Made for Awe and Wonder
Why are we here, what is the meaning of life? God reveals Himself to us in many ways., everything is wrapped up in how we respond to His revelation. If we respond by worshipping Him, we discover our purpose and we are blessed forever. If we respond by worshipping anything else, we become lost and confused in meaninglessness. Understanding what worship is and how we should worship God, is the single most important thing we will ever do.
Scripture
Romans 11:36-12:2 ESV For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Bible Study Questions
Everything is for the Glory of God
The Holy Spirit speaks through Paul in the book of Romans to teach us who God is, who we are, and what Jesus has done for us. It is the most amazing revelation of the love and power of our Holy God. Chapter 11 ends by reminding us that all this has been done and revealed for the Glory of God, what then is our purpose? What is the most important thing that we can do?
Romans 11:36 ESV For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Fear God, Love God, Love each other.
If glorifying God is the most important thing, then we can understand it by looking at what the Bible reveals as being of supreme importance. Solomon sums up the whole purpose of life in the final chapter of Ecclesiastes. Jesus reveals the greatest commandments. What do we get when we add these revelations together?
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Mark 12:28-31 ESV And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Love plus Fear equals Worship
When Jesus defeats the devil in the wilderness after His Baptism, He quotes Deuteronomy 6 in rebuking the devil for tempting Jesus to worship him instead of God. The word “fear” in the original Hebrew of the passage Jesus quotes is translated to something different in the Greek of the New Testament. What is this and what does it tell us about worship?
Matthew 4:10 ESV Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
Deuteronomy 6:13 ESV It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.
The right Response to God’s Revelation
Read through the collection of the responses to God’s revelation by different servants of God. Do you think that we would, or should respond in a different way?
Genesis 17:1-3 ESV When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him,
Genesis 31:53 ESV The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac,
Exodus 3:6 ESV And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Isaiah 6:5 ESV And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”
Ezekiel 1:28 ESV Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Daniel 10:5-10 ESV I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground. 10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
Matthew 17:5-6 ESV He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
Acts 9:3-5 ESV Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Revelation 1:17-18 ESV When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Worshipping in Spirit and in Truth
Jesus makes it clear that worship is not about a place. How does God call us to worship Him?
John 4:23-24 ESV 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.”
Surrendering body, mind and will
What are the three things which must be freely and joyfully surrendered to God which constitute our spiritual (or rational, or whole hearted) worship? How do we surrender these three things to God?
Romans 12:1-2 ESV I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Head in the sand
Sticking your head in the sand means means pretending that something isn’t there when it clearly is. We’re often encouraged to keep up with the news of the world so as to avoid sticking our heads in the sand. When we stick our heads in the sand of the world we focus on the things of God. When we focus on the things of the world we stick our heads in sand to the things of God. What does giving our bodies, minds and wills to God place our attention on, and what does it ignore?
Philippians 4:8-9 ESV Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.