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9 Discipline of Worship
Study on Chapter 9 of Disciplines of a Godly Man (R. Kent Hughes)
Food for Thought
Habit or Heart
(Q) Which is more important - a habit of worship or a heart of worship? Which do you experience most frequently? Why? If change is needed, how will you go about working with God to effect that change?
(A) I think the heart of worship is more important, at least it should be the initiator. Then the habit is also important as a discipline is important to continue doing so.
I experience the habit more because I didn’t know that worship needs “work”. And some of things that this books says I do but some other things I don’t. I will “work” - give my effort on it.
God seeks Worshipers
(Q) John 4:23 tells us God is seeking worshipers. Is He being selfish? Why or why not? Why does God want us to worship Him?
- (Jn 4:23) But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
(A) Selfish is self-loving, so I don’t think God is selfish for He gave His only Son for us. But He deserves being worshiped because He created us and redeemed us. When He created us He wanted us to see His glory so we can worship as He is. That is our purpose for Him. He wants that because that is good for Him and if that is good for Him that is good for everything. That only matters. If we respect, obey His rule and authority, and definitions of His good then the joy of God will come to us as all of us, His creatures are under His dominion and connected with the Creator.
Also the bible says He is a jealous God. If we don’t worship God then we are worshiping something else which God isn’t pleased about.
God’s Presence
(Q) What does God’s presence have to do with our worshiping Him (see Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 18:20)? Generally, when you are worshiping God, whether by yourself or with a group of believers, do you find the divine presence encouraging or intimidating?
- (Heb 13:5) Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- (Mt 18:20) For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
(A) In worship, God’s prescience is everything and without it, worship is no use. The divine presence gives me, all of us, joy.
Spiritual Preparation
(Q) What more do you (and your family) need to do to be spiritually prepared for Sunday morning worship at your church? Make a list, share it with the others in your household, and work together at putting it to work.
(A) No kids, so less hassle and also I am a very organized person so easier for me to prepare earlier.
Still a couple of areas I can improve. (1) Need to be patience and gentle for my wife who are not organized. (2) Prepare offering on Saturday.
In spirit and in Truth
(Q) In your own words, what does it mean to worship God “in spirit and in truth”? How does your experiencing this or not experiencing this affect your Christian walk?
(A) In spirit: not just mere knowledge in our brain but the soul thirsty for God’s presence. In truth: we worship God as who He is; the facts which are revealed through the bible. If I don’t experience God in spirit and in truth, I may lose the true joy of worship or I should say the true joy of life. That is losing the goal, purpose and meaning of my life.
Living Sacrifice
(Q) What type of worship is identified in Roman 12:1? How long has it been since you’ve done what this verse says to do?
- (Rm 12:1) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Definition of "Living Sacrifice": - reference: gotquestions.org The dictionary defines sacrifice as “anything consecrated and offered to God.” For those who are in Christ by virtue of saving faith, the only acceptable worship is to offer ourselves completely to the Lord. Under God’s control, the believer’s yet-unredeemed body can and must be yielded to Him as an instrument of righteousness
- (Rm 12:2) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
The world is defined for us in 1 John 2:15-16 as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. All that the world has to offer can be reduced to these three things. The lust of the flesh includes everything that appeals to our appetites and involves excessive desires for food, drink, sex, and anything else that satisfies physical needs. Lust of the eyes mostly involves materialism, coveting whatever we see that we don’t have and envying those who have what we want. The pride of life is defined by any ambition for that which puffs us up and puts us on the throne of our own lives.
- (1 Jn 2:15-16) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
(A) godly living is worshiping God. I have done (or it's my object) this since maybe several years ago.
Applications
Application/Response
(Q) What did God speak to you about most specifically, most powerfully in this chapter? Talk to Him about it right now!
(A) Worship is the most important act of us as the book says “God desires worship above all else (page 111).” So this chapter is very precious to me and gives many good and valuable aspects. A couple of them are considered most special.
- Worship involves work (page 115) - worship does not just happen; requires preparation (page 113)
- Great sense of expectation. (page 119) - worship is an act which develops feelings for God. “My soul waits for the Lord” - In Spirit (page 115)
Think About It!
Make a list of your ten favorite passages about the character or promises of God.
(Ep 2:8-9) (Jn 3:16) (Ps 23) (Ps 1) (Ps 8) (Jn 3:36) (1 Tim 4:12) (1 Co 1:1-2) (Joshua 1:9)
