'm a little handy, but not that handy. They might be a little weird." ([01:15:35] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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10. "Worship him regularly. And this is what I told you I was going to give you a challenge or a task for your week. This is what I wanted you to do. As you worship, I think the rest of y 'all can come back. Go ahead and come up here so we can continue on with our worship. But as you live your life, as you go about your norm, which is a little weird right now, but your new norm for now, as you do anything that you do, whether it's work or you're at home with your kids, which is work, I mean anything that you're doing, going to the stores, think about how worship is reflected in everything that you do, in everything that you say. Your actions and your words." ([01:24:26] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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