Means of Grace: The Word - Sung - “Worship”
Defining Worship
“‘worship’ means ‘to attribute worth’” Peterson, David G.. Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship
We are all worshipers…regardless of your belief system (or lack thereof).
Mirror of Erised (which is basically the “mirror of desire”) from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
It doesn’t show your appearance—it shows “the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts.” That which we attribute worth to. Our deepest desires reveals both what we love…and what might quietly control us…ie - what we live for.
Harry Potter looks in and sees his parents and extended family—because he grew up without them.
Ron Weasley sees himself standing out above his brothers—successful, admired, accomplished.
Dumbledore warns that people have become obsessed with what’s in the mirror—staring at what they long for instead of living in reality.
What do we call this biblically? Our idol. Idolatry.
The motivated college student who wants to get into Med school
The ambitious young athlete
The young gal who longs to be pursued by a guy…but is often ignored.
The person who grew up poor and is determined to get to a place where they never need to worry about money again.
Ironic how many ‘christians’ become a believer because they want God to bring them what they truly worship (money, family, success, pleasure, peace, etc.). Are these things anywhere promised in Scripture?
Now, given our definition, “to attribute worth,” is it fair to say this is a Sunday morning thing alone? No.
Worship in the New Testament is a comprehensive category describing the Christian’s total existence… Consequently, ‘our traditional understanding of worship as restricted to the… gathering of the congregation at a designated time and place for rite and proclamation will no longer do. This is not what the New Testament means by worship.’ Peterson, David G.
Rom 12:1-2 - 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. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
1 Cor 10:31 - So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Col 3:17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him
Summary, we worship that which we attribute the highest worth/value to. As Christians, we should value God and His will for our lives above everything else. We worship as we live our lives in a way to glorify God in all of our endeavors/pursuits.
Worship as a means of Grace
While all of life should be seen as worship…now we’re going to transition and call the gathering on Sunday morning and specifically singing God’s truth as found in His word a means of grace.
Is something special and unique happening with the gathered body? Yes!
Review…means of grace - the delivery systems God has instituted to bring grace—that is, spiritual power, spiritual change, spiritual help, spiritual fortitude, spiritual blessings—to needy souls on the earth
Early Christian Hymns: Col 1, Phil 2 - Direct exaltation of God/Christ
This brings spiritual power…we’ll flesh this out more in a minute
Also…
Heb 3:12-13 - Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Elaborate how sin can deceive us to valuing and glorifying created things above God.
Heb 10:24-25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
While this should be a daily practice, we follow the example of the early church by making it ‘at the very least’ a weekly practice.
Question: What are the one-another commands in the above verses?
exhort one another?
Stir up one another?
Encouraging one another.
Let them answer.
Here’s a couple of passages that shed light on other ways we can do this.
Col 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Eph 5:18-20 - And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Can you think of any worship songs that exemplify this teaching and admonishing phenomenon? Bringing…spiritual power, spiritual change, spiritual help, spiritual fortitude, spiritual blessing
Here’s a couple I thought of:
Think through a biblical basis for these lyrics…
Song by Matt Papa, Matt Boswell
What love could remember, no wrongs we have done
Omniscient all-knowing, He counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea, without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more (praise the Lord)
What patience would wait as we constantly roam
What Father so tender is calling us home
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Today we’re singing…
Song by Cody Carnes, Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore
Christ is my firm foundation
The Rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaking
I've never been more glad
That I put my faith in Jesus
'Cause He's never let me down
He's faithful through generations (yeah)
So why would He fail now?
He won't (no, He won't, no, He won't)
And I've still got joy in chaos
I've got peace that makes no sense
And I won't be going under
I'm not held by my own strength
'Cause I build my life on Jesus
He's never let me down
He's faithful through every season
So why would He fail now? (Shout it out)
He won't (ay)
From the Psalms, which is the hymnbook for the believing community in Israel we can deduce some things:
Singing and teaching are connected
“Many of our church members learned their theology from the things that they sing rather than the sermons they hear.” Carl Truman
Songs are theology carried into memory
Singing rehearses the gospel
Singing forms identity
Singing unites truth and affection
John 4:23-24 - 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.”
Worship must be vital and real in the heart, and worship must rest on a true perception of God. There must be spirit and there must be truth. Worshiping in spirit is the opposite of worshiping in merely external ways. It is the opposite of empty formalism and traditionalism. Worshiping in truth is the opposite of worship based on an inadequate view of God. Worship must have heart and head. Worship must engage emotions and thought. Truth without emotion produces dead orthodoxy. On the other hand, emotion without truth produces empty frenzy and cultivates shallow people who refuse the discipline of rigorous thought.
Self-evaluation
Is worship through singing on Sunday morning effective to bring you
spiritual power, spiritual change, spiritual help, spiritual fortitude, spiritual blessing
What are some obstacles/hindrances to Sun AM worship being a means of grace?
D – Distracted (mental preoccupation, phones, worries, style preferences)
What are you filling your mind with before Sun AM worship
Social media
News
Stocks
Work
Family issues
Etc.
I – Impenitent (coming unrepentant)
S – Serving-focused (so busy serving that you neglect worship)
Teaching/preaching
C3 Serve
T – Tired (physically or emotionally exhausted)
Staying up too late on Saturday night
R – Ritualistic (mindlessly singing familiar songs)
Stop occasionally to meditate on what you’re singing
Pray and sing intermittently
Ask God to make it real to you
A – Arriving unprepared (little spiritual preparation before Sunday)
Read the scripture ahead of time
Spend time in prayer
Come expecting to meet with God
Sacraments discussed as a means of grace in 4 weeks
C – Consumer mindset (evaluating music style instead of engaging God)
Instruments used not your favorite?
T – Trying to earn merit
We bring our sacrifices and offerings motivated by grace. Come eager to sacrifice
Time
Finances
Pride
1 Sam 24:23 - I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.
Ps 50, Heb 13
Worshippers are asked to admit that they cannot give God anything to satisfy his needs and yet he is to be honoured by every expression of faith, gratitude and obedience. What is required of those who would come into God’s presence is purity of heart and life (e.g. Pss. 15; 24; 119).
Worship: The Feast of Christian Hedonism
The real duty of worship is not the outward duty to say or do the liturgy. It is the inward duty, the command: “Delight yourself in the LORD”! (Psalm 37:4). “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice!” (Psalm 32:11).
The reason this is the real duty of worship is that it honors God, while the empty performance of ritual does not. If I take my wife out for the evening on our anniversary and she asks me, “Why do you do this?” the answer that honors her most is “Because nothing makes me happier tonight than to be with you.”
“It’s my duty” is a dishonor to her.
“It’s my joy” is an honor.
There it is! The feast of Christian Hedonism. How shall we honor God in worship? By saying, “It’s my duty”? Or by saying, “It’s my joy”?