Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 1 The importance of worshipping God in spirit & truth – John 4:24! The reality of “FALSE” worship! The “PURPOSE” of worship! Some general principles governing our worship! The Lord’s Supper

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 2 Jesus saw: How people gave – Who gave – Sacrifice – What does Jesus see when you give? Jesus saw: How people gave – Who gave – Sacrifice – What does Jesus see when you give?

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 3 Many GOOD people fail to give as they should to the Lord  As stewards of our possessions it is incumbent upon us to use - give, - or spend them wisely!  The manner, amount, and quality of that which we give back to the Lord, manifest our love and respect, (honor) for Him, - Mal 1:6; Prov. 3:9  Does Jesus notice our manner of giving? (Mark 12:41-44)

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 4 Mark 12:41-44 (NKJV) Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. [42] Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. [43] So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; [44] for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. [42] Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. [43] So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; [44] for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 5  According to ability - 2 Co 8:3  Willingly - 2 Co 8:12; 9:2  Zealously - 2 Co 9:2  Generously - 2 Co 9:5  Bountifully - 2 Co 9:6  "As purposed in their heart" - 2 Co 9:7 Paul instructed the Corinthian s on how they were to give

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 6 Paul instructed the Corinthian s on how they were to give  NOT Grudgingly - 2 Co 9:7  NOT of necessity; - 2 Co 9:7  Were to give cheerfully - 2 Co 9:7  With Thanksgiving - 2 Co 9:11  Liberally - sharing - 2:Co 9:13 When? On the first day of the week - 1 Co 16:1-4

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 7  Willingly -  Zealously -  Generously  Bountifully  "As you purpose (plan) in your heart"  NOT Grudgingly - or of necessity; but  Cheerfully -  With Thanksgiving to God  Liberally - Do you lay something aside on the first day of the week according to your ability -

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 8  Those who give the MOST, often are those who give the least... (43,44)  The rich gave of their abundance –  The poor of their poverty - 2 Cor 8:1-3  Acceptable giving is not determined by amount given – but the sacrifice  The amount you give hinges on the extent to which you have given yourself to the Lord - 2 Cor 8:5 " Many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites” (Vs )

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 9  The New Testament does not set a percentage (like the "tithe", or a tenth, found in the Old Testament),  The New Testament instructs us to give according to the following principles:  Christ's law: "love" and "liberality." - 2 Co 8:2-8  According to what we have - 2 Co 8:12  "As we may prosper" - 1 Co 16:2  Whatever one can give "cheerfully", - 2 Co 9:7 How Much Shoul d One Give?

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 10 Involves SACRIFICE - 2 Co 8:9 Involves SACRIFICE - 2 Co 8:9 Is a thermometer of our love! - 2 Cor 8:8,24 Is a thermometer of our love! - 2 Cor 8:8,24 Promotes more blessings - 2 Cor 9:6 Acts 20:35 Promotes more blessings - 2 Cor 9:6 Acts 20:35

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 11  Addressing our needs –  Benevolence – 2 Cor 8,9  Preaching – 2 Cor 11:8,9; Phili 4:10-18  Edification – 1 Thes 5:11  Thought question: How much money is needed by a church that is doing little or no work??

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 12 Jesus saw: How people gave – Who gave – Sacrifice – What does Jesus see when you give? Jesus saw: How people gave – Who gave – Sacrifice – What does Jesus see when you give?

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 13

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 14 Contrast the Lord’s supper with O.T. Sacrifices... Contrast their giving with O.T. Tithing... Contrast their singing with O.T. Music... Contrast other elements of worship...

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 15 Old Testament Worship: A physical tabernacle (temple) Separate priesthood Special garments Burning of incense Elaborate ceremonies, special feast days New Testament Worship: The temple is the people of God – Ep 2:20-22 All Christians are priests – 1 Pe 2:5,9 They adorned themselves with Christ – Ga 3:27; Co 3:5-14 Their prayers are as incense – Re 5:8 Observance of feast days was a cause of concern – Ga 4:10,11; Co 2:16,17

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 16 The Current Assault On Scriptural Worship  Unbiblical objectives and goals in worship  To emotionally stimulate an audience by entertaining them  To put on such a production - people will want to come back

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 17 “Once you have the correct actions in place for worship, where the real effort comes in is keeping your heart and mind focused on what you are doing! Worship in spirit takes REAL WORK-REAL EFFORT! It takes mental and physical preparation. Unfortunately, the current climate in the church tends to treat worship as a time for entertaining the worshipper and catering to the worshippers wants. Consequently, worshippers have lost that deep, reverent, mindset that approaches the worship assembly with a sense of respect and cautious intention to please God. (Dave Miller, Piloting the Straight, pg. 182)

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 18  Must we invent unbiblical means to worship in order to FEEL more spiritual? íMusic – Special days – New preaching styles - Dramas - Special effects If the simple pattern of worship revealed in the N.T. doesn’t appeal to you - Who needs to change?

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 19 The attitude God’s people had towards worship – Isaiah 66:3 3 “But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine’s blood; He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, (ASV)

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 20 The attitude God’s people had towards worship – Jeremiah 7:21 23 “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 “Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. (ASV)

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04 21 We should seek to offer what Jesus described as “true worship” There are Three kinds of false worship mentioned in the NT – But there is only ONE kind of TRUE WORSHIP which we must engage in!! (John 4:24)

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/0422 Southside Church of Christ in Rodgers

Don Mcclain65th St church of Christ - 10/3/0423