Wired for Worship: The Keys to Effective Worship
Copyright: South Bay Community Church
Sermon Reflections: Wired for Worship: The Heart of Worship
Date: 10 March 2024
Speaker: Tony DeGruy
Sermon Text: 1 Chronicles 16-23-31
Sermon Reflections: Wired for Worship: The Heart of Worship
Date: 10 March 2024
Speaker: Tony DeGruy
Sermon Text: 1 Chronicles 16-23-31
Sermon Preamble
We are continuing our mini-series, “Wired for Worship” highlighting worship leading up to Resurrection Sunday. We will examine new ways to worship, praise, and celebrate
God. The focus of this message is about the keys for effective worship. Keys are usually used to gain access to something that is locked. Some of us try to break into God’s presence using short cuts without the keys. Without keys there is no legitimate access to the fullness of experiencing God’s presence. Worship is recognizing the worth of the one you worship. Let’s highlight three keys to worship that are available to us. The three keys to worship are purpose, preparation, and participation. (1) The purpose key unlocks why we worship. God is holy. God sacrificed the Son while we were sinners, and worship is our reasonable service. (2) The preparation key prepares us to hear from God in worship. We communicate with God through prayer, and we acknowledge our sins to grasp the true nature of God. (3) The participation key unlocks how we worship. We sing, praise, use music, dance, worship with the fruit of our lips, give, witness, and baptize. As God transforms us through worship, God uses us to advance the Kingdom of God.
David’s Song of Thanks in 1st Chronicles 16
In 1Chronicles 16, King David brought the Arc of the Covenant to their tent. It symbolized God’s presence, but worship was the key to the effect of God’s presence. David “…appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the Ark of the Lord to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel” (1 Chronicles 16:4). David instructed the Levites to give praise to God in a song penned by David in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36. In this song, David quoted from historical psalms, especially Psalms 96, 105, and 106. David instructed the Levites to sing praises and highlight God’s greatness. God calls them to worship because God provides salvation, and God possesses all glory and strength. David urges praise and worship to remember God’s wonderful deeds and give thanks.
(1)The purpose key unlocks why we worship
We must have a proper view of God whom we worship; we must be in awe of God. It is critical that when it comes to worshipping God, it is not a rote response. Some of the things we should not worship (not inclusive) are cars, trinkets, possessions, and even people, including ourselves.
Worshipping God is not something that we do because we have always done it. God’s Word instructs us why we worship God. “Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor” (1 Chronicles 16:29b). In other words, we worship the Lord in the beauty of God’s holiness. We read in Matt 4:10, where Jesus tells Satan that we are to worship God only.
As noted in last week’s message, God seeks those who will worship God in spirit and in truth (See John 4:23-24). While we were still sinners, God sacrificed the one and only Son of God, Jesus Christ. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (See Romans 5:8).
(2)The preparation key prepares us to hear from God in worship
Approaching God requires consecration. In Exodus 19:10, God tells Moses to consecrate the people, set them apart, and purify them so they will be qualified to meet God. The Hebrew word for consecrate is from the same root as the word “holy.” It means to be ceremonially clean or pure, set apart from that which is profane, and dedicated or consecrated to that which is holy. One New Testament word with the same meaning is “sanctify” or “sanctification.”
We can in no way enter God’s presence without reverence. Jesus bids us to come as we are. In preparing for worship, we must do so properly. If we were invited to dine in the home of a dignitary or celebrity, wanting to make the most of this opportunity, we would do all the primping and prepping one could imagine. How dare we do anything less when preparing to come before the Holy God?
We must comprehend the One we worship. “You should be diligent to present yourself to God, as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).
We must communicate with God in prayer. “17Pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).
We must confess our sins. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This speaks to taking our sins seriously, understanding that it was our sin that nailed Jesus on the cross, and that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins.
Meeting with God requires personal preparation. It means seeking God with an undivided heart and mind. It means not allowing anything else to distract us from preparing to hear from God, no matter how wonderful it may be. If we want to experience God as believers did in biblical days, preparation is necessary to deeply meet God in worship. We must be consecrated.
(3)The participation key unlocks how we worship
How we participate in worship can be defined as praise, which means to complement or commend. Praise is the prelude to worship. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). The first hearers of this psalm would have known that David was referring to the 7 types of praise in the Hebrew language: (1) Halal means to boast, show, rave, or celebrate. (2)Yadah means to extend the hands. (3) Towdah means to worship in acceptance; to thank God for things not yet received. (4) Shabach means to shout in triumph (See Psalm 100:1). (5) Barak means to kneel down. (6) Zamar means to praise with instruments. (7) Tehillah means to praise with singing.
Singing is a form of praise and worship in which we serenade God. “Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves” (1 Chronicles 16:23). Similarly in Psalm 100:2, God’s Word declares, “Worship the Lord with gladness, and come before him with joyful songs.”
Music is a form of praise and worship of God. “Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Sheriramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God”(1 Chronicles 16:5-6). Similarly in Psalm 150:3-5, God’s Word tells us, “Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe.”
Dancing is a form of praise and worship of God. “As the ark of the covenant of the lord was entering the City of David… she saw King David dancing and celebrating”(1 Chronicles 15:29). Similarly in Psalm 149:3 God’s Word tells us to, “praise God with dancing.”
God wants to hear our verbal praises of God. The fruit of our lips in worship means, “Tell everyone about the amazing things God does” (1 Chronicles 16:24b). Similarly in Hebrews 13:15, God’s Word tells us, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise –the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”
Giving is a key to effective praise and worship. “Bring your offering and come into God’s presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor” (1 Chronicles 16:29). Similarly in Proverbs 3:9, God’s Word tells us, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits.” We cannot ask God to put us first, while we put God fifteenth!
Witnessing is a key to effective praise and worship. “Tell all the nations, ‘The Lord reigns’” (1 Chronicles 16:31). Similarly in John 15:16, God’s Word says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” God is glorified when we bear much fruit. We worship by bringing others to Christ.
Baptism is a key to effective praise and worship. We identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus through baptism. “Each day proclaim the good news that he saves” (1 Chronicles 16:23). Similarly in Romans 6:3-5, God’s Word declares, “3Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.”
Our reasonable service is praise and worship. “Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!” (1 Chronicles 16:29). Similarly in Romans 12:2, God’s Word says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way your think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which will is good and pleasing and perfect.” When we present our bodies as living sacrifices, this gets into the uniqueness of each of us and how we are wired. The worship of each of us may look different. For some, the worship may be the language of prayer. For some others worship may be providing food in service. For some others the key to worship is the gift of music. There’s no one-size-fits-all prescription for worship. Who is the object of our worship and the posture of our heart is what matters. Worship is an attitude of the heart before it is verbally expressed. Worshipping God knows the truth of who God is, before demonstrating it.
Who God is forms the foundation of our worship, with joy regardless of circumstances, as God transforms us
Some of us are more expressive than others in worship. In our expressions of praise and worship, we should worship God for God’s attributes and character. Who God is forms the foundation of our praise and worship. The keys to deepening worship apply regardless of any challenging circumstances. We are to praise God for God’s mighty acts, benevolence, faithfulness, and holy righteousness. “Honor and majesty surround God; strength and joy fill his dwelling” (1 Chronicles 16:27). This and every day our names are on the wake-up list is the Lord's Day. Therefore, let us rejoice and give God the praise God so richly deserves!
We should worship God now. Don’t wait to praise God. God inhabits our praise as we unify with God spirit to spirit and heart to heart. Through worship, God can transform us on the inside, as we intentionally turn to God and then participate in various keys to worship.
Get to know more of God by chewing on the Word of God. As God transforms us through worship, God uses us for the Kingdom of God. In the transformation, God becomes greater inside of you. Worship is a key to loving your neighbor as yourself. So honor God with your time and worship.
1 Corinthians 15:58 summarizes our take away for this message on the keys to effective worship: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Preamble
-In what circumstances have your thoughts told you or you had an object that represents that God is with you, but you have not deeply worshipped God to experience the joy of God’s presence?
David’s Song of Thanks in 1st Chronicles 16
-Why does David specify in worship to sing songs of thanks, even if the one singing does not have the gift of singing or musical instruments?
(1)The purpose key unlocks why we worship
-As you worship, in what ways can you unlock worship to let God transform you into a new person in your thinking? What needs to change?
(2)The preparation key prepares us to hear from God in worship
-What keys are helpful in deepening your worship and God transforming you to be more like God in your heart?
(3)The participation key unlocks how we worship
-Singing, music, dancing, giving, witnessing, baptizing, and reasonable service are keys to participation unlocking how we worship. Which of these keys will you contemplate this week to unlock your participation?
Who God is forms the foundation of our worship, with joy regardless of circumstances, as God transforms us
-In what ways can transformative deepening of worship provide a key for loving neighbors and loving those across barriers of differences?
We are continuing our mini-series, “Wired for Worship” highlighting worship leading up to Resurrection Sunday. We will examine new ways to worship, praise, and celebrate
God. The focus of this message is about the keys for effective worship. Keys are usually used to gain access to something that is locked. Some of us try to break into God’s presence using short cuts without the keys. Without keys there is no legitimate access to the fullness of experiencing God’s presence. Worship is recognizing the worth of the one you worship. Let’s highlight three keys to worship that are available to us. The three keys to worship are purpose, preparation, and participation. (1) The purpose key unlocks why we worship. God is holy. God sacrificed the Son while we were sinners, and worship is our reasonable service. (2) The preparation key prepares us to hear from God in worship. We communicate with God through prayer, and we acknowledge our sins to grasp the true nature of God. (3) The participation key unlocks how we worship. We sing, praise, use music, dance, worship with the fruit of our lips, give, witness, and baptize. As God transforms us through worship, God uses us to advance the Kingdom of God.
David’s Song of Thanks in 1st Chronicles 16
In 1Chronicles 16, King David brought the Arc of the Covenant to their tent. It symbolized God’s presence, but worship was the key to the effect of God’s presence. David “…appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the Ark of the Lord to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel” (1 Chronicles 16:4). David instructed the Levites to give praise to God in a song penned by David in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36. In this song, David quoted from historical psalms, especially Psalms 96, 105, and 106. David instructed the Levites to sing praises and highlight God’s greatness. God calls them to worship because God provides salvation, and God possesses all glory and strength. David urges praise and worship to remember God’s wonderful deeds and give thanks.
(1)The purpose key unlocks why we worship
We must have a proper view of God whom we worship; we must be in awe of God. It is critical that when it comes to worshipping God, it is not a rote response. Some of the things we should not worship (not inclusive) are cars, trinkets, possessions, and even people, including ourselves.
Worshipping God is not something that we do because we have always done it. God’s Word instructs us why we worship God. “Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor” (1 Chronicles 16:29b). In other words, we worship the Lord in the beauty of God’s holiness. We read in Matt 4:10, where Jesus tells Satan that we are to worship God only.
As noted in last week’s message, God seeks those who will worship God in spirit and in truth (See John 4:23-24). While we were still sinners, God sacrificed the one and only Son of God, Jesus Christ. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (See Romans 5:8).
(2)The preparation key prepares us to hear from God in worship
Approaching God requires consecration. In Exodus 19:10, God tells Moses to consecrate the people, set them apart, and purify them so they will be qualified to meet God. The Hebrew word for consecrate is from the same root as the word “holy.” It means to be ceremonially clean or pure, set apart from that which is profane, and dedicated or consecrated to that which is holy. One New Testament word with the same meaning is “sanctify” or “sanctification.”
We can in no way enter God’s presence without reverence. Jesus bids us to come as we are. In preparing for worship, we must do so properly. If we were invited to dine in the home of a dignitary or celebrity, wanting to make the most of this opportunity, we would do all the primping and prepping one could imagine. How dare we do anything less when preparing to come before the Holy God?
We must comprehend the One we worship. “You should be diligent to present yourself to God, as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15).
We must communicate with God in prayer. “17Pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).
We must confess our sins. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This speaks to taking our sins seriously, understanding that it was our sin that nailed Jesus on the cross, and that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins.
Meeting with God requires personal preparation. It means seeking God with an undivided heart and mind. It means not allowing anything else to distract us from preparing to hear from God, no matter how wonderful it may be. If we want to experience God as believers did in biblical days, preparation is necessary to deeply meet God in worship. We must be consecrated.
(3)The participation key unlocks how we worship
How we participate in worship can be defined as praise, which means to complement or commend. Praise is the prelude to worship. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). The first hearers of this psalm would have known that David was referring to the 7 types of praise in the Hebrew language: (1) Halal means to boast, show, rave, or celebrate. (2)Yadah means to extend the hands. (3) Towdah means to worship in acceptance; to thank God for things not yet received. (4) Shabach means to shout in triumph (See Psalm 100:1). (5) Barak means to kneel down. (6) Zamar means to praise with instruments. (7) Tehillah means to praise with singing.
Singing is a form of praise and worship in which we serenade God. “Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves” (1 Chronicles 16:23). Similarly in Psalm 100:2, God’s Word declares, “Worship the Lord with gladness, and come before him with joyful songs.”
Music is a form of praise and worship of God. “Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Sheriramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God”(1 Chronicles 16:5-6). Similarly in Psalm 150:3-5, God’s Word tells us, “Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe.”
Dancing is a form of praise and worship of God. “As the ark of the covenant of the lord was entering the City of David… she saw King David dancing and celebrating”(1 Chronicles 15:29). Similarly in Psalm 149:3 God’s Word tells us to, “praise God with dancing.”
God wants to hear our verbal praises of God. The fruit of our lips in worship means, “Tell everyone about the amazing things God does” (1 Chronicles 16:24b). Similarly in Hebrews 13:15, God’s Word tells us, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise –the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”
Giving is a key to effective praise and worship. “Bring your offering and come into God’s presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor” (1 Chronicles 16:29). Similarly in Proverbs 3:9, God’s Word tells us, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits.” We cannot ask God to put us first, while we put God fifteenth!
Witnessing is a key to effective praise and worship. “Tell all the nations, ‘The Lord reigns’” (1 Chronicles 16:31). Similarly in John 15:16, God’s Word says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” God is glorified when we bear much fruit. We worship by bringing others to Christ.
Baptism is a key to effective praise and worship. We identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus through baptism. “Each day proclaim the good news that he saves” (1 Chronicles 16:23). Similarly in Romans 6:3-5, God’s Word declares, “3Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.”
Our reasonable service is praise and worship. “Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!” (1 Chronicles 16:29). Similarly in Romans 12:2, God’s Word says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way your think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which will is good and pleasing and perfect.” When we present our bodies as living sacrifices, this gets into the uniqueness of each of us and how we are wired. The worship of each of us may look different. For some, the worship may be the language of prayer. For some others worship may be providing food in service. For some others the key to worship is the gift of music. There’s no one-size-fits-all prescription for worship. Who is the object of our worship and the posture of our heart is what matters. Worship is an attitude of the heart before it is verbally expressed. Worshipping God knows the truth of who God is, before demonstrating it.
Who God is forms the foundation of our worship, with joy regardless of circumstances, as God transforms us
Some of us are more expressive than others in worship. In our expressions of praise and worship, we should worship God for God’s attributes and character. Who God is forms the foundation of our praise and worship. The keys to deepening worship apply regardless of any challenging circumstances. We are to praise God for God’s mighty acts, benevolence, faithfulness, and holy righteousness. “Honor and majesty surround God; strength and joy fill his dwelling” (1 Chronicles 16:27). This and every day our names are on the wake-up list is the Lord's Day. Therefore, let us rejoice and give God the praise God so richly deserves!
We should worship God now. Don’t wait to praise God. God inhabits our praise as we unify with God spirit to spirit and heart to heart. Through worship, God can transform us on the inside, as we intentionally turn to God and then participate in various keys to worship.
Get to know more of God by chewing on the Word of God. As God transforms us through worship, God uses us for the Kingdom of God. In the transformation, God becomes greater inside of you. Worship is a key to loving your neighbor as yourself. So honor God with your time and worship.
1 Corinthians 15:58 summarizes our take away for this message on the keys to effective worship: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Preamble
-In what circumstances have your thoughts told you or you had an object that represents that God is with you, but you have not deeply worshipped God to experience the joy of God’s presence?
David’s Song of Thanks in 1st Chronicles 16
-Why does David specify in worship to sing songs of thanks, even if the one singing does not have the gift of singing or musical instruments?
(1)The purpose key unlocks why we worship
-As you worship, in what ways can you unlock worship to let God transform you into a new person in your thinking? What needs to change?
(2)The preparation key prepares us to hear from God in worship
-What keys are helpful in deepening your worship and God transforming you to be more like God in your heart?
(3)The participation key unlocks how we worship
-Singing, music, dancing, giving, witnessing, baptizing, and reasonable service are keys to participation unlocking how we worship. Which of these keys will you contemplate this week to unlock your participation?
Who God is forms the foundation of our worship, with joy regardless of circumstances, as God transforms us
-In what ways can transformative deepening of worship provide a key for loving neighbors and loving those across barriers of differences?
Posted in Wired for Worship
Posted in God\\\'s presence, key, purpose, preparation, participation, sing, music, dance, worship, fruit, give, witness, baptize, transform, 1 Chronicles 16, Matthew 4:10, John 4:23-24, Romans 5:8, consecrate, holy, Exodus 19:10, 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, 1 John 1:9, Psaml 100:2, Psaml 150:3-5, Psalm 149:3, Hebrews 13:15, Proverbs 3:9, John 15:16, Romans 6:3-5, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 15:58
Posted in God\\\'s presence, key, purpose, preparation, participation, sing, music, dance, worship, fruit, give, witness, baptize, transform, 1 Chronicles 16, Matthew 4:10, John 4:23-24, Romans 5:8, consecrate, holy, Exodus 19:10, 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, 1 John 1:9, Psaml 100:2, Psaml 150:3-5, Psalm 149:3, Hebrews 13:15, Proverbs 3:9, John 15:16, Romans 6:3-5, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 15:58
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