HEAD 1 + Title: The Six Most Important Words about Worship
Text: John 4:23-24
Tracing: Preached January 5, 1992 AM at SDCC.
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HEAD 1 + INTRO
Today my sermon is can be summed up in six words -- the Six Most Important
words in Scripture about Worship: "WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH" Got that?
Repeat it. Now, keep that in your mind as we discover some wonderful insights
from those six words!
As we dig deeper into what God's Word says about Worship, there are two
texts which must remain absolutely central to our study: John 4:23-24 and Romans
12:1-2. They are texts which are often skipped over lightly, but I consider
them to be the most fundamental to our understanding of N.T. worship. We will
wrap up our study of Worship in several weeks with Rom 12. But our focus today
is on John 4:23-24
Give Background. Notice the stress given these six words: 1) this
supercedes all previous systems of worship! 2) God seeks or DEMANDS this type
of worship 3) If you would worship God, IT IS NECESSARY to worship in this way!
HEAD 1 + BODY
HEAD 2 + WORSHIP -- Founded in a physical act
When a word outgrows its roots, it tends to become watered down and
bland -- meaning anything the user wants it to mean, or nothing much at all!
That has happened to the word "WORSHIP"! Two people can use the word in a
conversation together, yet come away with vastly different ideas of what was
said. What does it mean to worship? To explain takes many words and much
time in order to be certain it is understood because it has lost its roots!
Worship can be explained fairly simply if we begin with a look at the words
scripture uses for worship.
When we look at the various words which are translated by our English
word "WORSHIP" we find an interesting fact -- VIRTUALLY EVERY WORD USED TO
DESCRIBE WORSHIP INVOLVED THE PHYSICAL ACT OF BOWING OR PROSTRATING ONESELF
BEFORE GOD!
HEAD 2 + The Problem is that we don't do much bowing these days! We don't
understand its implications or motivations. Yet, if we remove the
implication of physical actions from our concept of worship, we are left with
no framework for understanding it.
HEAD 3 + Sign of thanks to a benefactor. Gen. 24:26,48,52 Abraham's servant having
found Rebekah
HEAD 3 + Form of petition to one in a position to help. Gen. 42:6 43:26,28 Joseph's
brothers, Mt. 8:2 Leper, 9:18 Ruler w/dead daughter
HEAD 3 + Sign of humility before a superior. Josh. 5:13 Captain of the Host. Mt
14:33 disciples in boat after Peter's walk and calming of sea.
HEAD 3 + Request for mercy from one wronged. Gen 33:3,6-7 Jacob's reunion w/ Esau
Num. 22:31 Balaam upon seeing the angel.
HEAD 3 + (Notice also that these things must also be things we are not to do
towards beings other than God!)
HEAD 2 + IN SPIRIT -- Performed on a spiritual plane
Notice the emphasis in our text on LOCATION! If worship is bowing
before God, WHERE SHOULD IT BE DONE? Jerusalem, Mt. Gerizim, a church
building?
Consider Dan. 10:12-13 Daniel and the angel after three weeks!
Elish and 2 Kings 6:8-20 Elisha and servant. They were allowed to glimpse the
spiritual world which had been there all along! We exist in that plane as well,
though we are seldom aware of it.
IT IS HERE THAT WE ARE TO WORSHIP -- in that spiritual realm with that part of
ourselves that exists eternally, our spirit, soul, consciousness, psyche, or
whatever other term you want to use.
HEAD 2 + IN TRUTH -- Performed with sincere motives
People can be remarkably deceptive in matters of religion. They can look
so good on the outside yet be so corrupt on the inside. Jesus called the
hypocrits of His day "white-washed tombs"!
But in true worship, deceit is of no value! If worship is a matter of
external acts done in a set location (whether bowing in a Jewish temple or
taking communion in a Christian church) then we can appear righteous without
a change of the heart. BUT if the heart is what counts, external worship
alone is no worship at all! We can decieve only ourselves -- God sees the
heart!
HEAD 1 + CONCLUSION
WORSHIP -- Bow yourself in humility, repentance, and petition before the
Almighty God!
IN SPIRIT -- Bow not your body but your actual SELF to Him! Let your whole life
show your submission!
AND IN TRUTH -- Don't try to fake it, don't do it half-way, don't hold back
inside. You can only decieve yourself -- God can SEE the heart!
HEAD 1 + COMMENTS
HEAD 1 +
Prepared by Scott L. Purcell
Minister of Stokelan Drive Christian Church
1501 Stokelan Drive
Malden, MO 63863
(314) 276-2343
Reproduce, modify, and use freely
for the glory of God and the Growth of the Kingdom!
If these outlines are of some benefit to you,
a note, postcard, or phone-call would be most welcome!
Index of Preacher's Help and Notes
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