Some of you may remember the sermon series from a couple of years ago called ‘Plan B.’ For many, it was a series that hit them right where they were at; for others, it was an uncomfortable time because it reminded them of where they’d been before—in the midst of a time of life they didn’t plan on! I probably don’t have to even say this today, but I’VE BEEN LIVING THROUGH PLAN Bs IN MY LIFE FOR THE PAST YEAR… On January 4 of last year, I had quadruple...
Do you guys know the television game show called ‘Jeopardy?’ Well, as we begin a new worship series today called “Dare to Be Great,” I want to do our own version. Are you ready to give it a try? Our theme for Jeopardy today is going to be ‘GREAT THINGS,’ so let’s see how you’re going to do today… We’ll start with ‘great things’ for $100. Frosted Flakes mascot Tony the Tiger is famous for this catch phrase. If you know the answer, just shout it out… (What is …...
For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been talking about ‘how to be blessed’ as a church … and asking questions like: What kind of a church will God bless? What do we need to be about, as a church, in order to be recipients of God’s blessing? Last week, one of the things we talked about needing to do was this: We need to be ‘devoted’ to God’s word. And God’s word is full of ways to receive God’s blessing. We can know how … and that’s what we’re...
In order to understand scripture, it’s really important sometimes to have some background. What was going on at the time that this particular piece of scripture (a letter) was written? What was it that the original audience might have understood in their context … better than you and I understand it in our context? Again, the original recipients of this letter to the Hebrews were probably 2nd generation Christians, but not so far removed from Judaism that they would not remember some of the references here… Here’s your ‘background’ today...
Attitude is everything! And it’s that ‘attitude of gratitude’ that God’s looking for in our relationship with him. Our scripture lesson for today lines up with that expectation perfectly, as we’re invited to enter joyfully into God’s presence—with an ‘attitude of gratitude’… Listen carefully to the psalmist’s word to us: Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. 3 Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are...
So, what have we learned about worship together in the past? Let me remind you. First, it’s not about us, is it… And, it seems like it’s something that doesn’t just happen … unless we’re deliberate about it. That’s God’s way; God still leaves it up to us … to respond to his love. And the primary way we love God today … is through worship—regular, deliberate worship. Listen now to how God’s people—back in Old Testament days—worshiped God … and what was involved then; here’s a taste of ancient...
I want to remind you of our worship together last week: It is essential that we learn to recognize who God is! Why? Because when we do, our automatic response will always be … worship. In a similar fashion, when we come to recognize all that God has done for us … we’ll be on our way to being true worshipers as well. Listen to Paul’s words to the church at Rome, from Romans, Chapter 7… “So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good....
Folks, please remember from last week: If we want our worship together—corporately—to be all that God desires for it to be, we have to be about worship … every single day! We need to ‘do all to the Glory of God’… And we need to intentionally make worship a part of our everyday lives! But, even with that in mind, folks, are we yet worshiping the God of scripture? Is our idea of God today … God’s idea? Here’s the bottom line today: It is essential that we learn to...
Last week, we spoke of being obedient to God’s call on our lives in worship—what God asks us to do that affects our worship, in particular. Sometimes, God says ‘stand’ … and sometimes God says ‘bow down’ … and sometimes God says ‘Go!’ Whatever God says, we have to be obedient to it, if we want our worship of God to be unhindered… What is it that you’re struggling with doing, as you come to worship, today? What obstacle stands between you & your ‘unhindered worship’ of God? Let’s pray...
Last week, we talked about this biblical guideline for worship: true worshipers will worship God in spirit (heart) and in truth. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman that this is the kind of worship God is looking for … and it begins with hearts that have turned toward God… If we are not willing to turn our hearts toward God—fully, we’ll never know the kind of relationship (or worship) that God so desperately wants us to have! That’s where it begins. And once we’ve turned our hearts over to God,...
