Worship In Spirit and Truth -- John 4:19-26 --

False Worship
· Playing religious games
· Focus on Ritual and not reality

Jews: Know God but do not worship in spirit. For them worship must take place in a specific place, more outward form not inwards (V20)

Samaritans:Do not know what they worship (V22) (Who are they actually worshipping?)

We must identify what is false worship and false worship

Worship is NOT:
· Defined by its location
· The worship service
· The music
· A form
· A practice

True Worship
The absolute of Christian worship – must
The action of Christian worship – worship
The aim of Christian worship – spirit
The attitude of Christian worship –spirit
The authority of Christian worship - truth

· True worship is when you know who you are worshipping; allow the Holy Spirit to work in us.
· When we worship, we worship in corresponding with the nature of God.
We need to know God by reading His word.
· Be aware of His presence in your everyday life, believe and acknowledge him. (V13,14)
· Every little thing you do, you mean it in your heart to give glory to God. (Colossians 3:17)
· There is no doubt that the truth is the word of God. (John 17:17)
· Be real to God, engage your heart and your mind in true worship.

Worship is an experience of the heart and it engages your thoughts

5 items of Worship
1. Singing: 1 Corinthians 14:15
(When we sing songs, it is not just about singing the words but we need to reflect on the words and put it into action. Worship is a commitment and it is life changing. )
2. Praying: Acts 2:42(Praying in the spirit; you may not know God’s will at that time and you are praying the things of God. This is an act of yielded-ness towards God. Acknowledging that you are surrendering your life and situation to God and praying according to the spirit and His will.)
3. Preaching: Acts 20:7
4. The Lord’s Supper: 1 Corinthians 11:20-30
5. Giving: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Note: The above are not exhaustive.

Desiring God

Paul recently introduced me to this website by John Piper. It's www.desiringgod.org and I find it amazing that there are so many resources on their website! And it's all free! I personally enjoy and find his messages very very powerful. There are even free online books you can download. So check it out. =)

Sarah

Spiritual Growth Is Not a Private Matter

I received today's devotional from The Purpose Driven Life and thought it's a nice encouragement even as we start the new year.

-Susan-

2009/01/12

Spiritual Growth Is Not a Private Matter
by Rick Warren

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)

*** *** *** ***

Some of us hesitate to commit ourselves to developing an intentional plan of growth that requires accountability or relationship with others because we believe spiritual growth is a personal and private matter. We choose to believe each person develops in his or her own way at his or her own rate.

This is an aberration from the truth.The idolatry of individualism has influenced even the way we think about spiritual growth.So much of the teaching on spiritual formation is self-centered and self-focused without any reference to our relationship to other Christians.

This is completely unbiblical and ignores much of the New Testament. The truth is that Christians need relationships to grow. We don’t grow in isolation from others. We develop in the context of fellowship.

Over and over again in the New Testament we find this basic truth: Believers need relationships with each other to grow! Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another …” (NIV).

God intends for us to grow up in a family.

© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.

Happy New Year everyone!

Hi all...

Just a reminder not to let this blog waste away. =) Can always post anything that you glean from your devotions, or anything that you have questions about or want to share with us.

7 things Pastor mentioned we should do this year:

1. Count your blessings
Instead of saying "I'll be happy if..." we should be counting our blessings! Give thanks in all that you do. Now is a great time to look back as the last year and see how God has been faithful and give thanks to Him.

2. Read the Bible everyday (if you are a couple, try to read the Bible together too)
Be disciplined to spend time with God each day, and to read His word. It will help us to grow and give us wisdom and insight on our daily lives.

3. Fast and pray
Pastor said he fasts and prays at least twice a week. When we are weak from fasting, we can depend more on God and learn of his strength and goodness in a deeper way.

4. Build our families
We need to ask God for unconditional love to give to our families and loved ones. Spend more time with your family if you haven't been. Support them, be with them when they need you. Shower them with God's love and they will be touched and blessed.

5. Get out of debt
Owe no man anything. "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." Romans 16:7-8

6. Worship in spirit and in truth
Let us worship God with our lives. "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24

7. Serve faithfully
Be faithful with the gifts and talents that God has given you. We are all called to be ministers. If we are not serving in church, we should be serving our families in God, we should be serving in our marketplace. Service should be a lifetime offering to God. I read a joke somewhere before that God didn't say we can take sabbatical leave from serving God. God wants us to serve Him all our days. Think about how you can serve Him more this year.

Blessed New Year!

-Sarah