Reforming Our Worship Reforming Our Lives How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Worship Reforming Our Lives 1

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Worship Defining worship Worship is “worth-ship” Worth-ship refers to knowing and praising God as He is revealed in creation and Scripture. It is glorifying (doke / doxa) God in all things – Psalm 24:9-10. 2

Psalm 24:9-10 (NASB) 9  Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 10  Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Worship Defining worship Worship is “worth-ship” Worth-ship refers to knowing and praising God as He is revealed in creation and Scripture. It is glorifying (doke / doxa) God in all things – Psalm 24:9-10. True worship is God-centered & God-honoring. True worship bears on the worshipper by quickening the conscience, feeding the mind, opening the heart, and committing the will. 2

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Worship Worship has conformed to this age. With this trivial age, worship has become entertainment or program oriented. With this self-absorbed, man-centered age, the church has also become self-centered. With this age that is oblivious to God, it appears that this is often true of the church. 3

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Worship Worship must be in “spirit and truth.” We must approach God truthfully. We must worship on the basis of biblical revelation alone. We must come to God through Christ alone. 4

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives Recovering an awareness of God – what it means to say to the glory of God alone through understanding. The sovereignty of God The holiness of God (transcendence) – Exodus 15:11 5

Exodus 15:11 (NASB) 11  “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?”

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives Recovering an awareness of God – what it means to say to the glory of God alone through understanding. The sovereignty of God The holiness of God (transcendence) – Exodus 15:11 The presence of God – Acts 17:28 5

Acts 17:28 (NASB) 28  for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives Recovering an awareness of God – what it means to say to the glory of God alone through understanding. The sovereignty of God The holiness of God (transcendence) – Exodus 15:11 The presence of God – Acts 17:28 The wisdom of God (goodness) 5

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives Recovering repentance – what it means to say by grace alone. Shub (OT) – turning away from rebellion against God to God Recognizing that offenses have been committed against God and His covenant Turning away from sin in view of God’s gracious provision for us in His covenant 6

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives Recovering repentance – what it means to say by grace alone. Epistrepho (NT) – to turn back; describing conversion, as in 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Metamelomai (NT) – the idea of regret Metanoeo (NT) – a change of mind that leads to a change of life and lifestyle 7

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives A life characterized by repentance – Acts 17:30 8

Acts 17:30 (NASB) 30  Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives A life characterized by repentance – Acts 17:30 A new attitude toward sin A new attitude toward self A new attitude toward God 8

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives Recovering the invisible – what it means to say by faith alone – 2 Cor. 4:17-18. 9

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NASB) 17  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,  18  while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives Recovering the invisible – what it means to say by faith alone – 2 Cor. 4:17-18. Giving sufficient attention to what ultimately matters: God Himself, truth, spiritual rebirth, holiness of believers, and glorifying God in our doctrine, worship, and church life Hebrews 11:8-10 9

Hebrews 11:8-10 (NASB) 8  By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.  9  By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;  10  for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives Recovering community – what it means to say in Christ alone – Acts 2:42. 10

Acts 2:42 (NASB) 42  They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives Recovering community – what it means to say in Christ alone – Acts 2:42. “It is not good for man to be alone” – Genesis 2:18. “I will build my church” – Matthew 16:18. A community holds together because of some higher allegiance or priority. Community is a commitment that goes beyond mere individualism. 10

How Then Should We Live? Reforming Our Lives Recovering service – what it means to live your life based on Scripture alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, to the glory of God alone. Ephesians 2:10 Matthew 25:31-46 11

How Then Should We Live? Application How is your worship? Are you aware of who God is and who you are not? Is your life one of true repentance? Are you living for the eternal? 12

Are you truly serving our Lord? How Then Should We Live? Application Are you living in community? Are you actively creating community? Are you truly serving our Lord? 13