1. The Role of Emotion

2.  Recently, there has been a push toward more emotional and less traditional assembly  What is the role of emotion in our service to God?

3. Emotion in the Assembly  Stirring up emotion can make an assembly more interesting or exciting  Where does the desire for a more interesting or exciting assembly come from?  More pleasing to God?  More pleasing to others?  More pleasing to ME?!?

4. Why Do We Assemble?  Is the assembly to make me feel good?  Is the assembly to make others feel good?  Is it to worship?  Primarily, I am here to render to God the service and honor that is due Him alone  Additionally, I am here to edify others  Additionally, I am here to be edified

5. Edification or Worship?  To ask this question is almost to answer it!  Consider the purpose of edification…  The center of our assembly isn’t me or you  The center isn’t even the sum of all of us  Edification is clearly important, and is key to the assembly  1 Cor. 14:26  Eph. 4:11-13  However, Christ is the center (Col. 1:15-18)

6. Emotion in Worship  A feeling based approach to worship is a dangerous thing!  Worship is NOT to be catered to human preferences  God’s preferences are the only ones that matter!  Can we restructure worship around our desires and feelings and then offer that to God and expect Him to accept it?  Emotion and good feelings are NOT a purpose for the assembly

7. Does Emotional = Spiritual?  Is emotion proof of God’s presence in our worship?  Matt. 18:20… “In my name”  When we are gathered by His authority and in order to honor Him, He is present!  His presence isn’t to be “felt”, it is to be known and understood!

8. More Rational Than Emotional  Notice some passages that teach the importance of rational thought and logic in our service to God  John 6:45  John 8:31-32  1 Thes. 5:21  1 John 4:1

9. More Rational Than Emotional  We must resist the temptation to use the transcendence of God as an excuse to worship Him however we feel  His ways are above our ways  As such, He expects us to set aside our own desires and follow Him  Many today have replaced a rational assessment of one’s lost state with a desire for an emotional experience to produce salvation  This is foreign to Scripture! (Acts 17:2,11; 24:25; 26:25)

10. What Is Spiritual Worship?  True spirituality is simply knowledge of and obedience to the Holy Scriptures  This is true because the Holy Spirit authored the Scriptures (1 Cor. 2:13-15)  External, physical changes do not increase the spirituality of worship  Rearranging chairs  Beach side “devotionals”  Retreats or camps  Additions, such as hand-clapping/waving, solos, chiors, instrumental music, etc. are less spiritual!

11. Is Our Assembly Spiritual?  Simply because our assembly seems quiet or formal, that does NOT indicate that it is not spiritual!  It is spiritual if…  We conform to the Spirit’s words  We posses compliant rather than selfish spirits  We possess reverent hearts

12. What Is the Role of Emotion?  Our worship must be in “spirit and in truth,” John 4:24  We must fear God (Eccl. 12:13; Phili. 2:12)  Joy follows salvation and repentance! (Acts 8:26-39; 16:34)