the UNQUENCHABLE WORSHIPPER STUDY GUIDE SERIES

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Chapter 1 - THE UNQUENCHABLE WORSHIPPER STUDY GUIDE SERIES

In this series of studies, Aaron Adams homes in further on a chapter of Matt´s book and gives us some thoughts and questions for further personal or group study. This month we look at chapter one, and in particular the life of Job.

Chapter One: The Unquenchable Worshipper.

Who could blame him really? In a matter of days Job had lost his fortune. His children had been suddenly taken from him. The pain from the boils that covered his skin must have been unbearable. All of it; his health, wealth, and family was gone. Job was not dead, but that was just a minor technicality. And so Job´s outburst is understandable, for deep suffering isn´t only looking for the pain to end, but for an answer to the question: ´Why me?´

Íf I have walked with falsehood . . . and my foot has hastened after deceit, let Him weigh me with accurate scales and let God know my integrity . . (Job 31 v 5-6) Oh, that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written . . . I would bind it to myself like a crown.´ (Job 31 v 35, 36b)

And how does God respond? He does not defend Himself. He does not explain Himself. God chooses to reveal Himself.

´Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it . . .(Job 38 v 12-13) Who has put wisdom in the innermost being or given understanding to the mind? Who can count the clouds by wisdom, or tip the water jars of the heavens?´ (Job 38 v 36-37)

When silence falls once again, Job finds that the answer to his suffering is not found by asking: ´why´ but by knowing: ´Who.´ It is not found in questioning God´s worth, but in seeing Him for who He is. God answers the problem of Job´s suffering with the grand and wonderful mystery of His power and presence. Job himself says as much:

Í know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. (Job 42 v 2) I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You.´ (Job 42 v 5)

An unquenchable worshipper does not rely upon endurance, doctrine, or determination alone. An unquenchable worshipper returns again and again to the revelation of a God whose worth and whose love does not waver to spite our suffering. An unquenchable worshipper can sing then with Job perhaps one of the

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most profound lines in all of Scripture:

´The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.´ (Job 1 v 21)

Matt and Beth´s song ´Blessed Be Your Name´ focuses in on this scripture, and tries to give worshippers a voice to respond to God with praise, even in the painful times of life. Matt writes:

Í think we´ve received more personal testimony feedback from this song than any other. I have come across some of the harshest life circumstances I´ve heard of as people have emailed in their stories of how they´ve chosen to worship our amazing God even in some of the hardest times of life. More than anything, this reminds me of how much pain there is in the world, and about how important it is to be real, honest and true (yet always remaining reverent) in the worshipping church.´

Blessed be Your nameOn the road marked with suffering Though there´s pain in the offering Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I´ll turn back to praiseWhen the darkness closes in, LordStill I will say

Blessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your nameBlessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your glorious name

You give and take awayYou give and take awayMy heart will choose to sayLord, blessed be Your name

Questions for Discussion/Reflection

1. In this chapter of the book, we talked about worship ´that can never be extinguished´ and then looked at the analogy of a fire needing heat, oxygen and fuel to keep going. We can lose the ´heat´ in our worship by allowing the cares and struggles of life to take our focus away from God. Essential óxygen´ can be cut off when we don´t allow the Holy Spirit to take the role of lead worshipper in every aspect of our lives; in church and outside of it. And finally, we can shut down our fire´s ´fuel´ supply by not recognizing the revelation of God´s power and glory all around us. How strongly is the fire of your worship burning right now? Could it be fading in

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any way because of a lack of heat, oxygen or fuel? What steps can you take today to stoke your worship´s fire?

2. This chapter also brings up the issue of the two choices worshippers have in the face of adversity: to challenge or question the worth of God or to meet Him in the style of the lament Psalms; songs that combine the honesty of desperation with, án underlying confidence and trust in God.´ Take a moment to read through a few passages from the lament Psalms to see God´s model for authentic worship amidst brokenness. Looking back at difficult times you may have experienced in the past or may be experiencing now, what path have you chosen? Has worship been quenched by the pain of life´s circumstances? Has honest desperation given root to bitterness? Take a moment to reflect and, if necessary, resolve to make changes for the future.

3. Chapter One referenced Romans 1:20 where Paul writes that God´s divine nature is clear in the very fabric of this creation we inhabit. There are times when we can be so busy with the trials and ´busyness´ of life that we can miss the signs all around us pointing us on towards our God. Consider the places where God may be ´hidden´ in your life. You may want to ask God to remove the blinders that may be hampering you from seeing His goodness and presence around you.

Prayer

God, our Creator, Father, and King, please allow me the grace to see Your glory, power, presence and love even amidst life´s darkest hours. May these glimpses of Your unchanging worth continually feed a fire of Your worship in us that can never be extinguished.


Chapter Two: The Undone Worshipper

Í saw the Lord, sitting on a throne´

´. . . the train of His robe filling the temple . . .´

´Seraphim stood above Him . . . ´

Ánd one called out to another and said ´Holy, Holy, Holy . . .´

Ánd the foundation of the thresholds trembled at the voice . . .

The intensity of the opening verses in Isaiah 6 build one upon the other, a steady drumbeat marking the march towards the moment of realization. Whenever that moment took place, it becomes clear that, in verse 5, reality came crashing down

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around the prophet -

´Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.´

The Oxford English Dictionary defines úndone´ as ´destruction.´ If Isaiah 6 is about a picture of God´s grandeur and glory, then it´s also, at the same time, about the ´destruction´ of the prophet himself. The two seem to go hand in hand. When faced with one of the most glorious visions of unhindered, true worship of God, he declares his own ruination and destruction. He didn´t need a lesson in theology to understand that he could not survive standing on his own merit in the presence of eternal perfection. In Isaiah´s mind, meeting God in such a way marked the beginning of the end.

There are moments in worship when we must, like Isaiah, declare that we are undone, that we are ruined, that the ways in which we still cling to what Paul called the óld self´, must be destroyed if we are to be in the presence of our King.

Chapter 6 could have ended with the doomed finality of Isaiah´s own words. But God, in his unknowable, unfathomable love and mercy grants us a fresh, new start -

´Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand . . . He touched my mouth with it and said, ´Behold, this has touched your lips and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.´

Undone worshippers do the hard work of turning the light of God´s glory into the corners and crevices of their souls, to find any way that may be unpleasing to the Lord. When called, they humbly return to the realization that they cannot stand on their own, that they must be cleansed, regardless of the cost. They realize that, only once they have been undone by God´s holiness and glory and restored by His love, can they begin again and fully respond to His call -

´Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?´

Scripture Review

Scripture tells an amazing story of a God searching, seeking, and hungering after a relationship with humanity. In that story there are moments of revelation in which the Lord bursts through time and space and meets with men and women, young and old, rich and poor to point them towards Him. Some are healed, some are comforted, and some are undone. Below are a few passages to read, consider or pray through as an individual or as a group. They are stories of undone worshippers throughout scripture. They are individuals who have found themselves broken in the presence of the Lord and yet, in that brokenness, found grace, hope, empowerment and promise for the future.Saul/Paul: Acts 9 verses 1-17King David: Psalm 51

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Thief on the Cross: Luke 23 verses 35-43Peter: Luke 5 verses 1-11John: Revelation 1 verses 9-20

Questions for Study

1. Psalm 139 verses 23-24 is a passage that strikes at the heart of what it means to be an undone worshipper. David decides that he wants so much of God that he asks God to search his heart for any hint of sin. Undone worshippers invite God to point out any sin in their lives because they knew that this was the only pathway to true and unhindered worship. Consider whether or not you need to move from being a reactive to a proactive undone worshipper. Is it time to move on from waiting for God to point out ways you need to change and begin to tenaciously pursue holiness?

2. This chapter of the book highlights individuals from Scripture who seemed to be set aside for a period of time while God communicated painful but important lessons. We also looked at a difficult yet fruitful season in Matt´s life when God drew him away from leading worship to help him refocus on the important essentials at the center of God´s heart. Take a few moments to look back at the times you have felt ´sidelined´ by God. Perhaps that is taking place right now. Is there anything that God may have been or is trying to say to you? While it is certainly not true that God is disciplining us every time we undergo hardship, could it be possible that you need to reframe your idea of how God may be trying to work in and speak to you in these challenging times?

3. Essential to understanding the idea of being an undone worshipper is the idea of God as both a tough and tender Father. Many of us have real trouble balancing those notions of God in our hearts and minds. We may run from being an undone worshipper because we are afraid of seeing God as some angry and wrathful Father who wants to punish and inflict pain upon us. Others of us may live and dwell in our past, not forgiving ourselves though God has forgiven us, punishing ourselves and never allowing ourselves to move on in freedom, love and acceptance. How do you see your Heavenly Father? Does your view of God hinder your ability to fully become the undone worshipper He wants you to be? Have the events and relationships in your family or your life skewed your idea of the God described to us in Scripture?


Chapter Three: The Undignified Worshipper.

They had seen him, only five days earlier, riding into Jerusalem hailed as the King of the Jews.

And now they were seeing him gasping.

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Bleeding.Mocked.And dying.

This is not the way it was supposed to end. A coronation had turned into an execution. For his followers who could muster the strength to stay and watch the man in whom they had placed their faith, love and devotion hang from a cross, the pain of loss and the confusion at what had gone wrong must have been a potent combination.

He´s dying.Our King. Our Answer. Our Redemption.

The One clothed in blinding Majesty on the Mount of Transfiguration, now having his clothes fought over by Roman guards.

The One who had commanded the sea to rest and demons to flee, now struggling to take each breath.

The One who summoned Lazarus from the tomb with a great shout, now silently teetering on the edge of death.

It makes no sense. God´s Son had stepped into time to become one of us. But surely not to be spat upon, laughed at, tortured and die.

Jesus chose to let go of the majesty, glory and power that were his in heaven. He chose to put on flesh and blood - flesh that could be torn apart and blood that could be spilled. But why?

For love (John 3:16).

Reckless, passionate, unreasonable love. And undignified worshippers live and love without reservation because they have received so lavish a love as this.

My pride? My finances? My name? No price is too steep. No treasure is too precious. No call is too much. Undignified worshippers see the unreserved and passionate love that Christ displayed on Calvary - a love that doesn´t make sense, but cost Him everything. And, standing in the light and safety of that love, they worship with an abandon that says there is nothing I have, nothing I know, and nothing that I am that I´m unwilling to part with for the Lord´s renown.

Scripture Review

Scripture is filled with the worship of the undignified. These men and women show a willingness to let go of their reputations, resources, and even their own lives to give honor to God. They have realized that life is full of blessings, but that none can compare to the matchless worth of God. Below are just a few examples of individuals

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who were able to cut themselves free from the cords that entangle and keep us from true undignified worship:

David responds to the goodness of God - 2 Samuel 6The widow gives all that she has - Mark 12:41-44Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego risk their lives for the worship of God alone - Daniel 1-3Peter and John refuse to stop preaching whatever the costs -Acts 4:1-22

Thoughts for Reflection1. In this chapter, we are encouraged to find a source and inspiration for undignified worship in the passionate love of God for us. Matt briefly highlighted the story of the Prodigal Son, where we see a picture of a Father willing to shed his status and pride for the love of seeing his son return home. This is the love of our Heavenly Father. Take a moment to reflect upon other instances in Scripture and in your own life in which the unconditional and passionate love of God is evident. How have you responded to the boundless overtures of his heart to yours? His love for us has been given without reservation. Can the same be said of your own love for Him?

2. Before we can become undignified in our worship, we must cut ourselves free from those things that keep us from ´dancing as David danced.´ Take a few moments to contemplate whether or not there is anything in your life that you may classify as ´too precious´ to give up to God. It may be fear of what others will think, fear of handing over finances to God, or it may be something different altogether. Is there a particular area in which God has been calling you to come clean with Him so that you can fully enter into an open and uninhibited worship of Him in your life?

3. In this chapter, we are reminded that the act of being undignified in our worship must come from and overflow of love and adoration for God. For lead worshippers this may mean not getting caught up in the ´performance´ aspect of being on stage in front of others. But those of us who don´t dare step behind a microphone or play a musical instrument can also fall prey to misguided motives. How many of us have given, spoken or served ´for God´ when it was really more about ourselves. Think and reflect on the motivation behind your own ácts of worship´ and ask God to speak to your heart about this matter.


Chapter Four: The Unpredictable Worshipper

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She may have been as surprised as anyone in the room that evening as she pulled the alabaster jar out from underneath her cloak and broke it over Jesus´ feet.

After all, what she was about to do would cost her dearly.

It would cost her financially. The value of the nard inside the jar was equal to the amount a first century worker would earn in an entire year.

It would cost her personally. Scholars tell us that the ointment was most likely a family heirloom passed down from mother to daughter, from generation to generation. Did she think about the stories she had heard as a child about the mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers before her that had cherished the flask of precious oil?

It would cost her reputation. We´re not sure if she knew anyone at the party, but Mark leads us to believe that she wasn´t on the guest list. And what did she expect the reaction to be when she, a woman, interrupts dinner and anoints this teacher with so costly a gift?

Yet, she was compelled to sacrifice to demonstrate His worth. Mark doesn´t explain the reasons behind her devotion. But maybe that´s the point. A gift like this doesn´t have a reason behind it. Logic, as it has a habit of doing, gave way to love.

Sometimes worship doesn´t really make much sense to those ´looking on´ and Simon´s other guests that evening were no exception. They were used to doing things the way they had always been done. They were caught off guard. Faced with a lavish and unpredictable act of adoration, they said:

´How impractical!´

´What a waste!´

But Christ loved the extravagance of her gift. And maybe He saw in it, a faint reflection of what He was about to do.

Unpredictable worshippers understand that worship is not a measured response built to exacting specifications. It is the cry of a heart of love to a God whose worth cannot be measured. Unpredictable worshippers are listening worshippers, listening to the Holy Spirit for what He has planned for each song, each service, each encounter and each life. And they are ready worshippers, ready to follow His lead regardless of the cost or sacrifice it requires. They realize that the call may be something they never would have expected - and yet they go ahead. After all, the love they have been shown and the love they seek to show demand nothing less.

Scripture Study

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Oftentimes life´s most moving moments come from the unpredictable gifts of love we receive from those around us. Perhaps it´s a gift from your spouse given ´just because´ they love you or a homemade card from your son or daughter, letting you know how much you mean to him or her. The unpredictable act of love is so powerful because it steps outside of our expectations and catches us off guard. It tells us that the giver is not satisfied with showing his or her love in the úsual ways.´

The Bible tells story after story of men and women who threw caution to the wind and brought offerings in new, exciting and unpredictable ways to God. For them it wasn´t about what was expected. It wasn´t about measuring out love in áppropriate´ amounts. It was about responding to God´s love and glory with a ńew song´ - a lavish and fresh act of worship. Below are a few stories from Scripture that paint a picture of a worship that is truly unpredictable in ways both big and small:

The woman anoints the feet of Jesus Mark 14:1-9Peter jumps out of the boat to pursue Jesus John 21:1-14Two blind men defy the crowd and acknowledge who Jesus is Matthew 20:29-34Moved by the Holy Spirit, Peter gives an unexpected early morning sermon to a gathered crowdActs 2:1-40

Questions for Reflection

1. It may be helpful to, as we did briefly in this chapter, reflect upon the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2. Matt wrote that the church there ´seemed out of love. She is enduring hardship, yet no longer enjoying Jesus.´ Are we still enjoying Jesus? Or have we, over the course of life, forgotten the fire of our spiritual youth? What can we do to rekindle that flame of passionate and unpredictable worship that we once had?

2. The chapter highlights the vital role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the unpredictable worshipper. It is the Holy Spirit that guides our worship, whether it is in song or in life. Are we listening to His voice or have we deadened our ears, assuming that we ´know what he expects´ from our worship?

3. One sign of a worshipping heart is that it´s always looking to bless God with the gifts it has been given. Sometimes, however, even the best of intentions can be twisted into a burden and we can find ourselves feeling pressured to do it all alone. In this chapter, we discussed the fact that when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead our worship, we come to realize that we were never intended to do it alone. Instead, the Holy Spirit leads, enlivens and directs our gifts to be used to their fullest capacity of God´s glory. Take a moment to think about whether worship, in whatever form that may take, has become centered on your own ´striving´ to ´make it happen.´

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Chapter 5 - The Unveiled Worshipper

´Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord´s disciples.´ Acts 9:1

Ýet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.Ácts 9:22

Now any student of the Bible will tell you that the original text wasn´t written with chapters and verses attached. Still, it´s pretty strange to think that the Saul that made a name for himself by breathing out ´murderous threats´ against followers of Christ had begun to, only twenty-one verses later, breathe out the truth of Jesus revealed to humanity. The Jews that Acts mentioned were surely baffled by the wondrous mystery of Jesus´ true identity. But, it wouldn´t be a surprise if they were also baffled by who God had chosen to deliver the message to them?

Saul?

The persecutor had become a preacher. How could something like this happen?

Revelation. Transformation.

Saul had become an unveiled worshipper.

He wasn´t on any leisurely horseback ride that evening as he made his way down the road to Damascus. He was a man with a mission - a mission from the high priest himself. He was on his way to do what he did best - round up Christians.

And then God stepped in.

He came in power and splendor.

Ás he [Saul] neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground´ Acts 9 v 3-4a

He came in an almost plaintive humility. He came in intimacy.

´[He] heard a voice say to him, ´Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?´ Acts 9 v 4

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Saul had watched Stephen die as he cried to heaven. He had built a reputation on the backs of persecuted Christians. He had most certainly heard of this Jesus. But now he had come face to face.

And he would never be the same.

Christianity would never be the same.

He had meant to spend his life snuffing out the body of Christ. Instead, through a moment of intimate and powerful revelation of the person of Jesus, he ended up giving up his own body - his own life - for the name of his Saviour.

Unveiled worshippers are men and women who have themselves ´fallen to the ground´ when faced with the glory of God. Still, as they listen to the whirlwind of power, they can hear the sweet whispers of love and intimacy. They have seen the love of the cross and the power of the empty tomb. And, born from that life of worship, unveiled worshippers become, quite simply, different. Rooted in their Lord, they shine with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self control. They shine forth with the humble and powerful grace they have seen for themselves.

Scripture Review

God is the same yesterday, today and forever. And still, He is a God of change. Scripture tells the story of the great unveiling of God´s plan for humanity. On a much smaller scale, the Bible is full of the smaller changes, the changes that happen one life at a time. These are often the story of unveiled worshippers: those who encounter God´s love and power and emerge as new creations.

Acts 9:1-22 Saul meets Christ and is never the sameLuke 2:8-20 Simple shepherds become bold evangelists when they come face to face with the announcement of the promised Messiah2 Cor. 3 Paul describes the difference between the únveiling´ of our worship that takes place because of the message of Christ


1. This chapter discusses the two sides of the unveiled worshipper: revelation and transformation. Second Corinthians 3:18 talks about the fact that, when faced with God´s glory, we are being transformed into Christ´s likeness. Perhaps it´s time to ask ourselves, are we still being transformed? Are we increasing in our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? (Galatians 5:22-23) If not, what does that say about our need to possibly ´re-encounter´ God?2. Bowing is a posture of the body and of the heart. The unveiled worshipper is warmed by God´s intimacy, but, at the same time, overwhelmed by His glory. Simply put: when was the last time you were bowled over by God? It is important to recognize that these encounters are many times God-initiated and that we can´t ´live

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on the mountaintop,´ but are we missing the opening of heaven and a glimpse of God´s grandeur in the songs that we sing, the Scripture that we read, the nature that surrounds us and the relationships in our lives? Reflect upon whether or not it´s time to at least pray that God would overwhelm you again.3. The unveiled worshipper is, in many ways, a missionary worshipper. He or she has encountered God and the subsequent transformation is, like Moses´ radiating face, visible for all to see. Is our worship missionary in this way? Do we let the light of God, shining brightly upon us in worship, reflect to those around us? Do we ever get caught up in the way in which worship makes us feel that we forget that we are meant to spread the overflowing presence of God that He showers on us?4. Quoting Revelation 3:20, Matt goes a bit deeper and describes the intimate nature of the Greek word deipnon or eat. He writes that this meal was ńot a hurried event . . . Jesus is saying in effect, ´Let me deeper into your life. I want to come and eat with you, to be close to you. I am not calling you just to be a waiter at the table, serving Me as I eat. I´m calling you to sit down with Me and for us to eat together.´´ Has our worship become hurried? Are we afraid to allow the words that we sing to go deep into our soul? Are we more comfortable with a ´drive through´ encounter with God than we are with the ´deipnon´ he is asking for? Is it time to ask God for the strength, patience, and discipline to sit, worship, wait and listen?


Chapter 6 - The Unstoppable Worshipper

The three of them would have been easy to spot.

A crowd of thousands.

The music plays.

´Who´s that over in the distance?´ ´Those three are not still standing are they?´ ´Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego!´ ´What are they doing?´

They had ruined King Nebuchadnezzar´s party by not playing by the rules. And the rules were pretty simple: When the music plays, you fall down and worship my new ninety-foot high golden statue. If you´re still standing, we burn you alive.

Scripture paints a powerful portrait of their defiance. But what don´t we see? Standing alone, surrounded by a sea of bowed worshippers, their minds must have

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been racing.

What about my life´s work? My reputation? After all, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego weren´t wide-eyed idealistic twenty one year olds. These men had spent their life building a career in public office - placed there by Nebuchadnezzar himself.

And what about my life itself? What kind of pain awaits a man being burned alive?

And still they stood.

Unstoppable.

A name disgraced? A torturous death?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would worship only One.

The story crescendos with God´s amazing act of miraculous deliverance in the fiery furnace. But their speech, midway through Daniel Chapter 3, to a furious king makes it clear that these men were ready to pay any price for the name of God.

Íf we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.´

Even if. This is the song of the Unstoppable Worshipper.Even if I am persecuted.Even if I am laughed at.Even if I am abandoned.Even if God doesn´t deliver me.Even if I am killed.Even if.

I will not stop worshipping my God.

Scripture Review

Throughout Scripture, God places trust in the unlikeliest of people. Emboldened by the Holy Spirit and by their passion for their Lord, these óutsiders´ refuse to be stopped by what is éxpected of them.´ They cannot help but speak the truth, defend the honor, and declare the Glory of God. Below are a few examples of men and women in the Old and New Testament that defied the éxpectations´ placed on them and would not stop in their quest of the Lord´s renown.

I Samuel 17 David, a boy not able to fit into armor, fights and kills the mightiest Philistine warrior

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Luke 2:8-20 Shepherds, whose testimony wasn´t even admissible in court, are among the first to be trusted with the Good News of Christ´s birthJohn 20:10-18 Jesus appears for the first time after his resurrection to Mary Magdalene, who, as a woman, and like the shepherds above, did not have the social status to even testify in a court caseExodus 3 God nominates Moses, a former prince suspected of murder with a speech impediment who has spent the last several years as a shepherd in the wilderness, to go to Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites


1. Each chapter of The Unquenchable Worshipper makes it clear that worship is something that happens both inside and outside of the church. However, it seems that this chapter on ´The Unstoppable Worshipper´ is particularly emphatic in that regard. Matt writes that, Í´ve always found it very easy to lift up Jesus in the context of the church but very hard to find opportunities - and take them - outside.´ Take a moment to reflect on how you are doing lately at that very aspect of your worship - lifting up the name of Jesus in your life outside of the church.2. We read about Paul´s audacious prayer for continued boldness to speak about God. Considering your answer to the question above and Paul´s own desire to ´fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel (Ephesians 6:19),´ could it be time to pray for a more emboldened worship?3. Matt makes a striking comment when he writes- Únstoppable worshippers are adventurous hearts, taking every opportunity to demonstrate the Good News of God to this world [emphasis mine].´ Unstoppable Worshippers are adventurous because nothing is too much and no risk is too big to take to share, speak and sing of God and His Goodness. Being an Unstoppable Worshipper is to be a man or woman of unbridled freedom in Christ. Is the spirit of adventure gone from your worship? Could you be too concerned with the cost of worship that you have become ´stopped up?´4. Matt dove a bit into the story of David and Goliath. David was not stopped from worshipping his God by what people said about him. He was small. He was only a boy. He was the youngest of his brothers. All of these things were true. Still, he did not let those labels define him. He recognized the call to step forward and fight for the name of the Lord. Take a moment and ask yourself if there is any way that you have defined yourself or any way in which others have defined you that has stopped you from fulfilling the call God has for your worship of Him. Ask God to help you begin the process of ´re-identifying´ yourself with the way in which He sees you.


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Chapter 7 - The Unnoticed Worshipper

Matthew 14 describes a day that is about as far from ńormal´ as you could imagine.

But then again, this is Jesus we´re talking about.

He begins the day by learning about the gruesome execution of his cousin John the Baptist. Trying to escape to mourn the loss, Jesus gets sidetracked by thousands of desperate men, women and children - all wanting to see and be touched by this Man they had heard so much about. He ends up spending hours - into the early evening - healing and performing miracles for the gathered crowd. When the disciples begin to get nervous about the lack of dining options for the masses of people, Jesus takes it upon Himself to cater the entire event, multiplying fives loaves and two fishes to feed all of the thousands of individuals gathered. It is later that very evening when the disciples, undoubtedly still chattering on about the events that had taken place earlier in the day, saw a solitary figure approaching them. Not too strange - until you realize that they were in a boat and the person approaching them was not! It was Jesus, walking on the very sea itself.

Mourning a tragic loss. Healing thousands. Making the ímpossible´ possible.Defying the laws of nature.

And we think our schedule is packed!

And still, if you´re not careful, you may miss v. 22 and 23.

Ímmediately, He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while he sent the crowds away. After he sent the crowds away, He went up to a mountain by Himself to pray, and when it was evening, He was there alone.´

Somewhere between taking a meal for two and turning it into a meal for thousands and taking a stroll on a tumultuous sea, Jesus stopped to pray. And He did it alone. Actually, it´s pretty clear that Matthew wants us to know a couple of things. He mentions twice that Jesus sent the crowds away and again repeats himself by telling us twice that Jesus was alone as He prayed.

Word travels fast in a crowd, and by the time the last bit of fish and last hunk of bread was handed out, it wouldn´t be surprising if the entire crowd knew the miraculous recipe Jesus used to create that meal. The air must have been electric.

And he sent them all away.

He stopped it all.

To be alone.

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Or rather, to be alone with His Father.

An Unnoticed Worshipper is one who is willing, even when things are ´going well,´ to step back and check in with God. He or she realizes that the key to ministry is not what goes on amongst the crowds, but what goes on before the King. The Unnoticed Worshipper is relentless in his or her pursuit of the pleasure of only One. He or she knows that the fame, accolades, and praises of humanity pale in comparison to the chance to hear ´well done, good and faithful servant´ and that the wellspring of a ministry that is powerful, honest, and full of integrity is a heart focused on being ´known´ by God alone.

Scripture Review:

One of the tremendous things about having the Bible is that God Himself inspires it. To put a finer point on it, we get a history lesson from God´s own perspective. In so doing, He gives us glimpses into the lives and deeds of all kinds of worship. Some worship, like David´s úndignified dance´ is there for the entire world to see. At other times worship goes unnoticed by most, but remains dear to the heart of the Father.


1. The opening story in this study highlighted a busy Jesus, remembering to simplify His life back down to just Him and His Father, right in the middle of a packed day. One famous Christian quote says something to the effect that Í´m too busy, not to pray.´ Take a moment to reflect on whether or not a busy schedule, even if it is busy with ´God stuff´ has taken your attention away from the Lord.

2. If you are currently serving in your local church, how do you feel when someone else is serving in your place? In this chapter, Matt spoke quite directly to worship leaders and musicians. If you find yourself there, how do you feel when someone else is playing or leading worship? Perhaps you are a speaker or group leader. How do you feel when another person is doing what you do? Regardless of your area of service, are you able to enter in and meet with God, or do you find yourself evaluating what this other person is doing and how you would do it better? Has service of God become more about who´s doing what and how they´re doing it, rather than about God Himself?

3. We live in a performance culture. Almost everything we see around us is geared towards entertaining us and grabbing our attention away from the next guy. There are times, unfortunately, when even the Church, can fall into the trap of putting on a show rather than leading people closer to God. As Matt said, we want to represent God with nothing less than excellence, but things get more difficult when that begins to distract us from seeking His Glory instead of our own. How are you currently involved in the Body of Christ? Perhaps you lead worship. Maybe you speak or lead a

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small group. You may play and instrument or run lighting or sound. Whatever the case, take a few moments and pray about whether or not any echo of performance has crept into your service of God?


Chapter 8 - The Undivided Worshipper

No one would have noticed if he had just ignored the voice he heard that day.

After all, if sounded preposterous.

The old man had been promised a son, and from that son a nation. So many years. So many tears.

And now this? Sacrifice what God has promised? Murder the good that was to come? Kill the hope once and for all? Take the life of his own son?

The Bible doesn´t give us much detail about what Abraham was going through as he spent three days marching through the wilderness to find the place where the sacrifice would take place. Was it agony to see his very own son laughing and eating around the campfire each evening? Was there a moment - were there a thousand moments - when Abraham almost called the whole thing off and headed back home to start this nation he had been promised? Did he despise the setting of the sun each day, knowing that it brought him one day closer to losing - in the worst imaginable way - his son?

The story ends well, with the Lord stopping Abraham at the last moment. Still, any honest reader has to ask: What drives a man to do such a thing?

Obedience.Simple, undivided obedience.

God had spoken. Abraham would act.

What about the promise?God had spoken.What about his wife?God had spoken.What about his future?God had spoken.What about his son?

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God had spoken.

Abraham´s dedication to his Lord would not be divided, even when those questions, those ´distractions´ were good, noble, even Godly. God had spoken and Abraham must obey.

The Undivided Worshipper is a person of simplicity. A person of simple devotion to God. The ringing of a mobile phone. The beeping of a Blackberry. The pain of life´s trials. The agony of sacrifice. None of these - nothing - will deter them from that first commandment: Ánd you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.´ Their love is undivided because they have been washed over by the ultimate expression of a love undivided- God´s own Son, sacrificed on a hjll outside Jerusalem. Óbedient to death. Even death on a cross´. (Phil 2:8). Simple, undivided obedience.

Scripture Review

They may not have had mobile phones, the internet, or hi-definition television, but the men and women of Scripture faced the distractions common to all humanity. What does the Bible tell us about real people coming into contact with the choice of whether or not to answer the calls for mediocrity and distraction? Below are several passages that you can read as an individual or as a group. Consider and pray about the new ways in which God may want to speak to you through even the most familiar of passages:

Matthew 21:12-17In light of your reading in this chapter of Unquenchable Worshipper, reread this story of Christ´s own undivided passion for pure worship of His Father.

Psalm 86This is a Psalm of petition in a time of great need. Yet what does David pray for in this time of pressure in verse 11?

John 19Read this passage with an eye towards the undivided heart that drove Jesus to endure the humiliation, suffering, injustice, and pain.


1. The well-known Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard wrote ´purity of heart is to will one thing.´ That is, in many ways, an excellent description of an Undivided Worshipper. ´To will´ something shows an act of volition. With so much clamoring for our attention these days, are we being proactive about being undivided? Are we actively seeking out the opportunity to sit at the feet of Christ?

2. This chapter discussed the temptation to be distracted and divided by ´busyness.´ It is undoubtedly difficult to avoid the potential distractions created by things like

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riches, fame, lust, and power. However, it may be even easier to fall prey to the lures of being busy - especially when we busy ourselves with ´good things.´ Prayerfully consider how you approach the balance between activity and adoration. Is there any ways in which God is calling you to change?

3. In times of suffering and stress, we can often find ourselves looking elsewhere for the resources and answers we need. We can become divided. Psalm 86 is a helpful reminder of praying for an undivided heart. Take a moment and reflect upon whether or not your focus on being undivided stays strong regardless of the circumstances that you may encounter.


Chapter 9 - The Unsatisfied Worshipper

Passover week had not worked out the way the disciples had imagined it would. It was supposed to be a coronation of a king, the initiation of the Kingdom of God. Israel would be restored.

And then Jesus was crucified. And then he was buried.

It was over. Hope was lost.

And then . . . three days . . . there he was.

Again.

Holes in his hands and a gaping wound at his side. But there he was still. Alive.

Talking. Laughing. Eating.

Alive again.

So who could blame the disciples for springing the question on Jesus?

So when they met together, they asked him, ´Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?´

He said to them: Ít is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends

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of the earth.´

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ´Men of Galilee,´ they said, ´why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.´(Acts 1 v 6-11)

We read Jesus´ answer to the disciples with a bit of distance now. Two thousand years to be exact. The expectation of Passover week, the pain of Calvary, the joy of the Resurrection must have been all wrapped up in their question-

´Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?´

The distance may mask a bit of the emotion that was carried in their question that day. But we know something of how they must have felt. For we feel it as well.

We know that His work is not finished.

We know that we have yet to see Him in his His fullness.

We know that the world is not yet as it should be - that things are not yet set right.

We are left unsatisfied - pushing for more.

We, along with the disciples, ask

´Lord, is it the time?´

And the Lord´s response?

´The details are up to the Father. Wait for the Holy Spirit and then go.´

And so, unsatisfied, we move forward, worshipping.

Never resting in our knowledge of Him, but pushing to see Him more fully in this life.

Never accepting that the love of God´s Kingdom cannot change the injustice and pain in our world.

And always trusting in Saint Paul´s encouraging words

Ńow we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror- then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.´ I Corinthians 13 v 12

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Scripture Review

In Revelation, the story of Scripture is finally satisfied. The Lord returns and Creation is reborn - united with the Creator in perfect love and peace. The passages below highlight that story - a story of desiring more of God and acting to bring His Kingdom to earth.

Romans 8v18-25Humanity and all of creation crying out to be satisfiedMatthew 6v9-13Jesus, asked how we should pray, responds with a prayer not to wait for the Kingdom of God, but to bring it to earth2 Corinthians 5v1-10Paul offers a wonderful picture of our unsatisfied separation from knowing God as fully as we will once we meet Him face to face and our desire to ´please him´ regardless of whether we are ´home´ or áway´


1. In this chapter Matt writes of the Unsatisfied Worshipper´s desire to know more of God - to push beyond what he or she know of Him now. Take a moment to reflect upon your own desire to know more of God. In any relationship, an individual can grow used to the idea that he or she knows someone else énough.´ That is often the time when things grow stale. Is there a possibility that you have grown used to what you know about God and have lost the desire to see more of Him revealed to you? Have you become satisfied?2. Throughout the Unquenchable Worshipper we have read about the intimate connection between worship and action. Here again, we have seen that the Unsatisfied Worshipper is one that is not only unsatisfied in his or her pursuit of God, but in his or her pursuit of seeing His Kingdom come here among us. In a culture that is full of news of devastation and pain 24 hours a day, we can grow deadened to the suffering and injustice all around us. Consider your own sense of ´holy unsatisfaction´ with the current state of affairs in your own neighborhood, nation and world.3. The Unsatisfied Worshipper is aware that he or she is broken -´healed in part, yet still so fragile.´ This realization calls us back to dependence on God who has ´brought us safe this far.´ Though still broken, he or she looks back on what God has done this far and draws upon His faithfulness for strength to persevere. There is a tendency for all Christians to stop pushing ourselves to be fully healed - to feel that we have done enough. While there doesn´t always need to be ´something wrong,´ it is helpful to maintain a healthy sense of being unsatisfied with where we are and to demonstrate a ´longing to be whole.´ Reflect on what God has done to bring you towards wholeness thus far and prayerfully consider what he may still desire to do in your life to bring you closer to him.

Chapter 10 - THE UNQUENCHABLE WORSHIPPER STUDY GUIDE

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SERIES

Chapter 10 - The Unending Worshipper

The possibility of death seems to sharpen a person´s priorities, values, and perceptions.When time is short, ´the unimportant´ begins to fade.What really matters?What does it all mean?

And there sat Paul.

In prison. Alone. Rumors of his own execution swirling, if not amongst the guards that watched him twenty-four hours a day, then, at the very least, in his own mind.

With death a very real possibility, he ponders a question that lingers in the back of our minds-

What does it mean to live?What does it mean to die?

These are the ´big questions´ that we bury underneath grocery lists, car repairs and office deadlines. These are the questions that we never stop - or avoid stopping - to ask.

Paul´s answer?

To live? Christ.To die? Gain.

Paul, in two short phrases, sums up what it means to live this kind of ín-between existence´ we call Christianity. We are to live in eager expectation of our heavenly inheritance (Philippians 3 v 20-21) while, at the same time, being firmly fixed on ensuring that Ýour Kingdom comes, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.´ (Matthew 6 v10)

If Paul is released He will continue to live ín Christ,´ not stopping for a moment his life of worship through obedience, intimacy, adoration, and proclamation. To live is Christ.

If Paul is executed He will ´see face to face´ and ´know fully´ (I Corinthians 13 v 12) the presence of Christ. Faced with the unspeakable Glory of God, Paul will forever sing and exist to praise Him. To die is gain.

And there is the Unending Worshipper. Like Paul, they understand that worship does

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not end.

It does not end when the guitar is silent.It does not end when you are away from Church.It does not end when life deals you a crushing blow.It does not end when this life itself ends.It never ends.

Worship is the constant for Christians because, whether in this life or the next, we are never outside of the Presence of God. And it is that very Presence - the love it brings and the awe it inspires - that demands to be praised.

Scripture Review

Being an Unending Worshipper is, in large part, about realizing that worship is our natural, God-given response to the fact that God is evident in Creation and in our daily lives as a foreshadowing of the amazing power of His Presence we will know when we pass from this life to the next. The passages below will hopefully help you to focus on some of these aspects of being an Unending Worshipper.

Philippians 3 v 20-21; Hebrews 11 v 13; 1 Peter 2v 11 These passages and others highlight remind us of the fact that we are not here long term and that our actual citizenship and authority rests in Heaven.

Matthew 6 v 9-13; Matthew 5 v 1-12 The Beatitudes and the Lord´s Prayer are two central passages that highlight the reign of Christ and the Presence of God here in this life.Christ calls us to live and pray with a distinctly horizontal as well as vertical orientation.

Questions to Consider1. In this chapter, Matt discusses the dual recognition or focus on our earthly relationship with God as well as our eventual eternal relationship with Him when this life comes to a close. Scripture portrays both of these concepts as important: the ´here and now´ and the ´then and there.´ Consider for a moment how you interact with these ideas. Are there any ways in which you have leaned on one side of the equation too heavily - perhaps to the exclusion of the other? 2. Once we are in Heaven, we will be so enraptured with God´s presence that we will not be able to help but praise. However, in this life, we are oftentimes easily distracted and can tend to compartmentalize our worship so that it starts and ends at certain times and with certain conditions. I worship here, but not here. I worship in front of him, but not in front of her. As much as is possible in this life, is your worship of God unending? Are you doing all that you can do to ensure that the way in which you live your life echoes the passion and perfection we will find in Heaven?3. This is the final chapter in The Unquenchable Worshipper. Take a few moments, or even a few days, to contemplate the different types of worshippers that Matt has highlighted throughout the book. Scan through the book. Reread a few passages if necessary. Ask God to highlight what He may be saying to you about your worship of

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Him. Ask Him to remind you of any lessons that may have been important along the way.

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the UNQUENCHABLE WORSHIPPER STUDY GUIDE SERIES