Yesterday was the beginning of a four week sermon series on Worship.  When we were talking about the possibility I would become the pastor at Celebration, I mailed out a copy of my Philosophy of Ministry to the church family. I wanted all of you to understand who I am and how I approach my faith and responsibilities as pastor.  Following is an excerpt related to worship: 

"In seeking to understand what the church should do and be, I have concluded that there is but one real purpose for the body of Christ, to glorify God in all we do … making God’s glory our singular purpose means that we work to build the Lord’s name and His kingdom here on earth.  We are a Kingdom-minded people.  Our worship involves offering ourselves to him in love and service and means setting aside personal, selfish ambitions as we seek to please Him in all that we do.  Worship is more than an hour each week when each of us chooses to live each day in service to the Lord.   Then, our weekly time of worship together will be primarily celebrative because, despite our difficulties, we find joy in the Lord’s presence as we are reminded of who He is."

The reality is: everyone worships someone or something (Romans 1:24-26).  Jesus told the woman at the well that there was a day coming when true worshippers would worship God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:22-24).  This series will attempt to help us worship God from right hearts and for who He really is.  The “quality” of our worship is determined by Jesus’ two descriptions:   

TRUTH: In verse 22, Jesus said, You Samaritans worship what you do not know. True worship means we recognize Jesus as the truth (John 14:6; c.f. John 3:21)   and the only way to God (Acts 4:12). Therefore, to worship in truth is to worship the God of the scriptures through Jesus as our intermediary. Jesus said, God is  “seeking” this sort of worshipper – because He wants people to live in the reality   of who He is.

SPIRIT: Phil 3:3 says, For 'we … worship God in the spirit', and  'rejoice in Christ Jesus', God is not confined to one place like we are ... His invisible nature (John 1:18) is present everywhere we go. On earth, Jesus was a physical    representation of God’s invisible nature.  The Holy Spirit ministers to and through us as we worship and serve God (John 3:2-4; John 7:37-39). To worship in Spirit is to worship God from the heart, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14-16 ) and in the new  relationship which God has provided to people through Jesus.

The difference between cultural Christians and true disciples … between faithful and unfaithful servants … between eternal and man-made ministry … between grateful living and arrogant presumption …is in the quality of our worship.                      

In the next three weeks, the sermons will consider:

          The Essence of Worship                     Genesis 6:5-10
          A Model for Worship                         Revelation 5:8-10              
          Why We Celebrate Easter                  Revelation 5:1-14

Please pray with me that God will be glorified in all our lives and in our shared life together as a church family.

Pastor Paul