Scripture Hebrews 10:19-25
How many times a year do you worship with the church body?
How many times a year would you like to worship with the church body?
What would it mean if everyone who claimed Ashland as their home church were “All in” for corporate worship? What would that look like? It would look like no one missing more than 12 times a year (exceptions to shut ins and people who work on Sunday – although we have a livestream, then a recorded alternative). It would look like people following through on a sermon from a few weeks ago: 3 things must happen regularly:
1) Pray for the preacher as they are preparing and delivering the sermon.
2) Pray for yourself to come expectantly – ready to hear a word from God for your life.
3) Be fully present during the sermon in the midst of the gather body of believers who are doing the same as you.
It would look like people of every race, age, socio-economic and educational background worshipping the same God together.
What is worship? It is loving the Lord your God with all your heart all
your soul and all your strength. If you had to fight for the right to
worship in combined assembly, would you do it?
If the state determined how you had to worship and that you HAD to worship, how would that sit with you? Worshipping God in community is a choice – a free choice. I love that. I don’t have to come to worship (outside of my job). You don’t have to come to worship. Isn’t that awesome? If you don’t have to come then why are you here? (ASK PEOPLE TO RESPOND)
I love that I don’t have to be at worship but I get to choose to be at worship and I choose it always. WHY? Because Jesus gave His life for me – the least I can do is gather with like minded people once a week to say Thank You. WHY? Because Jesus said, Matt 16:18-19 “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Did you ever notice that nearly every time before going into battle – odds stacked against them – the Israelites worshipped first. Jesus was always going off to worship and pray so that He could do the work the Father was asking him to do. Being faithful is not just about “DOING” stuff. It is first about being a true consistent corporate worshipper of God.
Hebrews 10:19-25
Therefore, brothers and sisters, (brothers & sisters) since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place (where previously, only the high priest got to go and only once a year to sprinkle sacrificial blood for the sins of all the people. On this occasion he wore only white linen garments, instead of the normal elaborate priestly vestments worn during rest of the year. The office, first conferred on Aaron by his brother Moses, was normally hereditary and for life. In the 2nd century BC, however, bribery led to several reappointments, and the last of the high priests were appointed by government officials. According to tradition, 18 high priests served in Solomon’s Temple (c. 960–586 BC) and 60 in the Second Temple (516 BC–AD 70). Since that time, there has been no Jewish high priest, for national sacrifice was permanently interrupted with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70AD. That means – only 78 people total ever entered the Holy of Holies – only 78 people got that close to God in worship.) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain (veil), that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Jesus after the Passover meal – in the face of opposition – chose to worship – they went out singing a hymn going to Gethsemane to pray. He continued to worship in the face of opposition before Caiaphas, Pilate, Agrippa until he was whipped and led through the streets to his pulpit where he delivered the greatest sermon ever by preaching forgiveness and love for all who would receive it. When we gather to worship, we are giving him praise for his act of worship – a life sacrificed so that we could be free from sin and able to enter the holy of holies to worship Him freely and forever.
Roger and Mary Williams
(Children: Mary, Freeborn, Providence, Mercy, Daniel, & Joseph)
(Read from book)
Jesus
worshiped with the people regularly: Luke 4:14-16 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of
the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He
taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth,
where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue,
as was his custom.
SING: Behold OUR God! Come let US adore Him!
How many times a year would you like to worship with the church body?
What would it mean if everyone who claimed Ashland as their home church were “All in” for corporate worship? What would that look like? It would look like no one missing more than 12 times a year (exceptions to shut ins and people who work on Sunday – although we have a livestream, then a recorded alternative). It would look like people following through on a sermon from a few weeks ago: 3 things must happen regularly:
1) Pray for the preacher as they are preparing and delivering the sermon.
2) Pray for yourself to come expectantly – ready to hear a word from God for your life.
3) Be fully present during the sermon in the midst of the gather body of believers who are doing the same as you.
It would look like people of every race, age, socio-economic and educational background worshipping the same God together.
If the state determined how you had to worship and that you HAD to worship, how would that sit with you? Worshipping God in community is a choice – a free choice. I love that. I don’t have to come to worship (outside of my job). You don’t have to come to worship. Isn’t that awesome? If you don’t have to come then why are you here? (ASK PEOPLE TO RESPOND)
I love that I don’t have to be at worship but I get to choose to be at worship and I choose it always. WHY? Because Jesus gave His life for me – the least I can do is gather with like minded people once a week to say Thank You. WHY? Because Jesus said, Matt 16:18-19 “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Did you ever notice that nearly every time before going into battle – odds stacked against them – the Israelites worshipped first. Jesus was always going off to worship and pray so that He could do the work the Father was asking him to do. Being faithful is not just about “DOING” stuff. It is first about being a true consistent corporate worshipper of God.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, (brothers & sisters) since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place (where previously, only the high priest got to go and only once a year to sprinkle sacrificial blood for the sins of all the people. On this occasion he wore only white linen garments, instead of the normal elaborate priestly vestments worn during rest of the year. The office, first conferred on Aaron by his brother Moses, was normally hereditary and for life. In the 2nd century BC, however, bribery led to several reappointments, and the last of the high priests were appointed by government officials. According to tradition, 18 high priests served in Solomon’s Temple (c. 960–586 BC) and 60 in the Second Temple (516 BC–AD 70). Since that time, there has been no Jewish high priest, for national sacrifice was permanently interrupted with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70AD. That means – only 78 people total ever entered the Holy of Holies – only 78 people got that close to God in worship.) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain (veil), that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Jesus after the Passover meal – in the face of opposition – chose to worship – they went out singing a hymn going to Gethsemane to pray. He continued to worship in the face of opposition before Caiaphas, Pilate, Agrippa until he was whipped and led through the streets to his pulpit where he delivered the greatest sermon ever by preaching forgiveness and love for all who would receive it. When we gather to worship, we are giving him praise for his act of worship – a life sacrificed so that we could be free from sin and able to enter the holy of holies to worship Him freely and forever.
(Read from book)
SING: Behold OUR God! Come let US adore Him!
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