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The Focus of Our Worship Service
Mark 12:28-30, Romans 12:1, Luke 10:38-42, Psalm 42:1,3-4, 2 Samuel 6:14-16
Andy Nagahara
A. What is worship?
1) The focus of our daily life
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:28-30)
2) The focus of our Sunday worship service
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)
B. To make the most of worship…
1) Prioritize worship as the most important part of your life
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. (Psalm 42:1)
2) Come before God just as you are
tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. (Psalm 42:3-4)
David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart. (2 Samuel 6:14-16)
Summary
Church is not a place, but a community of people. The reason why we come together is to worship together, which is something we value deeply. Worship is coming before God, opening ourselves to him and hearing his voice. That is why we sing to God and open ourselves to him rather than singing to other people about God.
For Discussion
- What is worship?
- Why do we gather to worship together on Sunday mornings?