This past Sunday, Chase Oaks kicked off the Advent Conspiracy series. John Maikowski gave the sermon “Worship Fully”. You can watch or listen to it online. Note, the audio file is not currently working.
Here are my notes (quotes and paraprhases from the sermon are in italics)…
- Regarding the “Ave Maria” and Marian adoration … couldn’t agree more with John that Mary would not enjoy the spotlight and would point to her savior Jesus Christ.
- “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Luke 1:26-38 Mary responds with surrender and sacrifice to God’s call. Take up your cross and count the costs.
- The Magnificat – Luke 1:46-55. Mary worships God, her creator and savior. God keeps his promises.
- God calls and Mary responded. Yes, because God granted her new birth.
- We too are highly favored (Eph 1:6). Read Ephesians 1:1-14. There is so much about God’s plan of salvation and the doctrines of grace here.
- For that matter just read and re-read all of Ephesians 1-3. Paul clearly indicates who we are in Christ through the Gospel and God’s grace.
- (Eph 3:7) Paul responded to God’s call, because he met Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) and was born again.
- What is our response?
- Repent and receive the forgiveness of sins. Then we can begin to worship fully.
- Desires of our heart are the things we worship. We worship the things we desire most. Out of heart comes evil…
- Col 1:15-23 Creation was by God and for God’s glory. Christ (and Christ alone) is reconciling all of creation to himself.
- We can’t be fully devoted to God unless we are born again.
- We are highly favored. We can choose to disregard. We can live in small desire. Or, we can live large and embrace this freely given grace.
- We all worship something.
- God gave us capacity to desire. Make sure the desire of your heart is worthy.
- Osaji (a Nigerian believer) powerfully shared his own Magnificat – “Worship Him” Death, Burial, and Resurrection to save us from God’s wrath!
- Examine the desires of your heart. What’s the most important thing in my life right now?
- If it is not Jesus, it is idolatry and a sin. Repent and receive the forgiveness for your sins. Christ died for your idolatry.
Let he who has an ear, hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Christ died for sinners (Romans 5:8). It is Christ who makes us righteous (Romans 3:21-31). Let us worship him fully!
Related Resources
Books
- Desiring God by John Piper
- Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters by Tim Keller
- Dual Citizens: Worship and Life Between the Already and the Not Yet
- We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry
- A God Entranced Vision of All Things
Sermons from John Piper
