"We Are All Worshipers"

“We Are All Worshipers”

New Horizons

Jan. 24, 2010

Paul to the Thessalonians converts: “…your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. (1 Thess.1:8ff.)

The Bible makes it clear that true conversion (“getting saved”) includes turning from idols (God-substitutes) and beginning a life of serving the living and true God.

Key passages:

• Rom. 1:20-25
• Rom. 6:16-18,22
• Matt. 28:18-20
• Rom. 7:6
• 1 Thess. 1:9ff.
• 1 Jn.2:15-17
• 1 Jn. 5:21

Pastor Doug reminded us that the basic meanings of the Biblical words for ‘worship’ are to ‘bow the knee (literally, to fall prostrate to the ground) in submission and allegiance’, and to ‘’serve (as a willing devoted slave).

· With that in mind, what does that say about the fundamental nature of a believer’s life (at home, work, at play, at church, etc.)? [Remember again the key passages listed above.]

“Worship is not a special event or any sequence of them. Worship is fundamental to humankind itself, so much so, that we must assume that it goes on all the time, all around us, inside of us, and, in a paradoxical way, in spite of us. …We must first of all understand that there is no one in this world who is not, at this moment, at worship in one way or another: consciously or unconsciously, formally or informally, passively or passionately. For in a most comprehensive way, we are always giving our lives over to something or someone that we consider to be worth the most.” (Harold Best)

· What are some of the idols/obsessions/God-substitutes that pre-occupy people today, deterring them from wholehearted devotion to serving God? (Compare Lk. 8:14)

· Could you identify the idol(s) that is the most tempting to you?

· Since living as a Christian involves not only the ‘negative’ aspect of turning from idols and sin, but also the ‘positive’ aspect of ‘serving the living and true God,’ how do we come to know how it is that God wants us to serve Him, and how we can be pleasing to Him?

For future reflection: In order to better understand what worship really is, in your future Bible study and reading, substitute the word ‘serve’ every time you come across the word ‘worship’ (including when people use the word ‘worship’ around church, in conversation, etc.).