Introduction:
I wish I could transport you back in time to the early church so you could attend 45 minutes or so of a worship service, because I think the experience would change you forever. As you observed the believers devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, to prayer, and to praising God (Acts 2:42–47), I think you would say, "Wow, listen to how they speak to God! He seems so real to them! They seem to have such intimacy, such freedom, and such power!" In those few minutes, you would witness worship in the early church, and you would see how the Holy Spirit manifested the intimacy and awesomeness of God’s presence to the believers as they praised and worshipped Him. Then, I think you would say, "I wish I could experience that too!"
Scriptures:
Acts 2:42-47 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Luke 7:36-38 “One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.”
Psalm 109:30 “With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throng.”
DVD: “Compassion” – Brennan Manning & “Reviving our hearts for Worship” – Francis Chan.
Open Discussion :
1. Are you “Blown Away” by Jesus Forgiveness?
2. Who do you resemble in the Luke 7 story? Why?
3. Are you “Too Cool” for worship?
4. If Jesus came to see you what would you do? If you met him physical form?
5. Are you bothered about what people think of you?
6. How much are you in love with Jesus?
DVD: ” We are Hungry” – Jesus Culture
Quotes:
“I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.” ― A.W. Tozer
“If there is no laughter, Jesus has gone somewhere else. If there is no joy and freedom, it is not a church: it is simply a crowd of melancholy people basking in a religious neurosis. If there is no celebration, there is no real worship.” ― Steve Brown, Approaching God: Accepting the Invitation to Stand in the Presence of God
Prayer:
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