Missed Opportunities....Sunday Sermon Review

”Being deeply loved gives you strength; loving deeply gives you courage.
( author unknown )




My home church is studying through the Bible in a year. There are reading plans available and our pastors are choosing topics of discussion as we go. We are in the book of Numbers.

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Numbers 21:4-9 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Pastor Ben was preaching this Sunday. I usually take notes as I listen to the sermon. I like to share my notes here with you, perhaps you will be blessed as you read.

Sermon Review

The book of Numbers is about missed opportunities - how the Israelites missed out on God's blessing. They rejected God and missed out.

We too have missed opportunities. We too have missed out on God's blessings.

The Israelite people were slaves in Egypt. God has set them free. God brought them into the wilderness in order to bring them into relationship with Him and to bring them into the Promised Land. The land is excellent - "a land flowing with milk and honey".

But there are problems - The Israelite people rebel, they refuse to enter the Promised Land. They refuse God's rest. We need to take note of this and not follow their example.

We can be saved and yet resist God and as a result end up living a life of tragedy.

How is it possible that they resist God after seeing how God set them free?

They whine and complain constantly. This is their mode of operation. This is how they are living.

Their complaining hardens them to disobedience to God.

They look to their past, to what they gave up and not at what God has saved them from.

They remember the food they ate but seem to have forgotten that their babies were killed ( Moses was spared by his mother - you remember the story).

Numbers 11: 5-6 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

Are we any better than the Israelite people? - no

We complain about the present, we keep looking back to what once was, and we also refuse to be thankful as we should.

Look to what God will do in the future.

This life here is a temporary stop.

We are on our way to the Promised Land ( heaven ).

God is leading us into our future!

Complaining people are filled with jealousy

- they/ we are poisoned by jealousy

- jealous because someone else has what we want

- you cannot be thankful for what you have when you are jealous of other people and their stuff

The Israelites now believe God is out to kill them

They think God has played a joke on them!

Numbers 14: 2-3 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

The Israelites believe God has brought them into the wilderness to kill them.

They cannot imagine or remember that God actually cares for them and loves them.

God is on their side, and His goal is to bring good into their lives.

Are we convinced that God wants what is best for us, that He is on our side and wants to bring us to a place of rest?

How to change - so that we do not harden our hearts.

1) Worship -  our worship is tied to our understanding of God and who He is.

Worship personally during the week.

Remind yourself that God cares for you.

2) Be Thankful - Give thanks in all circumstances.

Make thankfulness your natural attitude.

Look for things to be thankful for.

Using prayers written by others can help to bring us into a spirit and state of thankfulness.

3) Encourage others - Encourage others daily

Be thankful to others.

Bless others every day in big and in small ways.

Hebrews 3: 12-13 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Worship - a study from Exodus

The Children of Israel cross through the Red Sea on dry ground. ( ubdavid.org )

Our church is studying through the entire Bible this year. Our pastors are choosing topics and points of discussion as we go along. Today's sermon was based out of Exodus.

Exodus 15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

I usually take notes as I listen to the sermon. Pastor Ben was preaching today and so now I would like to share my notes with you here:


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


We are looking at the big picture of the drama of the Scriptures.
The Israelites have been enslaved in Egypt. God moved to rescue and deliver them.

God has revealed himself as Yahweh - The LORD - that is His personal name.
Names have meaning and the name Yahweh means that He has all authority, all power. He has all the power and there is no other God.

By bringing each of the ten plagues on Egypt, God is destroying each one of the Egyptian gods. Each plague represents one of their gods.

The LORD is present to act, to save and to deliver!

The last plague kills all the firstborn in each of the Egyptian households - not only of the human family but also the animals.
God offered a way to avoid this plague. The offer was for all the Israelites and also for the Egyptians. A way out of this disaster was offered.
At this point Pharoah sends out the Israelites. The people of Israel plunder the Egyptians of their gold and wealth. 
Pharoah has a change of mind and wants to bring the Israelites back but ...
God parts the Red Sea so the Israelites could cross. Pharaoh and his army attempt to cross as well but are drowned in the Red Sea.
The children of Israel are free - no longer slaves!

At mount Sinai the people enter into relationship with God. God makes a covenant with them.  " I will be your God - you are my people."

And today, God still wants to be in relationship with us.
Not only does He answer our prayers but He seeks relationship with us.

How should we respond? By worshiping God.

What is Worship?

1) Worship involves proclaiming who God is. This must be done as individuals at home, and as community with our church family.

Keep reminding yourself of God's character and who God is.
As you are praying begin by proclaiming who God is - He is holy, awesome, great, all powerful, almighty, creator of all things etc..

2) As a group - Remind ourselves and each other about who it is we are worshiping. In our song we proclaim God's justice, holiness, He is merciful, and mighty etc..

3) We pledge allegiance to God - we become loyal to God. He is first in all our thoughts, actions and life.
It is a pledge to be loyal to Him. You will be our God and we will be your people.
Remind yourself everyday that you belong to God.

By attending church you are pledging loyalty to God. You are saying I am on God's side, I am doing this public. Be in public what you are in private.

4) We are retelling what God has done.  Retell the story how God has saved you, how he has set you free.  Repeat the stories of the Bible, repeat the stories of how God has worked in your life and in the life of people you know.

God required the children of Israel to retell the Exodus story every year. Our Communion comes from Passover. Jesus was participating in Passover before He died.
Jesus came to show who God is, and to set people free. He says to remember. We remember at Communion - this do in remembrance of Me.

Tell the stories of God in your life.
Parents - do our kids know why you are a Christian? Tell them.

How often do we really remember to thank God for answered prayer?  It is important we do.

Tell what God has done in the past, and what He is doing in the world and in your life!!

Making an Impact....

I found this short story on an old church bulletin and I'd like to share it with you.
The author is not known.

Struggling with Worldliness while making an Impact

John the Baptist would never get hired today.
No church would touch him.
He was a public relations disaster.
He "wore clothes made from camel's hair, has a leather belt around his waist, annd ate locusts and wild honey" ( Mark 1:6 )
Who would want to look at a guy like that every Sunday??

His message was as rough as his dress:
a no-nonsense, bare fisted challenge to repent because God was on his way!
John the Baptist set himself apart for one task - to be a voice for Christ.
Everything about John centered on his purpose. His dress. His diet. His actions. His demands.

You don't have to be like the world to have an impact on the world.
You don't have to be like the crowd to change the crowd.
You don't have to lower your standards down to their level to lift them up to your God.
Holiness doesn't seek to be odd.
Holiness seeks to be like God.

Prayer - Heavenly Father, remind us that worship is not only what we do on Sunday mornings in coats and ties, but how we live for You seven days a week. Amen

Why Go to Church on Sunday??

Sunday Sermon Review, August 26, 2012
A sermon review from my home church that I attend regulary
Psalm 149:1 Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
This was the final service in the series on "Worship"
The service began with singing of several songs, which included "Lead Me to the Cross", "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus", and "In Christ Alone".
This was followed by a children's story where the children were asked the question - "Why do you always go to church?" Some of the answers were -  to worship the Lord, to sing with other people, and to learn new things from the preacher's message.
Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Pastor Ben came up to preach and he continued with the same question - Here is some of what he said.
Why Come to Church on Sunday?
 Do we need to worship with others? and if so Why?
Worship is - our response to God for who He is and what He has done for us
While worhipping God alone is a very important part of the Christian life, worshipping together with others is a different experience. Pastor Ben compared worshipping corporately  to being at a sports event or concert and how the atmosphere in such a place is an experience much different than  watching a sports event on TV or listening to the same music on your ipod.
Worship changes our lives.
Jeremiah 2:5 Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
What we worship is what we become, It shapes the core of our being
Worshipping together as a congregation allows us to worship together as united in Christ
- someone who has cancer and knows the time is short here
- we can kneel before the Holy God together
- we can take part in communion
Worship is not just about "me and Jesus"
Our world is individualistic
Our world view shapes our thinking
Deuteronomy 16:11 says  And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there.
Jews and Gentiles must worship God together - not separate
In the book of Revelation, we see community in worship before God
Our relationship with God and others is tied together
Worship is about pledging allegiance to God publicly - make God first in our life,
We pledge allegiance to God as King
Pastor Ben drew similarities to the ceremony of becoming a Canadian citizen - it is done publicly and it is a time of rejoicing.
So also worship is public
Pastor Ben quoted the words from the song Lead Me to the Cross as a recommitment to Christ and a pledging of allegiance to the Lord.
The closing song was "I am Free"
Here are the words to the song Lead me to the Cross:

Lead Me to the Cross 
(by Hillsong United)

Savior I come
Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I
Tempted and trialed
You are
The word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen

To your heart
To your heart
Lead me to your heart
Lead me to your heart

Sermon Review - Friendship..

Sunday August 19, 2012 - Sermon Review - Friendships

The service began with singing several songs which included  "To the River, I am going, bringing sins I cannot bear" and also the song "Great is Thy Faithfulness".
This was followed by a children's feature encouraging children to pray when they wake up at night.
The focus of the service today was worshipping in Relationships using Hosea 12:6 as the basis for the message. Pastor Ben was speaking today and he started out by repeating the definition of  worship as our reponse to who God for who He is and all that He has done for us.
Hosea 12:6 says Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on thy God continually. That is from the King James Bible.
Pastor Ben used the NIV version of Hosea 12:6 and it reads a bit different there - But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always
Here is what Pastor Ben said-
Turn back to God, Maintain Love and Justice.
Isaiah and Hosea were contemporaries and both warned that God was not pleased with how worship was being given. God detested the worship since the people had abandoned love and justice
Cling as a kitten clings - hang on to love and justice
Bring love into justice
Love and justice is about right living
Cling to both love and justice

Becoming Practical
Cling and hold fast to love
Love is fragile and can seem to disappear
Love is to risk ourselves - to let people in to see what we are thinking and feeling
Love is a risk and we can get hurt - our heart could get broken
The alternative to risking love is to build safety walls around ourselves and we end up alone
Many adults have no friends
We need to allow people to be vulnerable with us.
There is more to people than we can see on the outside
We need to encourage people to open up in our friendships, and allow them to be different
Allow people to share their opposing views in our friendships
Ask people questions
Allow them to change to become closer to the Lord.
Draw Closer to God
God wants to change us to the image of Christ.
Love is not about power

1Corinthians 13: 4-7
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
⁵ Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
⁶ Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
⁷ Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

The service ended with singing.

Sunday Sermon - Worshipping Alone

Sunday Sermon Review - August 12, 2012  " Worshipping Alone"

This is a sermon review from my home church that I attend regulary.
The service began with singing several songs - "Pharoah Pharoah", and "How Deep the Father's Love for Us".
The worship leader came up and read Ephesians 3:14-21
This was followed by a two short videos on Worship - what it is and what it is not - again reminding us that it is not the entertainment by the music group that leads in the singing. The second video had young children explaining that to worship God by yourself you can pray, read the Bible and sing.

Pastor Frank came up to preach. The topic listed in the bulletin was entitled "Worship in Family" but Pastor Frank changed it to Worshipping Alone.



He began by reading Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Here is more of what Pastor Frank said:
You live your life in your head - that is in your mind. Our life consists of what we think about in our mind throughout the day. Our mind thoughts should be a continual awareness of God's presence.
Often times we spend most of our headspace either regretting the past or worrying about the future.
Instead of these regrets and worry, we need to learn to consider Scripture.
Phillipians 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Regarding our future, the Bible tells us to not worry about tomorrow.
Matthew 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Pastor Frank continued - Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight.
We need to keep a continual awareness of the presence of God in our every moment and keep in converstaion with Him. He is the vine and we are the branches, so we need to keep connected with the vine.
John 15:5  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
The time of our day that we spend in which God is not in our thoughts, we are living as athiests.
The question we should ask is not - did I surrender my life to Christ years ago?" but we should rather be asking - Am I living a surrendered life in this moment?
Practical Ways
- when the phone rings or while driving you come to a stop sign - quote Scripture.
-when you speak with another person, think about how much Jesus loves that person.
-with every breath, breathe in Jesus love and exhale compassion.
- use fridge magnets to remind yourself of Scripture verses.
The Battle is for your Mind
You are in charge of what is in your mind, in your thoughts.
"the dog you feed is the dog that grows bigger"
The closing song was " Mighty to Save".

Next Sunday the topic will be Worship in Relationships.
Note from me: I would just like to add a few thoughts of my own here. Pastor Frank spoke about the battle for our minds. It is important to remember to keep our eyes focused on the Lord Jesus and His coming for us - His bride. When we take our minds and thoughts off the pleasures and things of this world, and set our minds on Christ and His returning and our being with Him - we lose all interest in thinking lustful, worldly thoughts. Our interest are now with Christ and we long to please Him and to be with Him. The things of this earth ( even non sin type things) lose  their color and "grow strangely dim", just like the old song says.
Titus 2:13-14 says:

The question we must ask in not so much "Did I surrender my life to the Lord years ago?" but the question that we must answer is " Is my life surrendered to the Lord at this very moment?"

Some practical ways we can fill our mind with God honoring thoughts are:

- when the phone rings, or while driving you come to a stop sign - quote a Scripture

- when speaking to another person, imagine how Jesus loves that person

- with every breath you take, breathe in the love of Jesus and exhale compassion

- use fridge magnets

The Battle is for our Mind

You are in charge of what is in your mind and responsible for it

"the dog we feed is the dog that grows bigger"

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

The closing song was - "Mighty to Save"

Next Sunday the topic is Worship in Relationships.

Note: I would just like to add a few thoughts here:  Pastor Frank was speaking on the battle for the mind. It is important to remember that this world and all that it's pleasures are passing away. What we really need to do is to focus our whole mind and thoughts on Christ Jesus our soon coming King. He is our Blessed Hope. If we will seriously set our minds on Christ and our being with Him as the bride of Christ, then all this world has to offer becomes very small in comparison and we realize the foolishness of devoting ourselves to the pleasures of this world. I encourage anyone reading this to set your mind fully on the Blessed Hope - that is on Jesus!

Titus 2: 13-14

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

¹⁴ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Worship in Marriage - Sunday Sermon

Sunday Sermon Review - August 5, 2012
Topic - Worship in Marriage

Marriage is like a pair of shears oft times working in opposite directions, but punishing anyone that comes between them.” - Sydney Smith

The service began with the group leading us in several songs - one of which was " How Great Thou Art". There was a children's feature where the first line of Hebrews 13:4 -  Marriage is honourable in all  was emphasized. It was explained to the children that they need to honor marriage by giving their parents space to spend time together ( just the two of them) in order to maintain a good friendship. The children were encouraged to send their parents on a little date and to not fuss if they need to stay with a babysitter at such a time.

This was followed by the reading of Ephesians 5:15-32.
Pastor Ben came up to preach on " Marriage as Worship".
He reminded us of the theme of the series that Worship is our Response to Who God is and what God has done for us. We need to place God as first and highest importance in our lives.

Marriage as an Act of Worship
Pastor Ben also referred to Hebrews 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Marriage is a covenant before God and witnesses to be faithful till death parts.
Just as it takes a village to raise a child, married people need support and blessing from their children, parents and others.
In order to worship God in marriage we need to realize that God is the one who gives us significance. As individuals we are loved and accepted by God. We need to be rooted in God in order to be successful in marriage.

Getting Practical in Honoring  Marriage
Your spouse should be your "Best Friend"!
Take time regularly and often to maintain friendship with your spouse.
Don't let anyone drive a wedge between you and your spouse.
If a couple has been apart due to work or other circumstance, encourage them to spend time together just with each other and don't invite them over to spend time with you when  in reality they need to spend time with each other.
Children - Give your parents time and space to spend quality time together. Pastor Ben suggested  older children  babysit their younger siblings ( for free!) in order to give their Mom and Dad time to get apart by themselves for a few hours.
Parents and Parents-in-law - don't interfere in the marriage of your grown children
Be a blessing to your children's marriage
Make sure you do not slander your child's spouse
You no longer have authority over your married children
You can encourage them but they must rely on each other (on their own spouse)  - not on you as parents
To Married People
Become God-centered
Let the reponse you are to your spouse reflect who you are in Christ.
Selfishness and self-centeredness are the core root of problems in marriage
We are to give up ourselves for our spouse and put his/her needs above our own
Our spouse cannot fulfill the longings of our heart that only God ia able to truely fill.
Your spouse has married a sinner.
Let your response to your spouse be a response to God rather than basing it on what your spouse has or has not done for you.
Be a living sacrifice for your spouse.
Love as God loves - base your love on how God loves.
Romans 12:1 says I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Note - next Sunday will be Worship in your Family

Ephesians 5: 22-28
²² Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
²⁴ Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
²⁸ So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Sermon Review Worship Part 2 ( Work )

Sunday Sermon Review July 22, 2012 - Worship in Work

Before I write this post, I want to point out that I do not agree 100% with the Pastor's take in that your work is worship. While I do firmly believe that a Christian must allow Christ to be Lord and Master in every area of life ( includes family, finances, health, work, recreation, etc - everything) that is not the same as worship. Worship is much more than that. We adore our Savior for all that He is and that He has done in us. As a follower of Christ we strive to allow Christ to influence and direct each decision and choice that we make.

The worship leader began by reminding us that nature never stops worshipping God. He mentioned the birds, frogs etc. He prayed for God to reveal Himself to us, to open our eyes to see God at work all around us in our world. He read from Psalm 62: 1-8

This was followed by a presentation by a Canadian Foodgrains Bank representative.
This was followed by a few songs including "In Christ Alone".

The preacher today was one of the Pastors at our church - Pastor Frank
He began by repeating the definition of worship from last Sunday. Worship is our response to what God has done for us and that it is more than Sunday morning worship.
He quoted Romans 12:1 from the NIV and the Message but I will post it from KJV - Romans 12:1 says  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service

How Can We Worship God in Work?
Some view work as a curse and believe that no one should have to work. But the Biblical perspective of work is clear from Genesis where God gave the task of taking care of the creatures and the world to Adam and to the rest of us. God invented work and He expects people to work.
Ephesians 4:28 says Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth

Our Culture Bases Career on Earning Potential
Is your career choice based on selfish motives?
Ignore the obsession of the paycheck

God honoring work does not need to involve the church - Pastor Frank mentioned homemakers and seniors who volunteer

How can we Worship God in Work
With the attitude of serving others
Phillipians 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Our motive should be on serving others and helping the needy.
Consider the needs of your boss, clients and collegues and show appreciation
Put the interests of family ahead of your own
By doing so we are worhipping God.
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Speech
Worship at work is guarding your speech at coffee and lunchtime
Phillipians 2:14 says Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Remind yourself to stop complaining, to thank God and to pray when you are frustrated
When you are angry, Talk to God rather than counting to 10

How we behave at work determines the joy others around us will find in their work.
God's Blessing will pass from us to others
That ended the message on Worship in Work by Pastor Frank.

Next Sunday the church service is again cancelled at our church. The following Sunday the topic will be Worship in your Marriage.

Sunday Sermon Review - Worship Part 1

Sunday Sermon Review July 15, 2012 - Worship in Our Everday

Today our church began a summer series on Worship. The series will continue throughout the summer months.

The service always begins with singing. Among other newer songs, an old favorite was also sung. That is the song "I'll Fly Away".
The worship leader continued the thoughts of the lines of the song "I'll Fly Away" and he reminded us that we will all leave this earth either by death or fly to meet Jesus in the air when He returns to earth. He reminded us to be clearminded, self-controlled, to pray and study our Bibles as we wait for the Lord.
It was so good to hear the worship leader exhort the congregation like this and to then to pray earnestly for the Lord's protection and guidance and giving thanks to the Lord for his goodness to us. The worship leader continued as he reminded us that we gather in church to worship and not to be entertained by the various aspects of the service. So often people are so focused on the earthly and material things of life, I thought this exhortation from the worship leader was like a breath of fresh air.
The Service continued with the reading of Psalm 63: 1-8 which is posted at the bottom of the post.

Our Intern Pastor brought the message entitled "Worshiping God Everday".
Here is some of what he said.

Worship means to show honor and to respect, to glorify.
To Glorify is to make something glorious, to praise, and to admire.
Everyone worships something - Either God or something in this world
Misguided worship includes worshipping money, sex, another person or one self

What is True Worship?
God desires our worship all to Himself, Him alone
Worship is our response ( personal, and corporate) to God for who He is and for what He has done. Our response is worship in action.
Worship is not entertainment or a spectator sport.

Exodus 20:3 -  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Psalm 81:9 -  There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
Matthew 4:10 - Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
God created all things, all of us, the entire universe
He is awesome in power and majesty

Isaiah 55: 8-9 says For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God loves us and desires a relationship with us. He sent His only begotten Son in flesh and blood to live among us, and to die on the cross to save us to eternal salvation.

God is Holy
We are wicked without Christ.
He is the only One worthy of our worship
Romans 11:36 - For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen
We Worship God with a Pure Heart

Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Worship affects our everyday life, in our choices, our relationships and in our actions.
We cannot separate our spiritual life from our everyday life

Challenge to Congregation:
View your life as worship to God, Lift up your entire life to God everyday as a response to Him.
Repent of the things in your life that do not please the Lord.

Psalm 63: 1-8
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
² To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
³ Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
⁴ Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
⁵ My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
⁶ When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
⁷ Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
⁸ My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.