LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Jan. 27
EXPLORE THE BIBLE:
Focus on God, not self, for worthy worship
___ Deuteronomy 12:4-5; 14:22-23; 16:1-3,10,13,15
___By Pete Freeman
___First Baptist Church, The Woodlands
___Can you believe we have two very controversial lessons in a row? Last week, our lesson was about abortion, and this week it's about worship. Both subjects ignite the passions of many Baptists. The former splits up many relationships, and the latter splits up many churches.
___Everyone today has an opinion about what is worship music and what is not.
___Paul Powell tells about a man whose wife wasn't feeling well one Sunday, so he went to church by himself. When he got home, she asked him how he liked it. He said, "I didn't." She asked, "Why? What didn't you like?" He said, "We sang choruses instead of hymns." She said, "Paw, what's the difference in a chorus and a hymn?" He said, "If I came home and said, 'Mama, I'm home.' That would be a hymn. But if I came home and said, 'Mama, dear Mama, sweet Mama, precio
us Mama, loving Mama, good Mama, I'm home, I'm home, I'm home.' That would be a chorus."
___True worship of God always has a central topic of the Bible. God so desires his people worship him that he has given them many directives for worship. In Deuteronomy 12, 14 and 16, we find texts that give direction for worshipping God in a way that reflects his holiness.
___In 12:4-5, Moses is reminding the people of the importance of "worshipping together." Such words are found within the context of transition. Israel was about to change from a situation of worshipping primarily in synagogues to worshipping eventually in the temple. Of course, this did not happen for many years.
___As they entered the promised land, they were instructed to demolish pagan worship sites and to begin to worship in a central location. The emphasis found in the word "place" is significant. It is not that as individuals they couldn't worship God at any place and at any time, but the Lord is teaching them corporate worship is important.
___This is reflected in the New Testament in Hebrews 10:25, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another; and all the more as you see the day approaching." It is obvious corporate worship is a primary means for praising God and for receiving encouragement from God's people. One cannot adequately worship God in isolation. It takes both private and corporate worship to truly worship him.
___Deuteronomy 14:22-23 reflects the relationship between worship and giving. Note the phrase, "at the place he will choose." Numbers 18:22-24 shows the proper use of tithes and therefore not all of the tithes were to be eaten in a communal meal. Tithing has always been a biblical model for God's people. It is a means through which we acknowledge God owns everything. When linked to corporate worship, it can be a climactic part of our praise to God.
___Unfortunately, most Baptists don't get the connection between worship and giving. The statistics haven't changed over the 40-plus years that I've been preaching. Twenty percent of the people still give 80 percent of the money. Today, the popular thing to do is to give as we "feel" or to our "favorite causes." Unless something miraculous happens, a lot of churches will be in trouble when the "tithing generation" passes from the scene.
___In Deuteronomy 16:1-17, we find mention of three very important festivals in the life of the Israelites. Yet in our lesson, it is the Passover festival that is primary to our worship of God. It is reflective of "deliverance or redemption." Of course, the historical context is the deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 12). When we erase all of the cultural trappings of worship, the unifying element we celebrate the most is redemption. The reason we are gathered together is the oneness we experience in Jesus Christ.
___With that in mind, why is it that we allow "hymns vs. choruses" or "traditional vs. contemporary" to divide us? Whatever happened to this thing called "unity with diversity?" Such division is not a fundamentalist vs. moderate issue. It's a spiritual issue. Believers ought to be able to worship with anyone who knows Jesus, no matter what their cultural trappings. I guess the kingdom isn't about me after all.
___Our lesson concludes with a celebration of the Feasts of Weeks and of Tabernacles (16:10, 13, 15). They were times when God's people gave liberally to those who had less--those on the lower end of the economic and social ladder.
___Note the people who are to receive our liberality are the "aliens, fatherless and widows." Moses is saying worship is not an end in itself, but a means for furthering the love of God into the world. All we have to do is to look at the people Jesus ministered to in order to understand true worship sends us out, not keeps us in.
___Therefore, we must conclude the worship of God together should not only be a priority for all believers but should include praise, giving and celebration. Let us learn to appreciate both our unity and our diversity as we worship together.
___Questions for discussion
___ How do you define worship?
___ It is common practice to say, "Worship should happen every day, not just Sunday." If that doesn't happen, why not?
___ How can we keep differences in music tastes from hampering our ability to worship?
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