1. God has a great life you have to grow into
How do you do that
Today – we look at how worshiping God is always the answer to continuing to grow
We all worship something
The question today is are we worshiping God
Some people make it all about singing or expression
So much more than that but let’s start with some fun

2. Main Idea: Regardless of circumstances or people (or my own strength & weaknesses) I will keep growing if I worship God faithfully
Illustration / Putting me in place
– ever have movie or meal
– someone else talked you into but then you loved it
You had to put yourself in place
then submit – give into – join in – sing – agree (with words, with mouth, with arms, with body 0
2. Ethiopia – I learned what was to submit as I see the joy of those who often have nothing
[next slide video]

3. The Habit of Worship To put myself in a place to Focus on
submit to, and
(3) experience
the greatness of God
If I can live out this habit
Illustration / Putting me in place
– ever have movie or meal
– someone else talked you into but then you loved it
You had to put yourself in place
then submit – give into – join in – sing – agree (with words, with mouth, with arms, with body 0
2. Ethiopia – I learned what was to submit as I see the joy of those who often have nothing
[next slide video]

4. To treat as sacred or as ultimate To truly know the greatness of
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name...”
Matthew 6:9
“HALLOWED”
To treat as sacred or as ultimate
To truly know the greatness of
In the Lord’s prayer Jesus shows us that the first answer
To anything we are facing is WORSHIP
He teaches us the first thing we do in prayer is worship

5. “Our Father in Heaven, the first thing I do is put myself in a place to (1) focus on (2) submit to, and (3) experience how great You are!”
Put in place: is about a focus
Shutting my eyes where I am
Changing what I hear with my ears
Being with the right people
Not having any people around
2) Submit – not just be around God – open up to God
I want to open up that he is greater than anything I am
I want to submit my mind, my will, my body to him
3) Experience him – that’s the hallowed – feel and be changed that you are so much greater than me, my problems, my treasure
Worship – to bend
We should encounter God and bend the same way
Our pride, our fears, our sin, our selfishness – run into God and change
And in God’s presence is always to bend towards life and not conform to this world of death
Practical definition is this:

6. “Our Father in Heaven, the first thing I do is put myself in a place to (1) focus on (2) submit to, and (3) experience how great You are!”
Put in place: is about a focus
Shutting my eyes where I am
Changing what I hear with my ears
Being with the right people
Not having any people around
2) Submit – not just be around God – open up to God
I want to open up that he is greater than anything I am
I want to submit my mind, my will, my body to him
3) Experience him – that’s the hallowed – feel and be changed that you are so much greater than me, my problems, my treasure
Worship – to bend
We should encounter God and bend the same way
Our pride, our fears, our sin, our selfishness – run into God and change
And in God’s presence is always to bend towards life and not conform to this world of death
Practical definition is this:

7. The result: My life bends to His goodness
“Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure [to follow you, God] All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God to worship; then I understood” (Ps 73:13-17, ncv)
And the experience of worship (through God’s house)
Is so important for victory, to continue on
Some came in today – feeling like psalm 73 – why does it go well for sinners
Until you get in his presence you will never understand
Leads us to the next points

8. Without Worship we will give up instead of grow up
because we will be missing His:
Truth (Perspective)
Grace (Power)
Being in God who is all light – takes away the darkness of what we do not understand
Sometimes that light helps us understand.
Sometimes it is beyond understanding but we are certain of what God wants and is to us
(story about sara)

9. ...lead us not into temptation ...deliver us from the evil one
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
...your will be done
...our daily bread.
...Forgive us our debts
...lead us not into temptation
...deliver us from the evil one
Worship Brings Understanding
• my future
• my provision
• my relationships
• my weaknesses
• my victory
Story of sara
Perspective determines expectation
Look at the Lord’s prayer again
Without worship – aggravation, bitterness, confusion
With – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Gal. 5:22

10. Worship Brings Us Grace
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8)
Without grace – doesn’t matter the truth
To worship at his throne is to worship at grace
Holy of holies – mercy seat
Tough news this week – thinking about dealing with it hurt, discouraged, loss
Went in and worshipped – found some old songs
(favorite worship song from past – download it)
??? Above all – 0:30-57
??? Makes me want to shout

11. To Keep Growing I must put myself in a place of Personal Worship
Worship is a choice no one can make for you -First Fifteen: word, worship, prayer -This week daily devotion: Worship Faithfully
Personal
First Fifteen – what is it? Ask someone
Daily – worship faithfully week
One of the values at Cornerstone – book

12. Each day – learn about worshiping faithfully
Start each day if you can
A week focused on worship

13. To Keep Growing I must put myself in a place of 2. Corporate Worship
Worship/Word is the reason for our service
Without grace, truth won’t help
Give your best to worship time in service
Psalm 27 on handout
Best in where you sit
Best in your singing
Best in your serving the congregation
So how does this connect to having a passion for God’s house – two scriptures

14. A Passion For God’s House
Where my worship is renewed and grown
Where others come to worship God for the first time
Bible repeatedly – coming to house to behold the Lord
Come with your very best to see him – not in dress but in heart
Put yourself in a place to submit to and experience his greatness
#2 – Jesus was a ll about it

15. “Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ (Mt 21:12-13)
To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (Jn 2:16-17)
To worship is to have a zeal for his house – because that’s where we meet him
Purposes of service – foundation not the finish of church
To Worship
To Be Healed
To Be united through his word
To be introduced – how else is someone supposed to meet his body for the first time
So we do all we can to take away the distractions and hinderances
Jesus wants it to be a place to meet him and worship him
Visitors – signs, childcare, convenient times, parking –Jesus –don’t let this get cluttered

16. “Our Father in Heaven, the first thing I do is put myself in a place to (1) focus on (2) submit to, and (3) experience how great You are!”
Put in place: is about a focus
Shutting my eyes where I am
Changing what I hear with my ears
Being with the right people
Not having any people around
2) Submit – not just be around God – open up to God
I want to open up that he is greater than anything I am
I want to submit my mind, my will, my body to him
3) Experience him – that’s the hallowed – feel and be changed that you are so much greater than me, my problems, my treasure
Worship – to bend
We should encounter God and bend the same way
Our pride, our fears, our sin, our selfishness – run into God and change
And in God’s presence is always to bend towards life and not conform to this world of death
Practical definition is this: