Thursday, December 17, 2009

What Worship Is

Pastor Shane is teaching the last part of a 3-week series on "Worship".  This week the youth are being taught, "What Worship Is":

There are 3 Types of People in this Church Service:
  1. The Chilled -- you go to service and go through the motions.
  2. The Thrilled -- service was a great show...the next service has to be greater or it becomes boring.
  3. Came To Be Filled -- came out of service life changed...filled with the Holy Spirit!
Where are you tonight? (Chilled, Thrilled, or did you Come to Be Filled) In 1Kings 18: 16-39, we learn from Elijah:

4 Ways You Worship God Best:
  1. Gage in a real living relationship with Him. (1Kings 18:22)
  2. Approach Him with genuine repentance. (1Kings 18:37) What is keeping your heart cold?
  3. You submit to His rulership in your life. (1Kings 18:39)
  4. When you allow Him to renew your life.
Where does God want you to be in Worship? Let's empty ourselves and fill up with God.

When We Worship God This is What it Does:
  1. Brings a new perspective. (We see things differently)
  2. Brings a desire to obey God.
  3. Helps us see that God is in control. (Worship gives us a physical, emotional and spiritual rest)
  4. Brings us power. (Worship empowers God's people)
What is Worship to You?

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Worship: When We Have Problems

The Youth Ministry had their Christmas Party on Wednesday Night, followed by Pastor Shane's teaching on "Worship" (part 2 of 3).

We all have responsibilities, especially in Worship. So what can we do?
  1. Don't be a distraction. (Romans 14:21...It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble). Things we do during Worship (ex. holding hands, etc.) takes our focus off of God. We all have to answer to God for every account that we do. You could be a stumbling block. It is not about you.
  2. Speak well of Worship. (Phillipians 4:8...And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, things that are excellent and worthy of praise).
  3. Participate in Worship. (Psalm 122:1...I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord"). If Angels were created for Worship, shouldn't we Worship?
  4. Invite others to join/come here to church. Don't forsake the gathering of the church. Don't make someone who belongs to another church make this their church. If you invite someone, ask someone who doesn't know Jesus.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

What Worship Is Not

Wednesday, Pastor Shane started a 3-week series on "Worship".
  • 15% of active church members that attend church regularly on Wednesdays and Sundays, actually come for the Worship.
  • Your Time, Talent and Treasure shows God where you stand in worship.
Read Mark 7:1-15. It talks about how we are honoring God with traditions or rituals instead of how he wants us to honor him...6 "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules."
  1. Worship is not when we go through the motions. Worship is on purpose. When you go through the motions, we get stuck in a spiritual rut. (A rut is a grave with the sides kicked out).
  2. Worship is not about rituals. Where is your heart?
  3. Worship is not about me. Your focus should be all on God. Pride is the #1 thing that causes preachers to fall. If you could plan our Worship Service, what would you change?
  4. It's not Worship unless it is reflected in obedience. True Worshippers want to follow God's lead. We are not worshiping God with our lives. Your obedience to God, is between you and God.
Upcoming Events:
  1. Saturday, December 5th- Witness and Prayer Walk from 10 am - 1 pm (ET).
  2. Sunday, December 6th- Visit Mrs. Norma
  3. Wednesday, December 9th- Youth Christmas Party...having Pizza @ 7 pm (ET)!
  4. Sunday, December 13th- Parents/Students Meeting for Snowbird Participates @ 4 pm (ET)...parents need to sign Waiver and Release Forms
  5. Wednesday, December 30th- Bowling
  6. Thursday, December 31st- Leave for Snowbird...be back on Jan. 2, 2010!