"Worship Acceptable to God" from 6-29-08

What are you passionate about? What gets you "pumped?" I'm not sure anything gets folks in Indiana more excited that a sporting event. Hoosiers are pretty serious about ball...any ball! Just think about some of the best known sports movies. The title "Hoosiers" speaks for itself; a movie all about basketball. Then you have "Rudy," the story of a boy's dream to play football for Notre Dame (located in South Bend, in case you didn't know). Athletics are important to us and they get us pretty excited. Just watch otherwise meek and quite individuals when "the boys in blue" run that pigskin across the line! They will be out of their seat arms up in the air screaming "TOUCHDOWN" as they run around and high-five total strangers! And they'll sit for hours in the rain, paint their faces, and spend hundreds of dollars to do it! For what...college football!

But that's on Saturday. Sunday looks completely different. As we sing songs about our amazing God Who came from heaven to save us from an eternal hell the most we can muster is a solemn "amen." Rain will keep some away. After all, it's a long walk from the parking lot to the front door. And placing ten dollars in the offering plate is a big sacrifice.

I fully understand that people are different and they will express passion in different ways. I also understand what is culturally appropriate at a football game may not be acceptable at church. I'm not advocating we "do the wave for Jesus." I'm merely pointing out that if there is anything we should be passionate about it shouldn't be a ball game. It should be the cross of Jesus Christ.
Jesus had two important criteria regarding worship; spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). By spirit I believe Jesus clearly meant our "inner-man"....our passion! Just do a study on the heart and you'll see it is a critical part of our relationship with God. Even more than our obedience, God wants our heart! David said...

Ps. 51:15-17 "16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. "

More than the obedience of the offering, God wanted David's heart! And more than our attendance, God wants our hearts to be involved in worship! Just stop and think about what was accomplished on the cross! My sins are paid for, my eternity is secure! Everyday I can experience His new mercies and I'm the object of His wonderful love! What a God! What wonderful TRUTH...truth that gets me "pumped!"

So this Sunday, high-five your fellow pew sitter if that's your thing. Clap (Ps. 47:1), raise your hands (Ps. 63:4), even shout (Ps. 33:3)! However you express passion, express it! Whatever you do be more excited about what's happening during the church than what happens in the game after church!
1. Read John 4:23-24. God is looking for Worshippers. How does that truth impact your life? 2. What did Jesus mean by “spirit.” 3. How do people express the inner man? How do you? 4. Are there ways that make you uncomfortable? Why? What do you do with that? 5. How will this truth impact the way we worship together at Cornerstone? 6. What was the other criteria for worship? 7. What do you think Jesus meant? 8. How will that impact the way we worship at Cornerstone? 9. How will that impact your personal worship?