Worship 45

.HEAD 1 + Title: Preparing to Worship
Text: Selected
Tracing: Preached January 19, 1992 AM at SDCC.

.HEAD 1 + INTRO

We have discussed how vitally important worship is, and how it involves our whole lives. Very often the quality of the worship that we offer in our lives is tied to the quality of our Worship Assemblies, for it is largely in our Assemblies that we learn to worship with our lives. Some of what we do in our services is worship in a direct sense — we praise Him, sing of Him, pray to Him. But most of what we do when together is worship in an indirect sense — we learn how to ascribe glory to Him by the way we live our lives. This includes our lessons in Sunday School, sermons, some of our songs, Bible Studies, Scripture readings, Etc. If we stumble at work on a Monday Morning or at play on a Saturday night, perhaps it is because we have looked too lightly upon our Preparation on Sunday Morning. (Not to say that that is all the preparation we should have!)

.HEAD 1 + BODY
.HEAD 2 + Clean the slate
.HEAD 3 + Right Known Wrongs
Matt. 5:23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

.HEAD 3 + Appeal for Forgiveness and Blessing Ps 24:3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

.HEAD 2 + Give Your Best

This is the message in the very first account of worship in scripture. See Gen. 4:3 “In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour.”

Therefore — Give it your best! If possible, be well-rested, composed, put aside distractions (and don’t distract others), and make your time and effort in preparing yourself into an offering before God! Say to Him, “To honor You, I will try today to learn how better to serve You.”

.HEAD 2 + Watch your Attitudes

A Desire to Serve, not to be Served. Come for the glory of God, not for emotional self-gratification. Come to be prepared for service, not to be puffed up with useless knowledge (Obesity occurs on a spiritual level as well! 1Co. 8:1 “Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.”

.HEAD 2 + Plan to Learn (not for knowledge’s sake, but to be equipped!)

Come to church (every time) with a constant eye toward application — What does this mean for me? How do I need to change? What else do I need to know? What else do I need to do?

Do whatever is needed to help you learn: take notes, underline, or listen intently. Write down questions, try to further prove or disprove what is said (perhaps sometime we should have a brief “post-sermon” discussion). Best of all, think, now, of things you should do through the week, based on what you are hearing here.

.HEAD 2 + Plan to Participate

Everyone has something to contribute! Each person has experiences that are unique to him/her that can benefit others. 1Co. 14:26 “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.”

.HEAD 1 + CONCLUSION
There are some whose worship is wasted: .HEAD 2 +
.HEAD 3 + 1) Those who have not been cleansed by the blood of Christ; who have never died to their sin in repentance, been buried with Him and had their sins washed away in baptism, and been raised to walk a brand-new life of commitment to Him. These never really enter His presence!

2) Those who worship outwardly only, failing to honor Him with their obedience in what they already know. Their offerings are rejected and their worship spurned!

.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!