Lesson 4:GOD Wants Your WORSHIPGOD Wants Your WORSHIP

GOD Wants Your WORSHIPGOD Wants Your WORSHIP1. God Wants More Than Your “Church Attendance”1. God Wants More Than Your “Church Attendance”

a.a. Some approach worship more like it’s “church Some approach worship more like it’s “church attendance”attendance”1)1) Which makes it as important and yet as dispensable as school Which makes it as important and yet as dispensable as school

attendance, work attendance, club/organization attendance, etc. “If I’m attendance, work attendance, club/organization attendance, etc. “If I’m there most of the time, that’s great. But intentionally missing a meeting there most of the time, that’s great. But intentionally missing a meeting or a day here and there is no big deal. I don’t or a day here and there is no big deal. I don’t havehave to be there.” to be there.”

2)2) Where’s the Where’s the EAGERNESSEAGERNESS to worship? to worship?

b.b. Some approach worship as “one of the things I’m doing Some approach worship as “one of the things I’m doing this week”this week”1)1) Where’s the Where’s the PRIORITYPRIORITY to worship? to worship?

c.c. Some approach worship as “something I’ve got to do”Some approach worship as “something I’ve got to do”1)1) Where’s the Where’s the PRIVILEGEPRIVILEGE to worship? to worship?

GOD Wants Your WORSHIPGOD Wants Your WORSHIP2. God Has Given a Multitude of Reasons to Attend2. God Has Given a Multitude of Reasons to Attend

a.a. In order to worship the Lord – John 4:21-24In order to worship the Lord – John 4:21-24b.b. In order to express our love for the Lord – Matt. 22:37In order to express our love for the Lord – Matt. 22:37c.c. In order to maintain our spiritual fervor – Matt. 24:12In order to maintain our spiritual fervor – Matt. 24:12

1)1) To prevent defiling or searing our consciences – Titus 1:15; To prevent defiling or searing our consciences – Titus 1:15; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 1 John 3:20-211 Tim. 4:1-2; 1 John 3:20-21

2)2) To prevent backsliding – 1 Cor. 11:20-30; Rev. 2:4; 3:16To prevent backsliding – 1 Cor. 11:20-30; Rev. 2:4; 3:16

d.d. In order to remember our Savior’s suffering and death In order to remember our Savior’s suffering and death for our sins – Matt. 26:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Acts for our sins – Matt. 26:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Acts 20:720:7

e.e. In order to walk in the footsteps of the early saints – In order to walk in the footsteps of the early saints – Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:23Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:23

GOD Wants Your WORSHIPGOD Wants Your WORSHIP2. God Has Given a Multitude of Reasons to Attend2. God Has Given a Multitude of Reasons to Attend

f.f. In order to satisfy our spiritual appetites – Matt. 5:6; 1 In order to satisfy our spiritual appetites – Matt. 5:6; 1 Pet. 2:1-2Pet. 2:1-21)1) To be taught & to grow spiritually – 2 Pet. 3:18; Col. 1:23To be taught & to grow spiritually – 2 Pet. 3:18; Col. 1:232)2) To be transformed spiritually – 2 Cor. 3:18To be transformed spiritually – 2 Cor. 3:183)3) ““It is no accident that the strongest and most It is no accident that the strongest and most

knowledgeable Christians are those who faithfully attend all knowledgeable Christians are those who faithfully attend all the services of the church, while the weakest and least the services of the church, while the weakest and least knowledgeable are those who seldom or never attend the knowledgeable are those who seldom or never attend the assembly of the saints.” – Hugh Fulfordassembly of the saints.” – Hugh Fulford

g.g. In order to have fellowship with the people of God – In order to have fellowship with the people of God – Heb. 10:24-25Heb. 10:24-25

GOD Wants Your WORSHIPGOD Wants Your WORSHIP2. God Has Given a Multitude of Reasons to Attend2. God Has Given a Multitude of Reasons to Attend

h.h. In order to set a proper (not harmful) example for In order to set a proper (not harmful) example for others – Eph. 6:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7; Matt. 5:16; 1 Tim. 4:12others – Eph. 6:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7; Matt. 5:16; 1 Tim. 4:121)1) To do ourselves what we expect other Christians to do – To do ourselves what we expect other Christians to do –

Matt. 7:1-5; Rom. 2:21-22Matt. 7:1-5; Rom. 2:21-22

i.i. In order to be in subjection to the elders – In order to be in subjection to the elders – Heb. 13:7, 17Heb. 13:7, 17

j.j. In order to obey the Lord’s commands – Heb. 10:25; In order to obey the Lord’s commands – Heb. 10:25; John 14:15; John 4:24John 14:15; John 4:241)1) ““not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the

manner of some” – Worship “attendance” is commanded.manner of some” – Worship “attendance” is commanded.2)2) ““God is Spirit, and those who worship Him God is Spirit, and those who worship Him mustmust worship in worship in

spirit and truth.” Worship is a spirit and truth.” Worship is a mustmust..

GOD Wants Your WORSHIPGOD Wants Your WORSHIP2. God Has Given a Multitude of Reasons to Attend2. God Has Given a Multitude of Reasons to Attend

k.k. Because it is the Lord’s Day & we don’t want to rob Him – Because it is the Lord’s Day & we don’t want to rob Him – Rev. 1:10; Mal. 3:8Rev. 1:10; Mal. 3:8

l.l. Because it is a sin to know to do it and then not do it – Because it is a sin to know to do it and then not do it – James 4:17James 4:17

m.m.Because the local congregation depends on our Because the local congregation depends on our attendance – 1 Cor. 12:12-25; Eph. 4:16attendance – 1 Cor. 12:12-25; Eph. 4:16

n.n. Because we need it – James 4:8; Psa. 42:1; 63:1; 84:2Because we need it – James 4:8; Psa. 42:1; 63:1; 84:2o.o. Because it is a joyful privilege – Psa. 122:1Because it is a joyful privilege – Psa. 122:1p.p. Because that’s where we would want to be when the Lord Because that’s where we would want to be when the Lord

returns – Mark 13:32; 2 Pet. 3:14returns – Mark 13:32; 2 Pet. 3:14q.q. Because Jesus is there – Matt. 18:20; Heb. 2:12Because Jesus is there – Matt. 18:20; Heb. 2:12r.r. Because we will worship God (for all eternity) when we Because we will worship God (for all eternity) when we

get to heaven – Rev. 4:8-11; 5:11-14; 7:9-12; 15:2-4get to heaven – Rev. 4:8-11; 5:11-14; 7:9-12; 15:2-4

GOD Wants Your WORSHIPGOD Wants Your WORSHIP3. God Wants You to Worship Him Acceptably3. God Wants You to Worship Him Acceptably

a.a. Worshiping Only HimWorshiping Only Him1)1) ““God is Spirit, and those who worship Him…” – John 4:24God is Spirit, and those who worship Him…” – John 4:242)2) ““You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall

serve.” – Matt. 4:10serve.” – Matt. 4:10

b.b. Worshiping in SpiritWorshiping in Spirit1)1) ““True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit” – Jn. 4:23True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit” – Jn. 4:232)2) ““Those who worship Him must worship in spirit” – Jn. 4:24Those who worship Him must worship in spirit” – Jn. 4:243)3) ““with grace in your hearts to the Lord” – Col. 3:16; 2 Cor. 9:7with grace in your hearts to the Lord” – Col. 3:16; 2 Cor. 9:7

c.c. Worshiping in TruthWorshiping in Truth1)1) ““True worshipers will worship the Father in truth” – Jn. 4:23True worshipers will worship the Father in truth” – Jn. 4:232)2) ““Those who worship Him must worship in truth” – Jn. 4:24Those who worship Him must worship in truth” – Jn. 4:243)3) ““Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” – Col. 3:17Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” – Col. 3:17

GOD Wants Your WORSHIPGOD Wants Your WORSHIP

4. God Not Only Wants Your Worship; He Deserves It!4. God Not Only Wants Your Worship; He Deserves It!a.a. ““God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the

saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.” – Psa. 89:7 Him.” – Psa. 89:7

b.b. ““Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain.” – Psa. 48:1of our God, In His holy mountain.” – Psa. 48:1

c.c. ““For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” – Psa. 96:4to be feared above all gods.” – Psa. 96:4

d.d. ““Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.” – Psa. 145:3greatness is unsearchable.” – Psa. 145:3

GOD Wants Your WORSHIPGOD Wants Your WORSHIP

5. God Wants More Than Your Worship5. God Wants More Than Your Worshipa.a. He wants more than your “church attendance”; He He wants more than your “church attendance”; He

wants your worship.wants your worship.b.b. He wants more than your worship; He wants your He wants more than your worship; He wants your

devoted faithfulness in fulfilling all Christian devoted faithfulness in fulfilling all Christian responsibilities He has given to you and expects of you responsibilities He has given to you and expects of you as His child.as His child.

c.c. Christians have God-given responsibilities, for which Christians have God-given responsibilities, for which we must give an answer on the day of judgment, we must give an answer on the day of judgment, beyond “just going to church on Sunday.”beyond “just going to church on Sunday.”