Worshiping God: Freedom, Holiness, and Our Response
Summary
Today’s gathering was a beautiful reminder of the privilege and responsibility we have to worship God together as His people. We celebrated milestones—like honoring our high school graduates and reflecting on the joys and sorrows that fill our lives, from Father’s Day to the grief of loss. In all these things, we are drawn back to the centrality of Christ and the call to worship Him with sincerity and gratitude.
We explored the old covenant’s worship regulations as described in Hebrews 9, considering the tabernacle, its furnishings, and the daily and annual duties of the priests. The old system, with its repeated sacrifices and limited access to God, served a purpose for its time but is now obsolete in light of Christ’s finished work. The author of Hebrews uses this contrast to help us appreciate the surpassing value of what we have in Christ. The old covenant’s limitations—its focus on externals, its inability to perfect the conscience, and its restricted access to God—highlight the freedom and confidence we now enjoy in the new covenant.
God has not left us to guess how He wants to be worshiped. He has graciously revealed what is acceptable in His sight, not to constrain us, but to free us from the tyranny of trends, preferences, and the pressure to perform. True worship is not about our creativity or sincerity alone, but about responding to God’s revealed will with joyful obedience. We are reminded that God deserves our worship simply because of who He is—the great I AM—and because of who we are: sinners in need of grace.
Our worship, then, is holistic. It encompasses prayer, the reading and preaching of the Word, singing, and the sacraments. Each element is a gracious gift, designed to draw our hearts to Christ and to one another. We are called to worship confidently, joyfully, sincerely, and holistically, knowing that God has shown us what pleases Him. As we come to the Lord’s Table, we do so not as a mere ritual, but as a response to God’s invitation—a tangible expression of our unity with Christ and with each other.
Let us come prepared each week, eager to worship the God who deserves it, not just with our lips, but with our whole lives.
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Key Takeaways
- God Deserves Our Worship Because of Who He Is and Who We Are
Worship is not rooted in our preferences or feelings, but in the unchanging character of God. He is holy, just, all-powerful, and the great I AM. Our worship is a response to His greatness and our own neediness as sinners who fall short of His glory. This truth humbles us and lifts our eyes to the One who alone is worthy. [58:13]
- God Determines What Is Acceptable Worship
We do not approach God on our own terms. Throughout Scripture, God both accepts and rejects worship based on whether it aligns with His revealed will. Sincerity alone is not enough; obedience to God’s instructions is essential. This calls us to examine our worship practices and ensure they are shaped by Scripture, not by culture or personal taste. [01:02:08]
- The Old Covenant’s Limitations Highlight the Freedom of the New
The old system was marked by repeated sacrifices, limited access to God, and a focus on external rituals. It could not perfect the conscience or provide lasting assurance of forgiveness. In Christ, we have direct access to God, a purified conscience, and the freedom to worship without fear or uncertainty. This should fill us with gratitude and confidence as we gather. [48:26]
- God’s Regulations Are Gifts That Lead to Freedom, Not Bondage
Rather than constraining us, God’s instructions for worship liberate us from the endless pursuit of trends and the tyranny of personal preferences. By focusing on what God has commanded—prayer, the Word, singing, and the sacraments—we are freed to center our worship on Christ. This unity of purpose allows us to worship together with joy and without distraction. [01:09:17]
- Worship Is Holistic and Demands Our Whole Selves
True worship is not confined to music or a single part of the service. Every element—prayer, preaching, singing, the Lord’s Table—is an act of worship. We are called to engage with our hearts and minds, coming prepared each week to offer God the worship He deserves. This holistic approach transforms our gatherings from routine to vibrant encounters with the living God. [01:17:46]
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Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
[06:00] - Honoring High School Graduates
[10:39] - Pastoral Prayer for Graduates and Our World
[12:38] - Grieving and Rejoicing Together
[33:18] - Introduction: The Obsolete and the Valuable
[40:05] - The Tabernacle: Place and Symbolism
[43:09] - The Altar of Incense and Symbolic Meaning
[45:31] - Daily and Annual Priestly Duties
[48:26] - The Limitations of Old Covenant Worship
[56:13] - God Deserves Our Worship
[58:13] - The Greatness of God and Our Response
[01:02:08] - God’s Standard for Acceptable Worship
[01:05:08] - Core Elements of Biblical Worship
[01:09:17] - Freedom from Trends and Preferences
[01:13:25] - Focusing on the Center: Christ in Worship
[01:14:55] - Worshiping Confidently and Joyfully
[01:17:46] - Holistic Worship: Engaging Every Part
[01:20:08] - Invitation to the Lord’s Table
[01:21:53] - Closing Prayer and Communion
[01:31:35] - Doxology and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Worship That Pleases God
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### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 9:1-10 (Main text of the sermon)
- Psalm 96:4 (“For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.”)
- Romans 3:23 (“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”)
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 9:1-10, what were some of the main features and regulations of worship under the old covenant? What limitations did the people face in approaching God?
2. In Psalm 96:4, what reasons are given for why God deserves to be worshiped?
3. The sermon described how the old covenant worship focused on repeated sacrifices and limited access to God. What did the high priest have to do, and how often could he enter the Holy of Holies? [[45:31]]
4. The pastor mentioned that even unintentional sins needed to be atoned for under the old covenant. Why is this significant? [[48:26]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The old covenant’s worship system was described as “obsolete” but still valuable for its time. What does this teach us about God’s unfolding plan and how we should view the Old Testament regulations today? [[33:18]]
2. The sermon emphasized that God—not us—determines what is acceptable worship. Why is sincerity alone not enough, according to the examples given from Scripture? [[01:02:08]]
3. The pastor said that the old covenant could not “perfect the conscience” of the worshiper. What does it mean to have a “purified conscience,” and how does Christ provide this in the new covenant? [[48:26]]
4. The sermon described worship as “holistic,” involving prayer, the Word, singing, and the sacraments. Why is it important to see all these elements as worship, not just music? [[01:17:46]]
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### Application Questions
1. The pastor said, “God deserves our worship because of who He is and who we are.” Take a moment to reflect: In what ways have you seen God’s greatness in your life recently? How does remembering your own need for grace shape your attitude in worship? [[58:13]]
2. The sermon challenged us to examine our worship practices: Are there ways you have let personal preferences, trends, or cultural expectations shape how you approach worship? What would it look like to let Scripture guide your worship instead? [[01:09:17]]
3. The old covenant’s repeated sacrifices never gave lasting assurance of forgiveness. Do you ever struggle to feel forgiven or close to God? How does the truth of Christ’s finished work help you approach God with confidence? [[48:26]]
4. The pastor said, “Sincerity alone is not enough; obedience to God’s instructions is essential.” Can you think of a time when you were sincere but not following God’s revealed will? What did you learn from that experience? [[01:02:08]]
5. Worship was described as “holistic”—not just singing, but also prayer, the Word, and the Lord’s Table. Which part of worship do you find easiest to engage with? Which part is hardest for you, and why? [[01:17:46]]
6. The pastor encouraged everyone to “come prepared each week, eager to worship the God who deserves it, not just with our lips, but with our whole lives.” What is one practical step you can take this week to prepare your heart for worship before Sunday? [[01:17:46]]
7. The Lord’s Table was described as a “tangible expression of our unity with Christ and with each other.” How does participating in communion affect your sense of connection to God and to the church family? [[01:20:08]]
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Devotional
Day 1: God Deserves Our Worship
God alone is worthy of our worship because of who He is—holy, just, all-powerful, and the great “I AM”—and because of who we are as sinners in need of His grace. Reflecting on God’s greatness, from His creative power to His acts of redemption, should stir our hearts to praise and adoration, not just in song but in every aspect of our lives. We are reminded that all people are worshipers by nature, but the crucial question is whether we are worshiping the one true God or something else. Let us remember that our worship is not about our worthiness, but about God’s infinite worth and His invitation for us to draw near to Him. [58:13]
Psalm 96:4 (ESV)
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.
Reflection: In what specific way can you pause today to acknowledge God’s greatness and offer Him heartfelt worship, not just with your words but with your actions?
Day 2: God Decides What Is Acceptable Worship
God, not us, determines what is acceptable in worship, and throughout Scripture He has both accepted and rejected worship based on whether it aligns with His revealed will. Sincerity alone is not enough; God desires worship that is both genuine and obedient to His instructions, as seen in the examples of Cain, Nadab and Abihu, and others whose offerings were rejected. This truth frees us from the pressure of personal preferences and cultural trends, calling us instead to seek what pleases God as revealed in His Word. Our worship should be shaped by prayer, the reading and preaching of Scripture, singing, and the ordinances, all done in a spirit of humility and reverence. [01:02:08]
Matthew 15:8-9 (ESV)
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
Reflection: Is there an area of your worship—public or private—where you have been following your own preferences rather than seeking what God desires? What step can you take this week to align your worship more closely with God’s Word?
Day 3: The Old Covenant’s Limitations Point Us to Christ
The old covenant, with its tabernacle, priests, and repeated sacrifices, was good for its time but ultimately limited in providing true access to God and a cleansed conscience. Its regulations highlighted the need for a perfect mediator and pointed forward to the greater reality found in Christ, who offers us direct access to God and complete forgiveness. The continual sacrifices reminded the people of their sinfulness and the insufficiency of external rituals to bring lasting peace with God. Now, through Jesus, we are invited into a relationship where our consciences can be truly cleansed and our worship made whole. [48:26]
Hebrews 9:6-10 (ESV)
These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
Reflection: How does knowing that Christ has opened the way for you to approach God directly change the way you pray and worship today?
Day 4: God’s Regulations Are Gracious Gifts That Lead to Freedom
Rather than being burdensome, God’s instructions for worship are gracious gifts that bring freedom—freedom from cultural captivity, from endless battles over preferences, and freedom to focus on what truly matters. By following God’s design for worship, we are liberated from the pressure to keep up with trends or to please everyone’s tastes, and instead can joyfully center our gatherings on prayer, Scripture, preaching, singing, and the sacraments. This focus allows us to worship with confidence, knowing we are pleasing God, and with joy, knowing we are participating in something He delights in. [01:09:17]
John 4:23-24 (ESV)
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. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
Reflection: What is one tradition or preference in your worship experience that you need to hold more loosely so you can embrace the freedom and focus God’s Word provides?
Day 5: Worship Confidently, Joyfully, Sincerely, and Holistically
Because God has shown us how He wants to be worshiped, we can approach Him each week with confidence, joy, sincerity, and wholeheartedness—engaging not just in music, but in every part of our gathered worship. Whether it’s singing, praying, hearing the Word, or participating in the Lord’s Supper, each element is an opportunity to honor God and be shaped by His grace. Let us come prepared, not just to go through the motions, but to offer our whole selves in worship, knowing that God delights in our sincere and joyful praise. [01:17:46]
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: As you prepare for the next time you gather with God’s people, what practical step can you take to engage more fully—heart, mind, and body—in every aspect of worship?
Quotes
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