Worship

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BIBLE PASSAGE – Matthew 6.16-24

‘When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

‘The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!‘

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Matthew 6.16-24, NIV

Ever thought about what worship is?

Write down honestly what worship means to you and what you think it means to other people in churches. What does society / the world think about worship, what does it worship? Write down what worshipping God looks like in practice..

What worship means to me:

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What worship means to other people in churches:

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What does the world think worship is? (Not like Christian worship but the word ‘worship’ generally)

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What does the world worship?

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In The Message paraphrase it has a title of, ‘A Life of God-Worship’ for Matthew 6.16-34. This is an awesome summary of the verses. Today we’re only looking at verses 16 through 24 but there’s loads to learn!

WORSHIP

Is described in many places through The Bible –

In Genesis 24:48 Abraham says, “..and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.”

We also learn that God alone is to be worshipped –

Exodus 34:14 – Do not worship any other god, for the LORD , whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 8:19 – If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.

We learn that worship can be learned and taught, that we can grow in worship –

2 Kings 17:28 – So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the LORD.

Worship is / can be with the whole body – an experience –

Nehemiah 8:6 – Ezra praised the LORD , the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 

Nehemiah 9:3 – They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God.

Job 1:20 – At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.

Worship of God is a recognition of who he really is, it’s submission and awe!

Matthew 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him (Jesus), saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Worship is a spiritual, Spirit-filled act –

John 4:23.24 – Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

WRITE DOWN AND DISCUSS

Other references you can find to worship in The Bible, both Old and New Testament

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IN ACTION – FROM MATTHEW 6.16-24 

How do we worship God in practice – how do we grow in our worship?

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(HINT: We fast, pray in private as well as public. We invest in spiritual not physical riches – so invest in God’s Kingdom, other people. We fill our eyes, minds and hearts with God not with dodgy movies, music or bad stuff. We find ourselves empowered by God’s Word. We follow God alone)

What is the result of true worship?

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(HINT: Your whole body will reflect your true worship – your mind, eyes, heart and physical appearance will reflect God in you in a positive way. You receive reward from God for what is done in secret (and in public with the right motivation). You will build up a heavenly blessing. You are on the right side, following the one true Master – God!)

Write down things you can do to worship God more fully

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PRAYER (write your own promises, requests, thanks to God)

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