The Worshiping Church/ Colossians 3:15-17

Intro: Taking a break from Abide. (Pic)

Worship Pastor. Whenever I have an opportunity to speak, I always want to make it a point to speak on the subject matter of ‘worship.’ I believe that our church and our culture has a problem with the way that we view worship. These are things I have been discovering over the last 3-4 years of being in leadership here at West Side.

ILL> This is our daughter, Jessie Rae (Pic):

“Mine” She uses this word.

It’s in our culture and in each and every one of us individually. And this ultimately points to what we value the most. Spiritual and often physical isolation.

Context: Community. v 15 “and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Pauls’ emphasis on community. (Speaking on worship today not so much as a ‘me’ thing, but a ‘we’ thing.)

Worshiping Church (Pic)

So, what we are going to do today is look at the subject matter of worship, specifically within the church gathering, as well as the implications this will have on our own lives.

What does the worshiping church look like?

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1) is Reading God’s Word.

Colossians context. Epaphras. Lycus Valley. (Pics)

v 16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…”

Importance of God’s Word.

Psalm 33:6 “By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made, by the breath of his mouth all of their host.”

Psalm 119:11 “I have stored up your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Psalm 1:2-3

ILL> Structure of our service. (Pic)

Exodus 13 Moses Passover

Deuteronomy 4‘Ten Words’ from God.

Nehemiah 8 Word read from sunrise to noon.

Psalms. Scripture in scripture

Luke 4 Jesus temple worship and reads from Isaiah

John Stott puts it this way(Pic) “God must speak to us before we have any liberty to speak to him. He must disclose to us who he is before we can offer him what we are in acceptable worship. The Worship of God is always a response to the Word of God. Scripture wonderfully directs and enriches our worship.”John Stott: The Contemporary Christian: Applying God’s Word to today’s world.

APP> Our worship to God must start with with the Word of God.

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2) is Singing God’s Word.

v16b “…singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…”

“For some mysterious reason, God, from the beginning of time, has designed the human heart to respond to Him through the avenue of singing.” – Aaron Ivey

Why do we sing?

God sings.

Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your god is in your midst…He will rejoice over you with loud singing.”

Matthew 26:30 “And when they had sung a hymn they went out on the Mount of Olives.”

God commands us to sing.

Psalms littered.

The question is not, “can I sing a song?” -> “do I have a song to sing?”

Ps 40:3 “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.”

Who God is and what He has done in Christ.

Not what we have done. Our culture desires we often celebrate who we are and what we’ve done. We post it, sing it, read it, tweet it, celebrate it, promote it and confirm it in one another. This is dangerous. It’s even found in the books we read and the music we listen to.

ILL> R Kelly “I believe I can fly,”

v16c“…with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

APP> Singing uses the truth of God to enflame our passion for God.

Music with Biblically rich lyrics for worship.

Sovereign Grace Music

Citizens and Saints

Austin Stone Worship

All Sons and Daughters

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3) is Doing God’s Word

v17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

ILL> Kentucky shortcut story. GPS (Pic)

“The instructions given to me were the best for me.”

First time the word ‘Worship’ Genesis 22:5 “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”

shâchâh: meaning ‘to bow oneself’

Paul’s letter to the Colossians is filled with practical implications for our lives today. “v2 set your minds on things that are above, not on things of this earth…” “v6 put to death what is earthly in you…” “v12 put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience…”

Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Sacraments: practices Jesus himself did and commanded us to do as well.

Baptism: Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Communion: Matthew 26:26-29 “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.””

APP>When we are faithful to do what God has said, we can better see that God has done.

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Conclusion:

The entire gathering is governed by God’s word. We read his word, sing his word and do his word. This points us to Jesus.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning…”

BIG IDEA>>  When the Word of God directs our worship, our worship is directed to the Living Word. To Jesus.