The Local Church and Worship

Temple Baptist Church - 3-1-2020

Psalms 100:1-4

Introduction:

A.  The Local Church, a called-out assembly of believers.  Again, I want to re-emphasize that I am all for inviting people to church and soul winning.  BUT, the local church is not a “fishing hold” for sinners!  There is no mention of lost people either attending or being saved in the New Testament local church!  Historically, the first local churches were opened to the public around 230 AD, or 200 years after Christ and the establishment of the New Testament church.

B.  Because of biblical ignorance on this subject, local churches are now open to the public and have become like the world so that lost people can come and feel comfortable on its pews.

C.  This morning, I want to look the worship of the local church.  The local church is to be a House of Prayer and the first part of prayer needs to be Worship.  When the disciples requested that our Lord teach them to pray, the first aspect of the Model Prayer was worship:

Luke 11:1-2  And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.  (2)  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Hallowed – First Mention means to set apart as holy.  Exodus 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

D.  Worship is not only an essential aspect of our services, but also a missing one! 

1.  We have a lot of services that are called “Worship Services,” but no or—at the most—very little actual worship.  We use the phrase: “Come worship with us” when there is little or no actual worship taking place. 

2.  We can come to God’s house, pray, read scripture, give of our tithes and offering, sing hymns, sing specials, shake hands, preach, give an invitation, and then leave having never worshipped! 

E.  Before we see what worship is, we need to know what worship is not. 

1.  Worship is not Entertainment!  Churches in modern days have become entertainment centers.  Worldly singers, Contemporary Music, “Christian” comedians, etc. reflect the world around us.

2.  Entertainment is not ritualistic repetition!  Here is the progression that destroys the worship of the Church.  Repetition becomes Routine.  Routine becomes a Rut.   A Rut brings about Rot.  Rot brings about Ruin!  What was dictates what is and what was and is will dictate what will be.

3.  Worship is not quietness!  Worship is individual as well as corporate.  Worship is to be personal, not a “spectator’s sport.”  When vocal praise becomes a scarcity, the “holy hush” leads to deadness.

4.  Worship is not an emotional high!  Some churches operate on an emotional high and think that they have worshipped.  They believe that if they have shouted, run the isles, jumped the pews, spoken in tongues, etc. that they have worshipped.  Too many preachers endeavor to work up emotion instead of feed sheep.

F.  What is worship?  I often use the hyphenated term, “WORTH-SHIP.”  What does God mean to you that causes you to either worship or not to worship this morning?  You may think that you have worshipped because you showed up for Sunday School and Church this morning but that may or may not be the case.  Sitting on a pew is not worship!  Worship is the acknowledgement of Who God is and what God has done for you personally.

G.  Here are some things that will rob the believer and, thus, rob God of worship:

1.  Distraction – Worship Involves Direction - Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

2.  Selfishness - Worship Involves Sacrifice - Genesis 22:5  And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 

3.  Ignorance - Worship Involves Knowledge - Exodus 34:14  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: 

Acts 17:23  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 

4.  Pride - Worship Involves Humility - Joshua 5:14  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

Psalm 95:6  O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.  

5.  God Robbing - Worship Involves Giving - Deuteronomy 26:10  And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God: 

Psalm 96:8  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. 

6.  Phariseeism - Worship Involves Confession – 1 Samuel 15:25  Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. 

Nehemiah 9:3  And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God. 

7.  Irreverence – 2 Kings 17:36  But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice. 

Psalm 89:7  God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. 

8.  Sinfulness - Worship Involves Holiness – 1 Chronicles 16:29  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 99:5  Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. 

Hebrews 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:  

9.  Unfaithfulness - Worship Involves Assembly - Psalm 5:7  But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 

10.  Un-Involvement - Worship Involves Singing - Psalm 100:1-2  Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

11.  Ingratitude - Worship Involves Thanksgiving - Psalm 100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

12.  Formality - Worship Involves Praise - Psalm 100:4  And into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 

13.  False Doctrine - Worship Involves Truth - John 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 

John 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 

Matthew 15:9  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

14.  Apathy - Worship Involves Spirit - John 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 

John 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.