Tag Archive - Worship

Would You Come Back?

April 19, 2012 in Weekly Email with 0 Comments

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 (NIV84)

Would you still come to worship if you knew you would not have a comfy chair? Would you come if you had to sit on a dirt floor? Would you come if you knew there was no heating or air conditioning? Would you come if you knew there was the possibility you might be arrested? Would you come if you knew that you might be physically assaulted? Would you come if you knew it might cost you your life?

Last Sunday we got a small taste of what it might be like to be a persecuted church. We suffered some inconveniences and were made a bit uncomfortable. We knew it was just one Sunday, but what if it was every Sunday? Would you come back?

It made me to think a bit about why we come to worship. Do we come to see our friends? Do we come to hear and to sing the music? Do we come for the message? Or do we come for a greater purpose?

One person shared after worship last weekend that they had never felt more a part of the community than when they were sitting on the floor together with everyone else. There is something about sharing hardship together. It brings us together. It unites us and makes us one. Our gathering together is about the body of Christ. It is not about you or about me as individuals. It is about Jesus and it is about us together (the body of Christ). When one part of the body suffers, all parts suffer together.

When gathering together with the with other believers it is about more than just what you get out of it. Together, we are honoring our Lord and our Savior who gave his life on the cross that we might live. No matter how inconvenienced or uncomfortable we may be made to be, honoring the Savior makes it all worth it. If it honors Jesus then that is where I need to be and that is what I need to do.

I want to say thank you to everyone for playing along last weekend. I would love to hear any feedback that you might have. What did you take away? What did you learn? How were you changed?

The last thing I want to share is that if you want to pray or to write any of the persecuted Christians we prayed for, you can get more information at prisoneralert.com.

The 3rd Commandment

February 27, 2012 in Sermons with 0 Comments

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The 3rd Commandment is “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.” While most of the commandments speak about what God forbids, the 3rd Commandment is about what God calls us to honor and hold sacred. Ulitimately the Sabbath is about more than a day of the week, it points us to Jesus (see Colossians 2:16-17). The reading is from Deuteronomy 5:6-15.

Some thoughts on gratitude

November 23, 2011 in Weekly Email with 0 Comments

Two things to start off today. The first is I want to remind you about a very special time of family worship tonight at Lord of Life at 7pm. It is Thanksgiving Eve and we are gathering as the family of God to give thanks to the one who truly deserves our thanksgiving! Looking forward to seeing you and sharing this opportunity to thank Jesus together.

Second, I want to invite you to join me for a Christmas decorating party on Saturday at 10am. We have a whole bunch of guests who are coming to visit during the Christmas holiday season and it is time to get God’s house ready. We will be putting up the Christmas Trees, hanging the lights, and having some fun while we are at it. It is an easy way to serve and make a difference. If you and/or your family can help out, please let me know.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. It is difficult to be profound when you talk about being thankful. We have all heard that message before. God has given us so much. We are so blessed. Think of all God has given us compared to others. We are guilted into being thankful. But gratitude that comes out of a sense of obligation is not really gratitude. It is sort of like that kid who is told to say he is sorry, but he is not really sorry. He only says he is sorry because his dad told him to say he is sorry. How many of us during Thanksgiving are saying we are thankful because that is what we are supposed to do at thanksgiving?

I wonder if we miss the place of gratitude in our lives. We often envision gratitude as the result of God’s work in our life. But what would happen if we saw gratitude not as the result of God’s work in our life, but as the work of God itself. Gratitude is not the result of the blessings God pours into our lives. Often times the more a person is blessed, the less grateful they become. There are many who have so much less who are so much more grateful than those who have more. Why is that? The reason is because gratitude is not dependent upon blessings received from God. Gratitude is a matter of the heart. If I am not grateful with what I have I will never be grateful for what I don’t have.

Gratitude starts with a recognition of our sinfulness. It starts by realizing we are only beggars before God. It starts with recognizing that God does not owe me anything. Gratitude is inversely proportional to our sense of entitlement. The greater my sense of entitlement the lower my sense of gratitude. The less my sense of entitlement the greater my sense of gratitude. I can expect great things from God, but I realize I don’t deserve great things from God. If you are feeling ungrateful, maybe it is time to do a heart check and ask, “why is it that I deserve more than what God has already given me?”

The last thing I want to say about gratitude is that gratitude is expressed. There is a saying that “if a tree fell in a forest and no one was there to hear it fall, did it make a noise?” In the same way if I don’t express my gratitude, am I really grateful. Don’t assume others know you are grateful. Tell them. Let them know. Tell Jesus you are grateful. As I shared above there is a great opportunity to do that tonight at 7pm. Then tell others how grateful you are. Tell your spouse. Tell your parents. Tell your children. Tell your friends. Tell your boss. Tell your teacher. Tell that person that goes to of their way to be kind and helpful. You never know how your gratitude will serve as a blessing to someone else. They are working so hard and just one expression can make a world of difference that is beyond words.

Daily David, Week 9, Day 5

October 28, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

Our last reading for the week is Psalm 89. This is not a Psalm of David. However, as soon as verse 3 David is put forth as an example of God’s faithfulness. This Psalm is all about God’s faithfulness to us in spite of our lack of faithfulness.

Psalm 89:2 says God’s love stands firm forever. Are there times in the life of David where this does not seem true? How about your own life?

We can count on God’s love all the time. Sometimes God’s love is a tough love. Sometimes it is a tender love. But no matter what type of love it is, his love does not fail. God does not abandon us. Oftentimes the most loving thing for him to do is allow us to stumble so that we might learn to rely upon him and not ourselves.

What does the Psalmist have to hold on to when doubts are raised in his mind about God’s love (89:3-4)? When you experience disappointment, how do you respond?

It is God’s covenant. This is God’s promise written in the Word. When we begin to doubt, we can turn to the Word of God where we are reminded of God’s promises. Another place to turn is the Lord’s Supper. Here we receive Christ’s body and blood given to us. It is the ultimate expression of God’s love. There is no greater gift we could receive. We touch and taste how God loves us in this amazing way. If God loves us so much that he would give his one and only Son to die on the cross for us, how can we ever question his love in any other way.

What will happen if we fail to follow God’s lead (89:30-32)? But what does God still promise (89:33-37)?

They receive discipline. But just because God disciplines someone does not mean he does not love them. In fact discipline is a sign of love. Parents will discipline their children out of love because they want the best for their children. They want them to grow up into responsible adults. Discipline teaches wisdom and that is what God wants for us.

Why do you think it is so easy to doubt God’s promises (89:38-45)?

We often live in the present. We easily forget what God has done I the past for us. We lack faith to look to the future with confidence. All we can see is the circumstances we are currently facing.

We also blame God. We fail to look at ourselves honestly. We boast in pride it is not my fault. We ask God, “God, why did you do this to me?” We fail to recognize it is not about what God did to us, but what we got ourselves into by not listening to the Lord.

What does faith allow us to do when we fail to see God’s goodness (89:52)?

It allows us to worship. We may not see the goodness of God, but we believe in the goodness of God. Our sight and perception will deceive us. We may miss the amazing thing God is working. Faith helps us to trust and know that God is on our side always so that we can always worship him no matter what our circumstance.

Daily David, Week 9, Day 1

October 24, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

This next weekend is Reformation Sunday. The Reformation was all about discovering the grace of God. It is coming to the realization that I am so unworthy of God’s love and salvation. It has nothing to do with what I give or offer to God.

King David was blessed by God. He is described as a man after God’s own heart and yet he was still unworthy of the blessings God poured into his life. This week we focus on the promises of God to David and us. These promises are given not because of our faithfulness, but because of God’s faithfulness. It says in 2 Timothy 2:12, “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful.”

Our reading for today is from 1 Chronicles 16:17-36.

What is the purpose of this Psalm (see 1 Chronicles 16:1-6)?

This song of praise is to celebrate the Ark of the Covenant having been brought to Jerusalem.

What are we called to remember (16:12)? How do we remember today?

We are called to remember what God has done. These are the miracles he has performed and the rulings he has given. Basically, we are to remember God’s past faithfulness.

What does God remember (16:15)? Why is it important for God to remember?

God remembers his promise he has made to his people. He does not forget because he promises to be faithful. If he forgot his promise we would be in big trouble, because we would no longer have God’s provision or salvation.

Who are the ones God seeks to serve, protect, and uplift (16:19-22)?

It is his chosen people. It is those who are few in number. It is those who are marginalized. It is those who are the least of these.

What is the difference between the Lord and the gods of the nations (16:25-26)?

The Lord is the true God. He is the one and only God. God created the heavens and the earth. The other so-called gods were made by the hands of men. The Lord alone has honor and majesty that come from himself.

What is the response of God’s creation to it’s creator (16:28-33)?

He is to be worshiped. It says the creation will shout his praise. Jesus said if his people do not worship him, then the rocks will do it. Everything in creation points to the fact that the Lord is God.

What is a savior (16:35)? What does it take to recognize Jesus as our Savior?

A savior is one who rescues from danger and destruction. It takes for us to recognize that we are sinners in danger of destruction for us to recognize Jesus as our savior. Unless we recognize we need to be saved, we will fail to grasp our need for Jesus. Unfortunately, many of us think we have the ability to save ourselves. But this is a great deception of the evil one.

Worshipping When You Don’t Feel Like Worshipping

October 12, 2011 in Weekly Email with 0 Comments

There are times when life is so hard. You feel down and depressed. You are overwhelmed and frustrated. There is not much happening that makes you very happy. All you can see is the bad. You don’t feel much like thanking God. Sure you recognize a few blessings here and there. You try to think good thoughts. You try to look at the bright side. You want to see the cup half full. This human effort to make yourself feel better works for a short time, but eventually you end up back in the same place. Reality hits you in the face and you find yourself imagining that dark future.

It is like aprison you cannot escape. If you have ever seen the movie Groundhog Day, you feel like Bill Murray living the same day over and over. You want so desperately for things to change. Things to get better. You want something you can celebrate, but all you find is another dead end. It is the same story lived over and over.

You long to go to that place you can escape these frustrations. You try to distract yourself with television or the internet. You try to numb your mind with alcohol, drugs, or sexual promiscuity. But none of that does much good. Your problems are still there. Nothing has made them go away. The things you have tried have only compounded the burden you bear.

You open up your Bible. You try to loose yourself in the Scripture. But your mind is spinning so fast. You are so distracted and off somewhere else. The Word may be present before you, but you are not present in the Word.

Then you are told, “worship the Lord.” You think to yourself, “I don’t feel much like worshipping the Lord or anything.” Your heart is so heavy. You feel your life is collapsing around you. You feel you sinking more and more into a pit you cannot climb out of. Worship? Are you serious?

Yep! Worship! Sing! Praise him! Your heart may not be into it, but that doesn’t matter. Keep singing a song of praise to God.

How great is our God!
Great is his faithfulness! True are his promises! Blessed be his name! Amazing Grace! Hallelujah!

Even though you may not feel very confident in this moment, speak confidence unto the Lord. Give it voice. Make it know that the Lord is on your side. Tell your despair of how nothing in all creation can separate you from his love.

You might think to yourself, “what good is that going to do? It seems like foolishness.” You might feel like a hypocrite. You have these feelings of despair in your heart and at the same time you are praising God for his victory and triumph over your burdens. It does not make sense.

As we have studied the life of David we learn he was a passionate worshipper of the Lord. Yet, there are many times David was not in a good place. He was on the run from Saul. He was deserted by many of his so-called friends. There were times when his family was in turmoil. His own son, Absalom, tried to murder him. Many of the Psalms express David’s despair and sense of hopelessness.

In Psalm 22 David cries out, “my God, my God, why have you foresaken me.” These words would later be echoed by Jesus on the cross. In so many ways this is a depressing Psalm. But we find hope in verse 3. Psalm 22:3 says, “God is enthroned on the praises of Isreal.” Essentially what this means is that when you are worshipping and praising God, that God is present in the words that are said and sung. You may not feel like reading your Bible. You may not feel like praying. Then just start singing! God’s presence will come upon you. His presence will displace the doubt, the fear, the despair, the frustration, and the anxiety. God is your healer. If you’ve got nothing else, then start signing.

There is a story in the book of Acts (16:16-40) where Paul and Silas find themselves in prison. If there was anyone who ever had a right to a pity party it would be Paul in this moment. There is no hope. Both he and Silas had been severly beaten and whipped. Surely they were suffering from an intense physical and emotional pain. But of all the things they did, it says, “Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners where listening to them.” (16:25) In the very next verse the hand of God moved. An earthquake shakes the prison and prison doors flung wide open. Their entire circumstance was changed in a moment in such a miraculous way.

So what do you say? Let’s start singing. Let’s raise the roof. Let’s watch what God will do and free you from your prison. Believe, he is the Lord! He is able!

I Will Be Even More Undignified than This

October 10, 2011 in Sermons with 0 Comments

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David is known as a warrior, a king, a shepherd, and more. He was successful in almost everything he did. But of all the things David was known for, there might have been nothing more significant than the fact that he was a passionate worshipper of the Lord. And maybe the reason he was so successful in so many areas of his life was for this very reason. It all started with worship. David had his priorities straight.

In this message we look at David’s heart of worship and how that heart of worship might be cultivated in us. Our reading for today is from 2 Samuel 6:12-23.

Daily David, Week 6, Day 4

October 6, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

Today’s reading is [Psalm 148-150]. These are three more Psalms which give us insight into David’s heart of worship.

Where are we to praise the Lord? Who and what is to praise the Lord? According to Psalm 148, what was creation created to do?

It says the heavenly beings are to praise him from the heavens. It says we are to praise him on the earth. In other words everything, everywhere is to praise the Lord. Jesus says if we don’t praise the Lord then the rocks will cry out and do what we don’t do.

All things within creation is to point to the creator. They are evidence of the one who gave us life and everything we have.

What type of song are we to sing unto the Lord according to 149:1? What are some of the things we are to use to praise the Lord (149:3)

It says to sing a new song. I love this idea. It is great to sing the old song and God loves the old songs as much as we love the old songs. But he says sing a new song as well. Sing praise for what he is doing in our lives and our generation. Don’t limit the praise of God to the people who have gone before us.

Some of the things we use in worship is dancing and instruments.

Sometimes we become the center of worship. Worship becomes about what we like. According to 149:4-5, who do we seek to please in worship? What should bring us the highest satisfaction in our worship?

It is the Lord who is to be the center of worship. He is the one we seek to delight and please. Our highest satisfaction in worship is when God is happy. We can sing the most inspiring and encouraging song, but if our heart is not committed to the Lord, God is not pleased with our worship.

What is the double edge sword we take in our hands to worship (see Hebrews 4:12)? How does godly worship conquer that which oppresses us?

149:6 says may the praise of God be a double edged sword in their mouths. Hebrews 4:12 refers to the Word of God being a double edged sword. God gives us the Scriptures to use to praise him. When we declare the praise of God in the face of adversity, oppression, depression, despair, and hardship we are declaring the victory of God. To praise God in difficult circumstances will build our faith and our courage to face whatever difficulty is before us.

When we fail to engage in worship we will find ourselves easily overwhelmed by the circumstances of life. People who fail to regularly worship simply have more problems in life that will leave them in despair. When worship is a regular part of your life, it does not mean that you will not have problems. It will just mean that you know that God is bigger than whatever problem you might face. And that problem will not be as big of a deal to you as someone who is not a worshipper of the Lord.

Daily David, Week 6, Day 3

October 5, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

To truly appreciate David’s heart for worship, we need to tun to the Psalms. This was the hymnbook of both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Even Jesus used these songs of David to express his love for his Father. Our reading today is Psalm 145-146

How often does David say he will praise the name of the Lord (145:2)?

David says he will praise the Lord everyday. This is not just Sunday morning, but everyday of the week. He says he will do this forever.

What acts of worship are described in 145:4-7?

  • Tell our children about what God has done.
  • Meditate on God’s majest, splendor, glory, and miracles.
  • Proclaim God’s greatness to others.
  • Sing about the joy that God gives us.

How is the Lord described in 145:8-9?

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, he is slow to anger, and he is good. This is so good to know. God does not need to be this way with us. But this is the choice he makes. How fortunate for us!

What does 145:13-16 say about the Lord’s faithfulness to you? What does that mean in regards to your faithfulness in worship?

The Lord is ALWAYS faithful. He provides us with everything we need. There is nothing we could ever do to repay him for his kindness towards us. Our faithfulness to him comes so far short of his faithfulness to us.

What does it mean to call on the Lord in 145:18?

To call on the Lord is to pray to him. It is to seek him in his Word and in the quiet. It is to place our trust in him above all else. It is to put what he says first before what we think is best or what anyone else might tell us.

What is the implication in 145:21 for when we might use the name of the Lord, but not in praise?

God’s name is to be used in praise. God’s name is the name that is above every name. We should never use the name of the Lord in a careless matter. It is the prayer of the Psalmist that everyone would bless the name of the Lord. Certainly there are many in this world who do not bless the name of the Lord, but use the name of the Lord as a curse. If everyone on earth is to bless the name of the Lord, it will start with us. Let’s use the name of the Lord in praise and not take his name in vain.

How do you praise the Lord with your soul (146:1)?

In Greek philosophy there is a separation between body and soul, the physical and the spiritual. But this dualism did not exist in the mind of the Psalmist. There is my life and that is it. It is all one. Body and Soul go together in such a way that there is no distinction. So when the text says, “Praise the Lord, O my soul,” the Psalmist is saying I will praise the Lord with my entire life.

Describe some way we put our trust in governments and mortal men (146:3)? What does this Psalm say about their fate (146:4)?

We have a way of putting people and institutions on pedestals. We look to governments and celebrities to somehow point us and lead us to the “good life.” But we are placing expectations upon them that they are destined to not live up to. They are not God. And it says their plans come to nothing. They are created beings who will one day die and pass away.

What does the Psalm say about those who trust in the Lord for help (146:5-9)? What does it mean to have our help in the Lord (146:5)?

It says the Lord will provide. He will lift people who trust in him out of their misery and poverty. He will supply freedom and everything they need. He will take them to the place he has promised for them.

To have our help in the Lord means that we are not going to rely upon anyone or anything else to provide us with security. We trust in the Lord recognizing that whatever else we might place our trust in might fail no matter how strong or mighty it might seem. So when these other institutions or people might fail, I will not be distraught because my hope was not in them in the first place.

Living by faith is to take steps of courage even in the face of doubt. God’s ways do not always seem like the right way to do things. It will be different than the ways many people around us do things. But we will have a greater joy with less worry and anxiety when we do things God’s way

Daily David, Week 6, Day 2

October 4, 2011 in David with 0 Comments

We saw in yesterday’s reading how God had blessed David with the ability to play the harp. David was also a passionate worshipper. Sometimes we make worship and music to be synonymous. But worship is more than music. Certainly music is an important par of worship. But music in itself is no substitute for worship.

Today’s reading is 2 Samuel 6. In this story David makes arrangements to have the Ark of the Covenant (not to be confused with Noah’s Ark) brought to Jerusalem. As we will see, this was no small matter.

What was wrong about bringing the ark to Jerusalem on a cart (6:3; see Exodus 25:10-16)? Why did Uzzah die when he touched the ark (6:6-7; see Numbers 4:15)? Why was it then wrong for David to become angry with the Lord (6:8)?

According to the Book of Exodus, the ark was to have wooden poles attached to it. The Levites were then to use these poles to carry the ark. It does not say to carry the ark on a cart. This was not the instruction God gave for carrying the ark.

In Numbers 4, God directs the Levites to carry the sacred articles of the tabernacle. The ark was included among these articles. But there is a warning that the Levites should not touch these articles. They were to use wooden poles to carry these objects. They would slip the wooden poles through rings which had been attached to each article.

It says David became angry for what happened. But what happened is exactly what God said would happen. We are not that different from David. God has given us his Word to guide us. Then we don’t live according to God’s word. We do what we want to do and disregard God’s instructions. Then when things don’t turn out well for us we blame God. It was not God’s fault we did not listen to him. God promises to protect us, but only so far as we live under the umbrella of his authority.

What is done differently in the second attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem (6:13)?

Instead of putting the ark on the cart, David had men to carry the ark. This time they made sure to follow the direction of the Lord.

How did David dance before the Lord (6:14)? What types of sounds were the people making (6:15)?

The text says that David danced with all his might. David gave everything he had. He did not hold anything back. At the same time the people were shouting with joy and blowing the ram’s horn. It must have been a tremendous sight to behold.

Singing and dancing are all a part of worshipping the Lord. We may not be able to sing or dance very well, but when we offer these things to the Lord he makes them beautiful. Many are too embarrassed to sing or to dance for the Lord. They worry about what others might think of them. But David sets a great example for us that it doesn’t matter what others think. All that matters is what the Lord thinks. I may not sing a beautiful song, but I will sing a joyful song, and that will be beautiful to the Lord.

Why do you think Michal despised David so much here (6:16)?

She thought that David should carry himself in a more dignified manner. The manner in which he danced was not fitting for a king.

What does David display in verse 19? How is generosity a part of worship?

David showed generosity to all who were present. Generosity is a huge part of worship because it is the generosity of God which we celebrate. It is appropriate that we ought to respond in generosity ourselves.

What does David mean about becoming more undignified (6:22)? How do we become more undignified for Jesus?

It is a way of saying there is nothing he would not do for the Lord. There is no height nor depth to which David would not go in service to the one who loved him and entrusted him with the throne.

We become more undignified when nothing else matters in our life. It does not matter what anyone says about us or thinks about us other than the Lord we serve. We offer our entire lives in service to his kingdom and there is nothing we hold back. We are willing to step out of our comfort zones and be different than the people who are around us.

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