Worship Sermon Series
Acts 13:1-3
Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”[a]), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas[b]), and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
In this verse you can see participation and partnership
Two ways to worship: Scattered worship - Outside the church/life style
Gathered worship - Corporate worship/Body of Christ
Definition of Participate:
: to possess some of the attributes of a person, thing, or quality
: to take part
To have a part or share in something
Definition of Partner:
a person or organization you are closely involved with in some way
one of the owners of a company
Philippians 1:3-5 NLT
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
3 ways we participate in worship:
Being Aware (conscious of God’s presence)
Vs. 3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
Being aware of God’s presence has two parts.
A. Seeking Him
Jeremiah 29:13 NLT
13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
So God will always be near those who have been actively seeking Him. This is something that we should be doing all week long in scattered worship in preparation of participating in gathered worship. We are told in James 4:8 that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.
B. Be Still
Psalm 46:10a NLT
“Be still, and know that I am God!
Psalm 37:7a NLT
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.
Psalm 62:5 NLT
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
II. Being All-Inclusive
Each believer plays a vital role in worship. We are each equipped and gifted to use our Time, Talent, Testimony, and Treasure in gathered worship.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NLT
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NLT
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
Each one of us is vital to the worship service, but it only works if we all participate.
III. Being Active
Acts 2:42-47 NLT
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
So the three ways we participate in worship are:
Being aware (bringing ourselves into the presence of God)
Being All-Inclusive (realizing all believers play a part in worship)
Being Active (using the gifts, talents, abilities as acts of worship to serve others)