Worship as a Lifestyle: Beyond Sunday Attendance
Summary
In today's message, I explored the concept of "event Christians" versus "serious worshipers." Event Christians are those who attend church services for the spectacle, much like fans who attend a game for the excitement. They show up on Sundays, enjoy the service, and then return the following week, leaving a seven-day gap in their spiritual nourishment. This approach to worship is akin to eating a big Sunday meal and expecting it to sustain you for the entire week. Such Christians find themselves spiritually malnourished because they only engage with God during these events.
In contrast, serious worshipers are like dedicated sports fans who invest time and effort beyond the event itself. They prepare for worship, endure inconveniences, and immerse themselves in the experience. Just as a serious fan would arrive early, stay late, and review the game highlights, a serious worshiper makes worship a lifestyle. They meditate on the sermon, discuss it with others, and anticipate the next service. This continuous engagement with God nourishes their spirit throughout the week.
The challenge is to reflect on how much effort we are willing to invest in our relationship with God compared to other interests in our lives. If we can dedicate hours to a sports team that may win or lose, how much more should we invest in our relationship with the eternal King of Kings? Worship should not be a mere weekly event but a lifestyle that permeates every aspect of our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Event Christians vs. Serious Worshipers: Event Christians attend church for the spectacle, leaving a gap in their spiritual nourishment. In contrast, serious worshipers make worship a lifestyle, engaging with God throughout the week. This continuous engagement nourishes their spirit and deepens their relationship with God. [01:07]
- The Importance of Consistent Worship: Just as a big Sunday meal cannot sustain us for the entire week, sporadic worship leaves us spiritually malnourished. Consistent worship is essential for spiritual growth and vitality, providing the nourishment we need to thrive in our faith. [01:46]
- Investing in Our Relationship with God: We often invest significant time and effort in hobbies or interests that offer temporary satisfaction. How much more should we invest in our relationship with God, who offers eternal fulfillment and purpose? [07:07]
- Worship as a Lifestyle: Serious worshipers integrate worship into their daily lives, meditating on sermons, discussing them with others, and anticipating future services. This approach transforms worship from a weekly event into a continuous, life-giving practice. [06:45]
- The Worthiness of God: If we are willing to endure inconveniences for temporary pleasures, how much more should we be willing to invest in our relationship with God? He is worthy of our time, effort, and devotion, far beyond any earthly pursuit. [07:25]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - Event Christians Explained
- [00:47] - The Seven-Day Gap
- [01:30] - Spiritual Malnourishment
- [02:11] - Serious Fans vs. Event Fans
- [02:32] - Serious Worshipers
- [02:50] - The Football Game Analogy
- [03:12] - The Three-Hour Experience
- [03:52] - The Inconvenience of Worship
- [04:29] - The Worthiness of Worship
- [05:10] - The Seven-Hour Worship Experience
- [05:54] - Meditating on the Sermon
- [06:15] - Small Group Discussions
- [06:45] - Anticipating the Next Service
- [07:07] - Investing in Our Relationship with God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV): "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
- Romans 12:1 (NIV): "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."
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the characteristics of "event Christians" as described in the sermon? How do they differ from "serious worshipers"? [00:23]
2. According to the sermon, what is the consequence of having a seven-day gap in worship? [01:07]
3. How does the analogy of a football game illustrate the difference between event fans and serious fans? [02:50]
4. What actions do serious worshipers take to integrate worship into their daily lives, according to the sermon? [06:45]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "event Christians" relate to the warning in Hebrews 10:24-25 about not giving up meeting together?
2. In what ways does Romans 12:1 challenge believers to transform their understanding of worship from an event to a lifestyle?
3. The sermon suggests that serious worshipers meditate on the sermon and discuss it with others. How might this practice contribute to spiritual growth and nourishment? [05:54]
4. What does the sermon imply about the value of investing time and effort in our relationship with God compared to other interests? [07:07]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own worship habits. Do you identify more with "event Christians" or "serious worshipers"? What steps can you take to deepen your engagement with God throughout the week? [00:23]
2. Consider the analogy of the football game. What are some practical ways you can prepare for worship and immerse yourself in the experience, similar to how a serious fan prepares for a game? [02:50]
3. How can you incorporate meditation on sermons and discussions with others into your weekly routine to enhance your spiritual nourishment? [05:54]
4. Think about the time and effort you invest in hobbies or interests. How can you reallocate some of that time to strengthen your relationship with God, who offers eternal fulfillment? [07:07]
5. What are some potential inconveniences you might face in making worship a lifestyle? How can you overcome these challenges to prioritize your relationship with God? [04:29]
6. Identify one specific way you can make worship a continuous, life-giving practice in your daily life. How will you implement this change starting this week? [06:45]
7. Reflect on the worthiness of God as described in the sermon. How does this perspective influence your willingness to invest time and effort in your spiritual journey? [07:25]
Devotional
Day 1: From Spectacle to Substance
Event Christians often attend church services for the spectacle, much like fans who attend a game for the excitement. They show up on Sundays, enjoy the service, and then return the following week, leaving a seven-day gap in their spiritual nourishment. This approach to worship is akin to eating a big Sunday meal and expecting it to sustain you for the entire week. Such Christians find themselves spiritually malnourished because they only engage with God during these events. In contrast, serious worshipers make worship a lifestyle, engaging with God throughout the week. This continuous engagement nourishes their spirit and deepens their relationship with God. [01:07]
Isaiah 29:13 (ESV): "And the Lord said: 'Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.'"
Reflection: Consider your current approach to worship. Are there specific days or moments in your week where you can intentionally engage with God beyond Sunday services?
Day 2: The Necessity of Consistent Nourishment
Just as a big Sunday meal cannot sustain us for the entire week, sporadic worship leaves us spiritually malnourished. Consistent worship is essential for spiritual growth and vitality, providing the nourishment we need to thrive in our faith. Without regular engagement with God, our spiritual lives can become stagnant, and we may find ourselves struggling to maintain our faith in challenging times. By making worship a consistent part of our daily routine, we ensure that our spirits are continually fed and strengthened. [01:46]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Identify one daily habit you can incorporate to ensure consistent spiritual nourishment. How can you make this a non-negotiable part of your routine?
Day 3: Prioritizing Eternal Investments
We often invest significant time and effort in hobbies or interests that offer temporary satisfaction. How much more should we invest in our relationship with God, who offers eternal fulfillment and purpose? Reflecting on our priorities can reveal where our true passions lie and challenge us to realign our focus on what truly matters. By investing in our relationship with God, we not only find deeper satisfaction but also align ourselves with His eternal purposes. [07:07]
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: Reflect on your weekly schedule. What is one activity you can reduce to make more time for your relationship with God?
Day 4: Worship as a Continuous Practice
Serious worshipers integrate worship into their daily lives, meditating on sermons, discussing them with others, and anticipating future services. This approach transforms worship from a weekly event into a continuous, life-giving practice. By engaging with God daily, we create a rhythm of worship that sustains us and deepens our connection with Him. This continuous practice not only enriches our spiritual lives but also impacts those around us as we live out our faith authentically. [06:45]
Colossians 3:16 (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."
Reflection: Think of a recent sermon or Bible study. How can you meditate on its message throughout the week and share its insights with someone else?
Day 5: The Worthiness of Devotion
If we are willing to endure inconveniences for temporary pleasures, how much more should we be willing to invest in our relationship with God? He is worthy of our time, effort, and devotion, far beyond any earthly pursuit. Recognizing God's worthiness challenges us to evaluate our commitments and prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. By doing so, we honor Him and experience the fullness of life that comes from walking closely with our Creator. [07:25]
Psalm 145:3 (ESV): "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent inconvenience you endured for a temporary pleasure. How can you redirect that same level of commitment and effort towards your relationship with God today?
Quotes
there are event Christians these are Christians who show up for the show they they want the event they want to hear the choir sing they want to hear the preacher preach they want to see what's going on they show up for the event and they will come to the event this Sunday and show up for a new event next Sunday [00:00:08]
the problem is if you are any vent Christian you're here for the show the Sunday the Sunday event then that means that there is a seven-day gap in your worship there is a seven-day gap between events and if there is a seven-day gap between events you only get what the event offers worship was never meant to be an event where there is a week gap [00:00:57]
we have Christians who eat God on Sunday starve all week long and wonder why they're malnourished even though they go to church because they're avec worshipers like event fans but then there are serious fans these are they not just about the event man they will be at the event but but it's more than the event for them [00:01:46]
let me talk about in any an event or serious fan not just an event fan and link that to what it looks like if you are serious worshiper ministering to the Lord in the average football game there is only 17 minutes of contact where a player is hitting another player is an offensive player kick off a punt BAM there's only 17 minutes [00:02:23]
a serious fan but one who really wants to do this thing right it's going to leave for church two hours before the service begins because they gotta fight the traffic but they're going to be willing to fight the inconvenience of the traffic because they decided that team is worthy of that inconvenience [00:03:52]
they will then sit for three hours and not leave Church early normal they say the service has gone too long because they want to catch all that the service has to offer because they know what it's like to leave early with one minute left and miss the big thing that's gonna take place on the field [00:04:46]
that's three hours for a game two hours on both sides to travel so now worship on Sunday has taken seven hours that's seven hours they have decided that this team is worthy of my worship when they get home after having gone through a seven hour worship experience they're gonna turn on ESPN and NFL Network to review what they just saw [00:05:28]
so they're gonna meditate on the sermon review the sermon and the high points of the service Oh money because they serious worship they go get in a small group at work and have a small group meeting around the water fountain to discuss the high points from the worship service that day [00:05:57]
beginning Tuesday they go start look at what the sermon is gonna be next week who's coming to preach the guest sermon what the conflict is gonna be and now they're discussing the upcoming sermon before the service ever shows up because they're not just there for the event they have made this worship a lifestyle [00:06:33]
if you give that much work to somebody who wins today and loses tomorrow somebody who's up now and down then if you're willing to go through that much inconvenience for something that does not do that much for your daily life explain to me how the King of Kings Lord of lords God of gods can't get a minute of your time [00:07:03]
worship was never meant to be an event where there is a week gap but most folks today are probably going to have a pretty good sunday afternoon meal sunday usually is a big meal either big meal is cooked or you go out somewhere sunday is typically a big meal however you do not expect that to last you all weekend [00:01:23]
they have made this worship a lifestyle and it carries them every week all week all season long now if you give that much work to somebody who wins today and loses tomorrow somebody who's up now and down then if you're willing to go through that much inconvenience for something that does not do that much for your daily life [00:06:55]
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