February 3, 2008
03/02/08 21:58
Prayer Requests:
Women’s Bible Study: Tonight at 6:30pm Here at the church.
Men’s Darts: Thursday at 6:30pm.
Great Opportunity for the Men: Honor Bound Men’s Summit. March 14 & 15 in Millersburg. Cost is $25 if paid by March 2nd; $30 after that. A poster is up in the Walnut Street foyer with more information or see Joe Hoover.
You’re Invited: David Ring, special needs evangelist, will be speaking at the Coshocton Christian Tabernacle on Feb. 17 at 6pm. See poster in the Walnut Street foyer for more information.
Happy Birthday: Monday: Craig Myers Wednesday:Betty Larntz Thursday: Norma Eckelberry
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Philippians 1:3-6
The Story of Worship by Gerrit Gustafson
(Jubal Magazine) Probably everyone reading this article is aware of churches and individuals that are going through changes in the way they worship. Obviously, not all of the changes that are taking place are good changes, but, underlying this process, I believe, is the work of the Spirit, challenging our views of what it means to be a true worshiper of God. In many cases, passive, halfhearted worship is being replaced with expressions of active, heartfelt worship.
But what precedent is there for the Holy Spirit challenging our worship, and what is it that God is after? In the Gospels, we find that Jesus commented on unacceptable worship (“words-only” worship is empty worship according to Mt. 15:8,9), and he also said that his Father is looking for a particular kind of worshiper, one who worships in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). So let’s look at a sampling of the Story of Worship through Scripture, to better help us become the worshipers today that God is looking for. In the first family, for instance, God was looking for true worshipers. Between Cain and Abel, he found only one. “The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain became furious...” (Gen. 4:4-5). Driven by religious jealousy, Cain murdered his brother. Welcome to the Story of Worship. After the flood, the Story continues with Noah’s offering. It was the pleasing aroma of Noah’s offering (Gen. 8:20) that stirred God to extend a covenant of protection over mankind’s future.
In the account of Abraham’s willing offering of Isaac, where the word “worship” is first found in the Bible (Gen. 22:5), we see how God tests worshipers to see if there is anything we place above our devotion to him. Years later, when Abraham’s descendants had become a great multitude living in Egypt as slaves, God gave Moses the message that would eventually deliver them from slavery: “Let my people go so that they may worship Me” (Ex. 8:1). God was looking for worshipers. When Moses was given the 10 Commandments for the new nation of Israel, the issue of true worship was written into their law - “No other gods…” and “no idols.” Nothing before God, the same issue Abraham faced with Isaac, became the primary organizing principle for this new community. At Sinai (Ex. 19:3-6; 20:18-21), God wanted to ordain every Israelite as a priest, which is simply a worshiper who ministers before God. But because of fear, they drew back from God’s presence. God’s pursuit of a nation of worshipers was frustrated. Later, Eli, Israel’s high priest, failed the same worship test Abraham has passed. “You have honored your sons more than Me” (1 Sam. 2:29). His privileged position was lost and given to another. David and Solomon saw what could happen when a nation is built around the honor of God. Under their reign, worship and prayer was brought before God 24/7 for years. God was finding worshipers. David wrote: “May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. ” (Ps. 67:5-6). And truly, that is what happened as Israel experienced her Golden Years of favor and prominence. But the great king Solomon didn’t finish well as a worshiper. Though he had built a glorious Temple for God’s praise, and though he had written hundreds of songs (1 Kings 4:32) and even books in the Bible, his later days were filled with darkness and idolatry. “At that time, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the detestable idol of Moab, and for Milcom, the detestable idol of the Ammonites…” (1 Kings 11:7). Specifically because of Solomon’s “worship failure,” (1 Kings 11:11-13) Israel was divided into two nations and lost her international prominence and power. Likewise it was a worship failure that led to Israel being conquered by Assyria, and Judah being led into captivity by Babylon (2 Chron. 7:19-22). When the captivity was over, God miraculously put it in Cyrus’ heart to let Israel return to the land for the purpose of restoring worship (Ezra 6:3). God was looking for worshipers. Worship surrounded the birth of Jesus – the angels sang the Gloria, the wise men presented extravagant gifts to the newborn King. Jesus won the Samaritan woman to the kingdom with a message of his Father’s search for worshipers (Jn. 4:23-24). He rebuked religionists for placing traditions above God himself and for worshiping with words only (Mt. 15:6-9). He made clear that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and physical strength. And since worship is simply the expression of our love for God, he’s telling us that the kind of worshiper he looks for is a wholehearted one – and that nothing is more important! His atoning death and resurrection created a new community, the church, which Peter said was for the purpose of offering “sacrifices acceptable to God” (1 Pet. 2:5) and declaring praise (verse 9). The apostle Paul explained that he preached the gospel as a priestly duty to produce greater worship - so “that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable” (Rom. 15:15). In the end, an angel is sent from the throne of God with the eternal gospel calling the whole world to true worship (Rev. 14:6-7). And even though a jealous God-imposter, the beast, temporarily convinces the unredeemed world to worship him (Rev. 13:8), his scam is short-lived. Ultimately “all the nations will come and worship before You” (the Lord) (Rev. 15:4). And now it’s our turn to join in the Story and become a worshiper like Abel, Abraham, David and Paul. For God is still looking for worshipers… in your neighborhood… in your church… and in your home!
The quality of my life depends on the quality of my thoughts.
I should keep my words soft and sweet in case I have to eat them.
The 10 commandments are not multiple choice.
Women’s Bible Study: Tonight at 6:30pm Here at the church.
Men’s Darts: Thursday at 6:30pm.
Great Opportunity for the Men: Honor Bound Men’s Summit. March 14 & 15 in Millersburg. Cost is $25 if paid by March 2nd; $30 after that. A poster is up in the Walnut Street foyer with more information or see Joe Hoover.
You’re Invited: David Ring, special needs evangelist, will be speaking at the Coshocton Christian Tabernacle on Feb. 17 at 6pm. See poster in the Walnut Street foyer for more information.
Happy Birthday: Monday: Craig Myers Wednesday:Betty Larntz Thursday: Norma Eckelberry
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Philippians 1:3-6
The Story of Worship by Gerrit Gustafson
(Jubal Magazine) Probably everyone reading this article is aware of churches and individuals that are going through changes in the way they worship. Obviously, not all of the changes that are taking place are good changes, but, underlying this process, I believe, is the work of the Spirit, challenging our views of what it means to be a true worshiper of God. In many cases, passive, halfhearted worship is being replaced with expressions of active, heartfelt worship.
But what precedent is there for the Holy Spirit challenging our worship, and what is it that God is after? In the Gospels, we find that Jesus commented on unacceptable worship (“words-only” worship is empty worship according to Mt. 15:8,9), and he also said that his Father is looking for a particular kind of worshiper, one who worships in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). So let’s look at a sampling of the Story of Worship through Scripture, to better help us become the worshipers today that God is looking for. In the first family, for instance, God was looking for true worshipers. Between Cain and Abel, he found only one. “The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain became furious...” (Gen. 4:4-5). Driven by religious jealousy, Cain murdered his brother. Welcome to the Story of Worship. After the flood, the Story continues with Noah’s offering. It was the pleasing aroma of Noah’s offering (Gen. 8:20) that stirred God to extend a covenant of protection over mankind’s future.
In the account of Abraham’s willing offering of Isaac, where the word “worship” is first found in the Bible (Gen. 22:5), we see how God tests worshipers to see if there is anything we place above our devotion to him. Years later, when Abraham’s descendants had become a great multitude living in Egypt as slaves, God gave Moses the message that would eventually deliver them from slavery: “Let my people go so that they may worship Me” (Ex. 8:1). God was looking for worshipers. When Moses was given the 10 Commandments for the new nation of Israel, the issue of true worship was written into their law - “No other gods…” and “no idols.” Nothing before God, the same issue Abraham faced with Isaac, became the primary organizing principle for this new community. At Sinai (Ex. 19:3-6; 20:18-21), God wanted to ordain every Israelite as a priest, which is simply a worshiper who ministers before God. But because of fear, they drew back from God’s presence. God’s pursuit of a nation of worshipers was frustrated. Later, Eli, Israel’s high priest, failed the same worship test Abraham has passed. “You have honored your sons more than Me” (1 Sam. 2:29). His privileged position was lost and given to another. David and Solomon saw what could happen when a nation is built around the honor of God. Under their reign, worship and prayer was brought before God 24/7 for years. God was finding worshipers. David wrote: “May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. ” (Ps. 67:5-6). And truly, that is what happened as Israel experienced her Golden Years of favor and prominence. But the great king Solomon didn’t finish well as a worshiper. Though he had built a glorious Temple for God’s praise, and though he had written hundreds of songs (1 Kings 4:32) and even books in the Bible, his later days were filled with darkness and idolatry. “At that time, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the detestable idol of Moab, and for Milcom, the detestable idol of the Ammonites…” (1 Kings 11:7). Specifically because of Solomon’s “worship failure,” (1 Kings 11:11-13) Israel was divided into two nations and lost her international prominence and power. Likewise it was a worship failure that led to Israel being conquered by Assyria, and Judah being led into captivity by Babylon (2 Chron. 7:19-22). When the captivity was over, God miraculously put it in Cyrus’ heart to let Israel return to the land for the purpose of restoring worship (Ezra 6:3). God was looking for worshipers. Worship surrounded the birth of Jesus – the angels sang the Gloria, the wise men presented extravagant gifts to the newborn King. Jesus won the Samaritan woman to the kingdom with a message of his Father’s search for worshipers (Jn. 4:23-24). He rebuked religionists for placing traditions above God himself and for worshiping with words only (Mt. 15:6-9). He made clear that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and physical strength. And since worship is simply the expression of our love for God, he’s telling us that the kind of worshiper he looks for is a wholehearted one – and that nothing is more important! His atoning death and resurrection created a new community, the church, which Peter said was for the purpose of offering “sacrifices acceptable to God” (1 Pet. 2:5) and declaring praise (verse 9). The apostle Paul explained that he preached the gospel as a priestly duty to produce greater worship - so “that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable” (Rom. 15:15). In the end, an angel is sent from the throne of God with the eternal gospel calling the whole world to true worship (Rev. 14:6-7). And even though a jealous God-imposter, the beast, temporarily convinces the unredeemed world to worship him (Rev. 13:8), his scam is short-lived. Ultimately “all the nations will come and worship before You” (the Lord) (Rev. 15:4). And now it’s our turn to join in the Story and become a worshiper like Abel, Abraham, David and Paul. For God is still looking for worshipers… in your neighborhood… in your church… and in your home!
The quality of my life depends on the quality of my thoughts.
I should keep my words soft and sweet in case I have to eat them.
The 10 commandments are not multiple choice.