Why I Love the church of Christ, Part 8 Lesson Text:

John 4:21-24

Heritage Addition church of ChristBy Jim BradshawSunday Morning, October 25, 2015

Because of her Worship

It is Not about the buildingIt is the Body of

Christ

Golden Opportunities

Mat 7:12 ESV "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Gal 6:9-10 ESV And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (10) So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Walmart is not the only Saving Place

The Mission of the church must be the same as its head:Luke 19:10 ESV For the Son of Man

came to seek and to save the lost."

The Lord’s Supper1Co 11:24-39 ESV and when he had given thanks, he broke it,

and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." (25) In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." (26) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (27) Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. (28) Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (29) For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Jesus Christ is the Head of the church of Christ

Eph 1:20-23 ESV that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (22) And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, (23) which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Our LeadersTit 1:5-9 ESV This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you-- (6) if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. (7) For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, (8) but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. (9) He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

GRACE

Eph 2:7-10 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (9) not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

HOLY

1Co 3:16-17 ESV Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? (17) If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

-oly ones of God.

In the Greek hagios in the N.T. almost always refers to the Holiness of the Divine. The word in the plural is almost always translated saints. Christians are the “holy ones of God.”

Worship DefinedWorship - Chiefly and eminently, the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like. The worship of God is an eminent part of religion.Prayer is a chief part of religious worship.(Webster’s 1828)

Worship in spirit (attitude) & truthJoh 4:21-24 ESV Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. (22) You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. (23) But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (24) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

What is Worship?

Mat 4:10 ESV Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan!” For it is written, “‘You shall worship [proskuneo: right attitude] the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. [latreuo: right way].’”

Proskuneo inner attitude toward worship. Latreuo involves the external acts that one does. Proskuneo describes an attitude which excludes “word-only” worship and latreuo excludes the perversion of unauthorized worship.

ATTITUDE &PROPER WAY

What is Worship?1Co 14:15 ESV What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

ATTITUDE &PROPER WAY

We Must follow the DirectionsJoh 4:22-24 ESV You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. (23) But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (24) God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

1. We worship what we know.2. Salvation is from the Jews, Romans 1:16.3. Worship is not about us!4. Worship is not about what makes us feel good.5. We have a pattern given to us for worship, no option, in

truth; John 17:176. We must worship in spirit and in truth.

We Must follow the Directions1Ti 2:8 ESV I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;1 Corinthians 16:2 ESV On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

Act 20:7 ESV On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

Eph 5:19 ESV addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

We Can Worship in Vain1. Worship is more than just a feeling.2. Hard to worship correctly when do not know the truth.3. Many do not realize that they worship God in VAIN.

Mat 15:7-9 ESV You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: (8) "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; (9) in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

We Can Worship in Vain1. Worship is more than just a feeling.2. Hard to worship correctly when you do not know what it

means.3. Many do not realize that they worship God in VAIN.

Mat 7:21-23 ESV "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' (23) And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Only those in Christ may Draw NearIsa 59:2 ESV but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Eph 3:10-12 ESV so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (11) This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, (12) in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Only those in Christ may Draw NearEph 5:25-27 ESV Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, (26) that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (27) so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Acts 22:16 - “Wash Away your sins”

Worship – Assembly RequiredHeb 10:19-25 ESV Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, (20) by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, (21) and since we have a great priest over the house of God, (22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (24) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (25) not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

I Love the church of Christ because I know that in her my worship may be pleasing before God

Worship as True Worshippers

Don’t Worship God in Vain!

Must be pure and removed from sins to be a true worshipper before God