Praising God
The Body • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsThe power of the early church resulted from their coming together to focus on God.
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In one of the churches we served, we had a discussion about how to improve worship
Actually, this discussion has taken place at several of our churches
Maybe a look at will provide some insights into worship
Acts 2:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
This passage offers a glimpse into the earliest days of the church
It tells us the church was devoted to the breaking of bread, they were filled with awe at the work of God, they gathered at the temple each day and that they were focused on praising God
Notice: this is all about worship
So, what can we learn about worship from this passage?
First, powerful worship focuses on God
Second, powerful worship praises God for who he is
Third, powerful worship thanks God for what he has done
Fourth, powerful worship helps us to trust God for what he is going to do
Notice that there is nothing in this passage about musical style, the kinds of instruments
It is about people focusing their hearts and minds on God
Back in the 1990s, a church in England was struggling with their worship
What made this strange was that this was the home church of Matt Redmon, one of the best known contemporary Christian musicians of our time
What made this strange was that this was the home church of Matt Redmon, one of the best known contemporary Christian musicians of our time
It was this experience that led Redmon to write The Heart of Worship
Out of this experience, Redmon wrote The Heart of Worship
One of the lines says, I'll bring you more than a song for a song in itself is not what you have required
The words to the chorus are: I'm coming back to the heart of worship And it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus. I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it When it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus
Powerful worship is not about musical style or the sermon—it is about God
Organs and praise bands and projectors and hymnals can help us in our worship
The key to powerful worship is that each Sunday we come together with our hearts and our minds focused upon God above all else
This is what the early Christians knew and we must relearn