Worship, Part I
(Worship I)

Pastor: Josh Miller
Date: 1 Nov 2009
Notes by: Robert Grandin
Scripture: John 4:1-38

Worship can often have a ``weird'' feeling to it in today's culture, since a musical and emotional focus on a singular object is not part of everyday life. Oftentimes this incorrectly seems like ``karyoke for Jesus'' or Leno's music combo, with the worship leader playing the part of the director who interjects little quips every once in a while.

Neither scenario above captures what is meant by worship and what worshiping God is all about. This passage of scripture demonstrates the stark difference between worshipping God and worshipping creation.

• v.4 - Jesus ``had to go to Samaria''
  • This necessity was caused by the Holy Spirit rather than geography
  • Samaria is not on-the-way from Judea to Galilee
• v.7-15 - ``weird dialog'', as described by Josh
  • The conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman was not socially acceptable
  • In present day, the ``cheesy'' lines of Jesus would sound as if He was flirting with the woman
  • He does, however, take the conversation and redirect it from that of the physical to spiritual
    • Use of ``thirst'' and ``appetite'' analogies (commonly used elsewhere and in contemporary worhip music)
    • Psalm 42:1-2, Matthew 5:6
• Worship = ``to ascribe worth''
  • We are all worshippers (the question is what we are worshipping)
  • Today's culture worships security (physical, financial, social, emotional, etc.)
  • We become like what we worship (Psalm 115:1-8)
    • This holds true for what's in our heart as well as what's physical. Consider one who's ultimate dream is to be married. After the wedding things are definitely different, but those differences do not satisfy the desires which lead to the worshipping of the idea.
• Back to John 4: Jesus brings up the Samaritan woman's marriages
  • Her reaction is to change the topic using locations of worship. This reaction is similar to what we would likely exhibit today.
  • She was worshiping men instead of God
• What dulls our worship of God?
  • Often, it's worshipping something else
  • The void which only God can fill still exists, but we are so ``full'' from stuffing ourselves with small things to notice. This is like not feeling hungry for dinner because we ate too many snacks during the afternoon.
    • Consider this quote from C.S. Lewis: We are half-hearted creatures fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us. Like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased [by small things].[#!cslewis:weightofglory!#]
• How do we discover this void?
  • Fasting (abstention from something, not necessarily food)
  • Pray that the resulting physical void ``leaks'' and reveals our spiritual void
  • Helps us nurish our hunger for God
• Scripture definition of worship
  • Defines true worship to be spirit-based
  • v.24 - ``God is spirit...must worship in spirit''
  • Only God can satisfy, and only from the inside-out
• A.C.T.S - Template for worship
  • Adoration: give honor to God
  • Confession: agree with God and acknowledge our failings
  • Thanksgiving: gratitude for God's blessings
  • Supplication: request is humbly presented to God