Where do you worship?

A worship service is the human response to the tremendous love and grace of God.

For example: An awesome (in the truest sense of the word) view of God’s gift to us — a place to live and move and have our being.

Special thanks to my nephew who posted this link on his blog yesterday.

Four Things God Wants You to Experience

There are at least four things God wants you to experience this week.  Are you ready for them?

Image: bulldogza / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Are you ready to know God?
To know him in the reading of his Word?
To know him in the peace of his presence?
To know him in the privacy of prayer?
To know him in the splendor of the stars?
To know him in the molecules of life?
To know him in the knolls and vales of life?
Are you ready?

20 Things Your Spirit Needs to Hear about God

Your spirit was created by God to live in relationship to him.  Without that relationship, your like a fish out of water.  You live in a world that is deceived about God and his plan to know you.  Your spirit needs to hear the truth.  This “poem” is a start. Here are 20 things your spirit needs to hear about God plus a refrain.

He Is the One

God is the One who has always longed to know you.

He is the One who made the cosmos for you.
He is the One who, through ancient words, speaks to you.
He is the One who kept the chosen ones for you.

He is the One who has always longed to know you.

He is the One who became a human like you.
He is the One who, with peerless power, taught you.
He is the One who gave health to the sick  for you.
He is the One who fed ravenous crowds for you.

Credit: Free images from acobox.com

Ready to Renew Your Commitment?

"The world is my parish"

This is an abridged version of John Wesley’s Covenant Service which was adapted for use by the Bay City Wesleyan Church on January 01, 2012.

A Worship Service for Those Who Want to Renew Their Commitment to God

Explanation of Wesley’s Covenant Service

This ritual of worship has richly blessed Methodists, Wesleyans, Nazarenes and others in John Wesley’s branch of the Christian family tree for over 250 years.  On December 25, 1747, John Wesley strongly urged the Methodists to renew their commitment to God.  He led the first Covenant Service in the French Church at Spitalfields in London, England on August 11, 1755.  Wesley issued this service as a pamphlet in 1780.  Methodists used that form without alteration for nearly a hundred years.  Then, various church leaders made modifications until a form was prepared which gave the people a larger part in the service.  That form has now been adapted for our use with a deep sense of the importance of the Covenant Service.  Prepare to for a life-changing encounter with the Living God.

True Worshipers?

When Jesus said God is seeking “true worshipers” what did he mean?  What are true worshipers?

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. (John 4:23)

True worshipers know whom they are worshipping.  They don’t attend church out of superstition or fear. They aren’t trying to bribe God or to control Him.

True worshipers give God more than, mere lip service.  They live according to Jesus’ teaching and example.

True worshippers are part of God’s family through faith in Jesus.

True worshippers are more concerned about what God is like than about what they like.  They know worship is more than music.  True worshippers focus on relating to God not on structures, styles or .

I believe the issue for true worshippers is not how they worship but who they worship.

They believe worship comes from the heart.  God is spirit, so true worshippers worship Him from the depths of their beings with a humble adoration.

True worshippers recognize God for being who He is.  They realize real worship is to observe in here and now that God is infinitely perfect, infinitely worthy of all their faith, hope and love.  He is infinitely distant from evil.

True worshippers also see themselves for what they are.  They are open, honest and vulnerable with God.  True worshippers readily admit that they are completely different from God — imperfect, unworthy and intimately involved in evil.  They also believe God works to make them more like Jesus every day.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

When God looks out over his people, seeking true worshipers, will he find you?

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Related posts:

• Should I feel bad when I occasionally think church is boring?
• What’s the difference between hypocritical religion and a relationship with God?
• Will God be mad because I fall asleep in church?

A Contemporary Statement of Praise

For the next few days, I will be sharing posts written to deepen your faith and praise.  I hope you will be blessed as you use them in your worship — privately or publicly.

A Contemporary Statement of Praise

You are God: we praise You;
You are the Lord: we glorify You;
You are the Eternal Father:
All creation worships You.

To You all the angels, all the beings of heaven,
the Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord, God Almighty!
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.”

The apostles who saw Jesus praise You.
The prophets who looked for Him praise You.
The faithful martyrs of all time praise You.
Your holy Church throughout the world honors You:
Father, of unbounded majesty,
Only true Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, our teacher and guide.

Jesus Christ, you are the King of glory,
God the Father’s eternal Son.
When you became a man to set us free
You did not scorn the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death,
and opened God’s kingdom to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that You will come and be our Judge.

Come then, Lord, support Your people,
bought with your priceless, precious blood.
Bring us, along with all Your saints,
into your everlasting glory.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What would you like to praise God for today?

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Related posts:

• Our Blessings in Christ Jesus
• How can I spend time alone with God daily?
• What will we do in heaven?

What will we do in heaven?

What will we do in heaven?  What does the Bible tell us about the activities there?

Meeting Jesus face to face may knock you off your feet and unto your face.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last.  Revelation 1:17

The creatures and angels in heaven worship God constantly.

Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”  Revelation 4:8

For thousands of years these mighty angels have done nothing but look at our awesome, infinitely beautiful God and exclaim, “Holy!”

The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God.  He is far more awesome than those who surround his throne. Psalm 89:7

I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”  And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”  And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb. Revelation 5:11-13

Thousands of angels and every living thing sing the praise of Jesus.  But that’s not all.

In heaven there will be an immense multitude of appreciative disciples.

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne  and from the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 7:9-12

We will spend eternity worshiping God.  There’s only one way to prepare for eternal, face to face worship.  Develop the attitudes and actions of worship here in this lifetime.

“Worship is not a style of music (or an activity for Sunday mornings).  It is living a lifestyle that pleases God” – Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Church (phrase added).

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What do you think?  Would a good loving God force someone who’d rather be golfing or shopping to spend eternity in heaven where all we’ll do is worship him?

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Credit: Free photos from acobox.com

Will God be mad because I fall asleep in church?

I keep falling to sleep in church. Will God be mad at me?

No, at least I sure hope not. 

Return to your rest, my soul,
   for the LORD has been good to you. (Psalm 116:7)

Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

My dad told me about a time that he fell asleep when my mom was preaching.  They were serving in their first pastorate in Peru, Indiana.  Dad was working ten hours a night on third shift and attempting to finish his last year of college.  Dad was trying to succeed in life on about two or three hours of sleep.  He spoke on Sunday mornings and mom preached on Sunday evenings.   One Sunday evening he fell asleep but mom got him back.  She called on him to close the service.

That reminds me of one of my college math professors.  He fell asleep during the pastor’s message and his wife woke him up by whispering in his ear.  She said, “Pastor called on you to close in prayer.”  Half asleep, my professor jumped to his feet, interrupting the sermon with his loud prayer thanking God for meeting with them and asking for his protection as they travelled home.  The congregation’s laughter woke him up fully.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

I’ve fallen asleep in church many times.  Like my father I tried to work full-time and go to college full-time.  Who needs sleep when God gave us caffeine, right?  Wrong!  We need sleep to function well.  I wrecked my car and broke my nose to learn that lesson.

If you listen to me, you can save yourself some pain and some cash.

1. God will not be angry with you for falling asleep in church.
2. Find out why you’re so tired.
3. Get some more sleep, even if it means staying home from church once in a while.

If this post has helped you perhaps one of these articles will interest you too.

• How can I get the most out of worship this Sunday?
• Should I feel bad when I occasionally think church is boring?
• TOP TEN REASONS TO ATTEND WORSHIP

Do you have a story about falling asleep in church?  Share it with us in the comments.  Please share this post with others using the buttons below.  Thanks.

TOP TEN REASONS TO ATTEND WORSHIP

Why should I attend worship at a church?

MY TOP TEN REASONS TO WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY

Come on in

10.  It’s a good excuse to buy new jeans.

9.    It can’t be as boring as you think.

8.    Most pastors are truly caring people.

7.    You might see an old friend or meet a new friend.

6.    Even atheists and agnostics check out worship celebrations from time to time.

5.    The church roof has not been tested for a couple of years.

4.    It will give you the right to tell your grandmother, “I went to church.”

3.    Your nosey neighbor won’t know what you’re up to.

2.    Attending worship will give you a good opportunity to connect with God in a fresh way.

1.    You’ve said, “I need to go back to church” long enough.  Just do it.

You may find one of the following posts helpful too.

• Why go to church? Part One
• Why go to church? Part Two
• Why go to church? Part Three
• Why go to church? Part Four
• How can I get the most out of worship this Sunday?

What do you think?  What are your reasons for attending worship at a church?  Tell me in the comments section.  By the way, please use one of the buttons below to share this post with your friends.  Thank you.

How can I get the most out of worship this Sunday?

Prepare to worship with prayer

Here are five things you can do to get the most out of worship at your church this coming Sunday.

Expect something good to happen.

 Think about God’s love for you.  Enjoy his company and the warmth of his people.

Go early.

Make sure you have time to focus your heart and mind on Jesus Christ.  Pray.  Thank God’s Holy Spirit for what he will do in your life during the worship service.

Pray for those around you.

Look around for those who seem discouraged or concerned.  Ask God to help them.  (Better yet, find a way to encourage them with a kind word or gentle hug before or after the worship service.

Don’t forget to pray for those who lead worship and for your pastor.  Unless you’ve been in their shoes, you wouldn’t believe what happens to keep them from focusing on Jesus.  If they cannot stay centered on the Lord they will not be able to lead others into his presence.

Look for God in everything.

He may speak to you through a song, a prayer, the message or the kind words of a friend.

Practice being with Jesus.

It is difficult to have a balanced relationship with God one hour a week.  Joining a Bible Study, attending Sunday School, reading your Bible and praying daily — all contribute to an attitude of worship.

If you expect something exciting to happen in your spiritual life each Sunday, more often than not, it will!  Begin this week.  Gather with your church family to worship and meet with God.  You will be glad you did.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  YOU CAN SEND YOUR THOUGHTS TO ME IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW, ON FACEBOOK, ON TWITTER, ON LINKEDIN OR BY EMAIL.  IF THIS POST HAS HELPED YOU OR IF YOU BELIEVE IT MIGHT HELP SOMEONE YOU KNOW, PLEASE SHARE IT.  THANK YOU.