Hebrews
Lesson 4: Worship in the ChurchHebrews 10
This lesson continues from the previous lesson’s look at the role of the church, but with an emphasis on the two primary things that we as Christians are called to do: worship and service. Perhaps you have heard it said before, but I will say it again: we are saved for a purpose. God has a plan for each of us; and that plan includes activity—we can’t sit still. God and His son Jesus have a lot for us to do. But what happens so often in our Christian life is that we either do nothing at all, or we get so involved in the "doing," that we miss the whole point of "being" a Christian.
So let’s take a close look at what God wants us to do and see if we can get some insight into both the "how" as well as the "how much." To get started, I would like you to read all of Hebrews Chapter 10 (yes, including the verses you read for the previous lesson). For in these verses, we immediately see our reason for worship and celebration, and the perfect price Christ paid for us so that we can boldly be a part of God’s kingdom.
Read Hebrews 10 and consider the following:
- Based on the first four verses of Hebrews 10, what is the first requirement that must be met before we can worship? What does the third verse tell us that the worshippers at that time were trying to do that could not be accomplished by their regular sacrifices?
- How then can we be made clean so that we can worship God? (see verses 5-10)
- In verse 14 we note two events: one having been accomplished and one in progress, i.e., "being made." What are these two things?
- In verses 15 through 17, we are provided one of our greatest reasons to rejoice and to worship God. What is described in these three verses that should cause believers to want to rejoice and worship Him?
- We can now worship because we have been made clean. In the verses that follow (18-23) how are we provided assurance of this?
- What do verses 23-25 command us to do? Why?
- Read Isaiah 6:1-2. If we consider how the angels worship God, what conclusions can we draw from the picture Isaiah paints for us here about worship and service? Can you see any connection? (Look at the wings.)
- What do Deuteronomy 6:13, Matthew 4:10, and Luke 4:8 tell us that we are to do? Could this be represented in the six wings of the Seraph in Isaiah?
- Deuteronomy 6:13
- Matthew 4:10
- Luke 4:8
- Read Isaiah 29:13, Mark 7:7, and John 4:23. What do they tell us about worship?
- In John 4:24 we learn an important thing about worshipping God. What is it?
- How does Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:1 relate to what John 4:24 commands us to do? What does it tell us about worship, and our role in it?
- And finally, what does 1 Corinthians 14:26 tell us concerning the nature of our corporate motivation during worship?
I think that sometimes we lose sight of our first priorities as a Christian, i.e., to worship God and to celebrate the great victory over sin and death that His son Jesus provides for us. We are free from sin’s grip, and we have an eternity with God to look forward to. Given that, who wouldn’t want to worship! Sometimes we emphasize the worship service to the point of ignoring or downplaying the importance of worship itself.
Let’s commit to acknowledge how important worship is and maintain a readiness to worship God at all times, and in every way. He loved us so much He gave us His only Son, so let’s love Him back in return through our worship and our living.
Have a great week everyone and may God richly bless you as you continue to study with us each week.
In Christ,
Wes
[2021]