Sermons

“They worship their team” people say half joking. Perhaps they are not as far off as you think. After all what is worship? Worship is giving supreme vale to something. What does it mean to worship?  We worship what we sacrifice too. What we give Worth–ship to. We are by nature worshipers. We can very easily put ourselves or some other interest ahead of God as a unconscious act of worship.

It is interesting that in our culture Christmas time is when people are most likely to attend a “worship service”. Even people with little knowledge of the Gospel will attend Handel’s messiah or a church service; why? The story behind Christmas is really a story about worship. When you realize what the birth of Christ means you are compelled to put Him first and want to worship Him.

This Sunday I will teach on how you come together for worship. For that to happen you have to come together. This is even more important when the pull of other things and the business of the season makes it harder. It is when it is harder that we demonstrate to ourselves and God that he is of supreme worth.

Please read this Christmas story and think about how much it cost you to worship Christ.

I can’t wait to see you,

Joe

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’” Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.  – Matthew 2:1-12

Small Group Questions

• How would you define Worship?
• How can seeking be worship?
  

  Mat 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

  Mat 6:31-33 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

• What would your family or friends say you worship?
• What does doing the hard thing have to do with true worship? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him
• Describe how paying attention leads to worship.
  

  Mat 2:4-6 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.  They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.

  ‘Mat 2:9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was

• How comfortable are you with humble acts of worship? Why or why not?
  

  Mat 2:11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh

• Why is giving always part of worship?
• How can we help each other be more loyal to Christ and his worship?