David Holwick D
First Baptist Church
West Lafayette, Ohio
January 22, 1989
1 Corinthians 14:26-33
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I. State of worship today.
A. Big focus among church leaders and members.
1) Dismal outlook.
B. Problems:
1) Boring, repetitive services.
a) Too much structure.
b) No structure at all.
2) Meaningless sermons over the head, impractical.
3) Entertainment emphasis.
a) Gibber-gabber of wagging tongues.
II. What is worship, anyway?
A. Basic biblical foundation -
1) Service to God.
a) Slave or hired servant.
1> Serve God in life.
2> Do what He wants you to do.
B. Focus is on God, not man.
1) Center of OT and NT worship is what God has done.
a) OT - animal sacrifices.
b) NT - crucifixion of JESUS.
2) Useful sermon, and entertaining music, can be off mark.
a) Emotions are important, but not foundation.
1> Error of liberalism - man-centered worship.
b) In OT God commanded worship.
1> They did not want to do it.
3) Best: our emotions lead us to God.
a) OT dedication of Temple.
1> Awe-inspiring.
2> Sorrowful (sins).
3> Joyful.
b) Emotional because God was there.
III. Killers of worship.
A. Idolatry. Focus on wrong God.
1) Carved figures?
2) More likely, competitive versions of Jesus.
a) Prosperity and health.
b) Correct doctrine is necessary for valid worship.
B. Watching, not doing.
1) Worship is something you must participate in.
a) Dead-end of entertainment (watch from side-line.)
b) Example from 1 Cor 14.
1> Some have song.
2> Some have message.
3> Some have word of encouragement.
4> Everyone has something.
A> My experiences in Bensheim church in Germany.
Ultra-Charismatic.
2) Pastors are motivators, not monopolizers.
C. Formalism: Focusing on format, getting bogged down in detail.
1) Ritual.
a) Everyone has rituals.
1> Not just Catholics, Methodists.
2> Bible examples: Sacrifices, Passover, prayer.
3> Sermons, Communion, even announcements are ritual.
b) Rituals are important.
1> They give stability.
2> They focus our thoughts.
c) But rituals can easily become meaningless.
1> Great danger - formalism. Empty ritual.
A> Flip through book, recite prayers.
1 Sam 15:22 - "To obey is better than sacrifice."
D. Disorder.
1) Spirit.
a) Needed to keep rituals from becoming dead.
1> Jesus' command - worship in spirit and truth.
2> Gives life to worship.
A> Comes from God.
B> Is felt in our hearts - "heart religion."
b) But without restraints it leads to disorder, confusion.
1> Condemned in Bible. 1 Cor 14
2) Despite dangers, Spirit is key.
a) Center of ritual (Temple) was destroyed, but worship
went on.
b) Don't quench Spirit.
E. Sin among members.
1) OT - sin in only one person can shut off God from group.
a) Don't deceive yourself - others may know.
b) Sin will also harden your heart, make you cold.
1> Jesus - pure in heart will see God.
2) Don't make confession a mechanical ritual.
a) Practice it before coming to church.
F. Lack of love.
1) Lack of bad practices does not guarantee good ones.
2) Active love is needed among believers, or we are not
worshipping God.
a) Jesus - true sign that you are my disciples.
1> Build people up.
2> Don't tear them down.
IV. Necessities of worship:
A. Confession to God.
1) Confess need for forgiveness.
a) Realize we need God.
b) Realize we don't measure up to Him.
2) Confess what God has done for us.
a) Thanks for His work in our lives.
3) Confess God's claim on our life.
a) What we should do for him.
B. Expression of confession:
1) Prayer.
2) Praise.
a) Prayer
b) Song-Praise Eph 5:19, Col 3:16
c) Sharing
3) Sermon
4) Communion
V. Effects of worship.
A. Visions of God (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Paul).
1) Sense closeness of God in life.
B. Power from God (building shakes in early church).
C. Results from God (people go out and do things).
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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