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This sermon – Our Place of Worship – was originally preached 2014.03.09 by Sam Troyer.
Hebrews 12:18-29
How do you view worship? To many of us worship is a Sunday morning in church. We come together and sing songs and pray together.
To some of us we worship when we are listening to music.
For some of us worship happens when we walk through the woods.
Worship is loving God! This is the essence of worship.
Mark 12:30
Worship is a very personal response to God. Allowing him to satisfy us as we worship him.
Not everyone worships the same way.
Abraham built altars. Everywhere he went he built an altar. He was religious in his outlook.
In the New Testament we read of Mary who worshiped by sitting at Jesus feet and listening. Martha, her sister worshiped by serving.
The early church met together and worshipped corporately.
John 4:19-24
How do you express your love for God?
Sensory Worship – Loving God with our Senses
The creation and the great outdoors are God’s cathedral.
Psalm 19:1-6
In the garden Adam and Eve learned to know God in the setting of nature. Jesus often taught in a natural setting. He also used a the natural world to make points.
Being in creation in and of itself is not worship. We don’t worship creation, but it can be an avenue of worship, a place of worship. As we humble ourselves before God and we see more of who God is, we worship him there.
Music is another sensory way we can worship God. Good music stirs us. It should be the kind of music that draws us towards God.
Traditional Worship – Loving God using ritual and symbols
We do a lot of worship very much based on tradition. There is nothing wrong with traditional worship.
Jesus instituted the communion service for us. It is one way that we worship. It helps us remember his shed blood and his body.
In order for traditional actions of worship to be real worship, we must be worshiping in our hearts. If our heart isn’t in it, it is not worship.
Intellectual Worship – Loving God with our Minds
When you are listening to the word being taught, one of the ways you can show that you are worshipping, you can say “Amen”. It is an indication that you are actually worshipping. Don’t be afraid of doing this.
Contemplative Worship
We get so busy that we forget to worship God in contemplation. To sit quietly before God and allow him to satisfy us.
Psalm 63:1-6
Sit quietly and give your love to God. God loves us each so much and desires to meet with us, he is pleased when we sit before him in Worship.
Sacrificial Worship – Loving God by loving others
One of the most profound ways that we can love God is to love others. Love comes from God, everyone who knows God should love.
Romans 12:1
Enthusiastic Worship – Loving God with Celebration
Luke 19:37
There is room in our worship for celebration. This is for sure what we will be doing in heaven. John talks about this in Revelation.
Revelation 7
We can be too subdued in our worship. Worshiping God is a joy! We love him with all of our being, our joy and rejoicing should be in God’s presence.
Love God in your worship experience. If we are just going through the motions we are not worshiping God.
Let’s worship God, he is honored and he is blessed.