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Company Of The Committed Message #4

Trait #4 - Time Out For Worship

October 1-2, 2005 Dr Larry Osborne

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Growth Group Homework
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QUICK REVIEW
This week we’ll explore what “time out for worship” is all about.  Looking back over your sermon notes, what did you find most helpful, challenging or interesting from this week’s message?


GETTING TO KNOW YOU
1. If you could go back in time and have a conversation with anyone, who would you choose and what would you talk to them about?


2. Is there a song we sing or a thing we do at our church services that is particularly meaningful to you?  What makes it meaningful?


DIGGING DEEPER
1. This week we saw that worship is not limited to some songs we sing at a weekend service.  Pastor Larry pointed out that worship involves much more – and can happen in and outside of a church service.  Read each passage below and jot down what particular circumstances, situation or insight brought about worship.

Exodus 4:27-31
The Lord said to Aaron, "Go into the desert to meet Moses." So he met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him. [28] Then Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and also about all the miraculous signs he had commanded him to perform.
[29] Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, [30] and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, [31] and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped. [NIV]

Psalm 95:1-7
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
[2] Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
[3] For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
[4] In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
[5] The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
[6] Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
[7] for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
Today, if you hear his voice, [NIV]

Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. [23] After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, [24] but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
[25] During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. [26] When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
[27] But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
[28] "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
[29] "Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. [30] But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
[31] Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
[32] And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. [33] Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." [NIV]

Luke 2:8-20
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. [9] An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. [10] But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. [12] This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
[13] Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
[14] "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
[15] When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
[16] So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. [17] When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, [18] and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. [19] But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. [20] The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. [NIV]

Luke 15:8-10
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? [9] And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' [10] In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." [NIV]

Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, [29] for our "God is a consuming fire." [NIV]


2. Having an accurate understanding of God and what He has done for us enables us to worship Him in truth.  1 Chronicles 16:7-36 gives us a great picture of what that looks like.  As you read this passage, write down the reasons David offers for praising and worshiping God.


 

Of the reasons you listed above which ones do you think people focus on the most today?


How do you think remembering this list might affect a person's perspective of God and how they live?


If our God is good and His love endures forever (verse 34), why would fear and trembling before Him be appropriate (verses 25 and 30)?

3. Some of the greatest expressions of worship were written after great loss or failures.  Read Job 1:1-22.  Job had just experienced enormous loss and tragedy and yet he still gave praise to God.  How do you think Job was able to worship God in the midst of such heartache and pain?

 

Can you recall any times that you have not felt like worshiping and you went ahead and worshiped anyway?  What was that experience like?


Psalm 51 is David’s expression of worship to God after he had a major moral failure.  What can you learn about how worship helped restore his relationship with God?

 

TAKING IT HOME
1. People worship God in a variety of ways. Below are some examples of various paths of worship. Read the statements below and circle any and all the descriptions that seem to fit you.

* I worship God best outside in the middle of His creation. Everything He made points me to Him.

* I worship God creatively. I appreciate a worship service that involves all of my senses.

* I worship God by engaging my mind, studying and being stretched intellectually.

* I worship God best in a more traditional setting. I love the rich meaning behind religious ceremony, symbols and unchanging structures.

* I worship God best in solitude and simplicity. I like to draw away by myself.

* I worship God by working hard to make the world a better place. Worship and service go hand in hand.

* I worship God while I am caring for others and meeting needs.

* I worship God in quiet moments where I can ponder things in my heart and just be still.

* I worship God best while I am celebrating what He has done. There is nothing better than His church singing His praises.

Now take a minute and think about how you could incorporate Praise, Thanksgiving, Listening, or Sacrifice into your preferred worship style.

What does praising God look like for you?

What does thanking God look like for you?

Where and how do you take time out to specifically listen to God?

What does sacrificing for God look like to you?

2. Looking back at each of the four acts of worship, which of them comes most naturally to you?  Which one is most difficult to practice?


3. As a result of this week's teaching and study, is there any one thing in your personal or corporate worship you need to develop further?

Real Men Weekends
Join us for one of two Real Men Weekends - The Oakbridge Experience , Oct. 21-23, and The Resort Experience at Double Tree Resort, Oct. 29-30 (optional golf tournament). Michael Wilkins will be speaking live at Oakbridge and via video for the first three sessions and live for that last session at the Resort Experience. Space is limited so don’t delay. You can sign up at the weekend services, online, or drop your registration off with the deposit at the church offices during the week. For more information, or to register, visit www.northcoastchurch.com/events/mens_retreat.htm.