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worship

Reflecting on “Worship Fully”

December 2, 2009

advent-conspiracy-poster.jpg

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

Sermons from John Piper

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Don’t Twitter during Worship

May 29, 2009

John Piper follows up on Josh Harris’ (@HarrisJosh) post yesterday “Should We Use Twitter During Church?”

That is, we think you should use Twitter before and after corporate worship to say what you take in and take out. But when you are in corporate worship, Worship! There is a difference between communion with God and commenting on communion with God.

Don’t tweet while having sex. Don’t tweet while praying with the dying. Don’t tweet when your wife is telling you about the kids. There’s a season for everything. Multitasking only makes sense when none of the tasks requires heart-engaged, loving attention.

Read Piper’s “More on Not Using Twitter During Worship Services” in full.

HT: Abraham Piper (@abrahampiper)

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You are God Alone

July 30, 2006

You Are God Alone (Not a god)
by Billy Foote

You are not a god created by human hands.
You are not a god dependent on any mortal man.
You are not a god in need of anything we can give.
By Your plan, that’s just the way it is.

You are God alone, from before time began,

You were on Your throne, You were God alone.
And right now, in the good times and bad,
You are on Your throne, You are God alone.

Unshakeable, unchangeable, unstoppable,
That’s what You are.
Unshakeable, unchangeable, unstoppable,
That’s what You are.

You’re the only God whose power none can contend.

You’re the only God whose name and praise will never end.
You’re the only God who’s worthy of everything we can give.
You are God, that’s just the way it is.

“You Are God Alone (Not a god).” Lyrics by Billy and Cindy Foote. Music by Billy Foote. www.billyfoote.com. Get it today on
iTunes.

Billy Foote explains this song in The Word In Song.

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