Series: This is Why! “Worship”

(Hebrews 1:1-4; 10:31; 12:28-29; 13:15-16)


**1 year ago today Harry & I worshiped at Sam Sesay’s church in Lungi, Sierra Leone…..I write to say hello to you all. We are doing fine in Lungi . Everyone is busy doing something for the Lord and the family. Please pray for Joseph he is going t o take his public exam on monday for the second year in college. It is very difficult for them but with hard studise and prayers he will do well. Pray also for the pre-school teachers and the clinic staff for commitment. Pray for the new primary school we have started in Samuya village for Government to approve so we can pay the teachers. Pray for me. I am suffering from sharp pain on my left leg. I am planing to go to Guinea to see a doctor for examination God willing the frist week in November. Sam.

1 Our mission – to make disciples of Jesus Christ who love God & love others. This is Why we exist.

2 We’ve identified 5 values to guide our disciple-making – worship, prayer, transformation, community & mission. As we continue our series on This is Why I want to tackle our worship value today.

3 on August 12 Mike Higgs preached one of the best messages on worship I have every heard. You can access it on our sermon blog @ canbyalliance.blogspot.com.

4 what I want to do today is pull together a few verses from the book of Hebrews that address our worship of God.

the letter to the Hebrews
1 The letter was written by an unknown author to a local church of Jewish Christians, perhaps in or near Jerusalem. They were in danger of going apostate, were being persecuted & were theologically confused.

2 the book is about Jesus. New wine has burst the old wineskins. Christ’s priesthood, sacrifice & covenant supercede anything found in the Old Testament. Jesus is greater than any other Old Testament prophet, priest, king or holy man.

Jesus – 1:1-4
1 this letter strikes fire immediately with a magnificent Christological statement – 7 realities defining Jesus’ superiority:

2 1st Jesus is the heir of creation – but in these last days (God) has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things. All things are Christ’s.

3 2nd Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory (1:3). Just like the radiance of the sun is inseparable from the sun itself, so Jesus’ radiance is inseparable from God’s. Why? Because he himself is God!

4 3rd Jesus is the agent of creation – through whom he made the universe (1:2).

5 4th Jesus is the exact representation of his (God’s) being (1:3). He is not merely a reflection of God. He is the absolutely authentic demonstration of God himself.

6 5th Jesus is the sustainer of the universe – sustaining all things by his powerful word (1:3). Jesus dynamically holds together everything he has made.

7 6th Jesus provided purification for sins (1:3). He died on the cross in our place to take care of our sin problem.

8 7th sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (1:3). His work of salvation is complete. He now actively rules with God as Lord over all.

9 this description of Christ hits like a bombshell. Who can compare to Jesus? This is the Jesus we worship.

Hebrews 10:31
1 context – in light of Christ’s sacrifice for our sin we are told to persevere in the midst of persecution. We are also instructed to fear the judgment of God if we disobey him (10:29-30).

2 The judgment of God. God is just. His justice makes his judgment a reality.

3 the author’s point – It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Our worship of God must include our fear of God as the judge of his people.

Hebrews 12:28-29
1 context – This letter is written to a people who are in danger of apostasy. They know the truth about Christ & have lived it out. Now they are in danger of leaving the faith. And if they do, the price they pay will be great – the judgment & wrath of God.

2 God is a consuming fire (Deut 4:24 – warning against idolatry). Since God is a consuming fire our worship had better reflect this. Gratitude, reverence & awe are called for. The fear of God.

3 As we worship we need reminded that:
§ God is God & we’re not
§ God is infinite & we’re finite
§ God is eternal & we’re temporal
§ God is our Creator & we’re his creature
§ God is pure holiness & we are sinful
§ God is all wise & we can be embarrassingly foolish
§ God is untouchable & we’re blessed beyond measure to have been touched by him

4 God is a consuming fire. And this calls for worship marked with reverence & awe.

Hebrews 13:15-16
1 Context – the author is wrapping things up. Do this. Do that. Don’t forget this. Remember.

2 13:15 – a call to offer up to God through Christ a sacrifice of praise with our lips.

3 the background for this phrase is the Old Testament sacrificial system. God gave meticulous instructions for sacrifices. One thing they were to be – the 1st & best that one had to offer. The 1st & the best.

4 When we gather to worship God is your sacrifice of praise your 1st & best effort? Or do we offer him leftovers – whatever is leftover from our worship preferences or finances or energy or focus or time?

5 Do we want to experience God’s favor in our worship? All we have to do is use our lips to offer him our 1st & best sacrifices of praise!

6 13:16. But worship is more than just confessing & singing with our lips & lungs. There’s another kind of sacrifice that pleases God, that counts as our 1st & best – do not forget to do good & to share with others. Worship is action as well as words. Doing good to others. Sharing with others are acts of worship.

7 I hope our Food Panty team worshiped yesterday as they gave out food to the needy in the name of Jesus.

8 This week all of us have a grand opportunity to worship God by doing good & sharing our time to clean our new building, put shelves & bookcases together, move tables, chairs, office & sound equipment.

two examples
1 I want to close by sharing 2 examples of doing good & sharing with others. 1 ancient & 1 contemporary.

2 The early church was known throughout the Roman Empire for its radical acts of kindness toward the needy. City dwellers lived in tiny cubicles in multistoried tenements. Meals were cooked over open fires in 1 of the rooms. Sewage systems consisted of chamber pots that people dumped into the streets at night. There was no such thing as soap. Sickness was rampant. Life expectancy was less than 30 years. Half of all children died at birth. It was very common to see widows & orphans living in the streets & begging for food. Corpses were often abandoned in the street.

3 1/3 of the population of the Roman Empire perished in the great plague of AD 165. The philosopher Seneca thought that drowning babies at birth was a reasonable form of population control. Both Plato & Aristotle recommended infanticide as a state policy. Mercy was seen as a weakness.

4 How did Christ-followers respond? They showed mercy & compassion –
à Collected money for the poor
à Supported widows & orphans, sick, infirm, the poor, disabled
à Cared for prisoners
à Buried the dead when a family couldn’t afford to
à Cared for slaves
à Gave jobs to the unemployed

5 In short, they worshiped God by doing good & sharing with others & turned the Roman Empire upside down by love.

6 Today, when it comes to homosexuality, the evangelical church in America relies primarily upon 2 avenues of response – preaching & politics. Preaching against homosexuality & attempting to champion & pass legislation directed against same-sex marriage.

7 Research shows that only 10% of Christians are engaged in any form of non-political action on this issue. And only 1% prays for the homosexual community.

8 There’s a 3rd way to respond. I know of a church in Grand Rapids, Michigan who decided to do good and to share with others in the homosexual community of that city. They refused to take part in petition signings or public demonstrations against the gay community.

9 Instead, they welcomed gay people into their church. They clearly stated their belief that Scripture limits a sexual relationship between one man & one woman in a marriage. They began volunteering their time at hospices where gays were dying of AIDS. They got involved in HIV/AIDS causes in their city.

10 And they became known within the gay community of Grand Rapids as the church with compassion & love. They saw people in the gay community become Christ-followers. They saw people healed & reconciled. And they were criticized & ridiculed by fellow churches & Christ-followers for being ‘soft’ on homosexuality.

11 They worshiped God by doing good & sharing with those in need. And God honored them.

12 How can you do good to others? What can you share with them? Put hands & feet to your singing, praising, confessing worship:
§ Volunteer at a hospice for AIDS patients
§ Pound nails at a Habitat for Humanity house
§ Counsel pregnant girls & women at the Pregnancy Care Center
§ Give your time to an after school program for needy kids in our community
§ Show compassion & concern for those struggling with addiction to pornography – we hope to start a support & accountability for those struggling with pornography

13 Let’s bring reverence & the fear of God into our worship. And let’s learn to do better at worshiping God in our community through doing good & sharing with others.