Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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The importance of The importance of worshipping God in spirit worshipping God in spirit

& truth – John 4:24!& truth – John 4:24!• The reality of “FALSE” worship!

• The “PURPOSE” of worship!

• Some general principles governing our worship!

The Lord’s SupperThe Lord’s Supper

The importance of The importance of worshipping God in spirit worshipping God in spirit

& truth – John 4:24!& truth – John 4:24!• The reality of “FALSE” worship!

• The “PURPOSE” of worship!

• Some general principles governing our worship!

The Lord’s SupperThe Lord’s Supper

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Jesus saw:Jesus saw:• How people gave –• Who gave –• Sacrifice – • What does Jesus

see when you give?

Jesus saw:Jesus saw:• How people gave –• Who gave –• Sacrifice – • What does Jesus

see when you give?

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Many GOOD people fail to

give as they

should to the Lord

As stewards of our As stewards of our possessions it is incumbent possessions it is incumbent upon us to use - give, - or upon us to use - give, - or spend them wisely! spend them wisely!

The manner, amount, and The manner, amount, and quality of that which we give quality of that which we give back to the Lord, manifest our back to the Lord, manifest our love and respect, (honor) for love and respect, (honor) for Him, - Mal 1:6; Prov. 3:9Him, - Mal 1:6; Prov. 3:9

Does Jesus notice our manner Does Jesus notice our manner of giving? (Mark 12:41-44)of giving? (Mark 12:41-44)

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Mark 12:41-44 (NKJV) Mark 12:41-44 (NKJV)

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. [42] Then one poor widow came and rich put in much. [42] Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. [43] So He threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. [43] So He

called His disciples to Himself and said to them, called His disciples to Himself and said to them, ""Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasurymore than all those who have given to the treasury; [44] ; [44] for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of

her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihoodher poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." ."

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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According to ability - 2 Co According to ability - 2 Co 8:38:3

Willingly - 2 Co 8:12; 9:2Willingly - 2 Co 8:12; 9:2

Zealously - 2 Co 9:2Zealously - 2 Co 9:2

Generously - 2 Co 9:5Generously - 2 Co 9:5

Bountifully - 2 Co 9:6Bountifully - 2 Co 9:6

"As purposed in their "As purposed in their heart" - 2 Co 9:7 heart" - 2 Co 9:7

Paul instructe

d the Corinthia

ns on how they were to

give

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Paul instructe

d the Corinthia

ns on how they were to

give

NOTNOT GrudginglGrudgingly - 2 Co y - 2 Co 9:7 9:7

NOTNOT of of necessitynecessity; - 2 Co ; - 2 Co 9:79:7

Were to give Were to give cheerfully - 2 Co cheerfully - 2 Co 9:79:7

With With Thanksgiving - 2 Thanksgiving - 2 Co 9:11Co 9:11

Liberally - Liberally - sharing - 2:Co 9:13sharing - 2:Co 9:13 When? When?

On the first day of the week - 1 Co 16:1-4

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Willingly - Willingly - Zealously - Zealously - Generously Generously Bountifully Bountifully "As you purpose (plan) in your "As you purpose (plan) in your

heart" heart" NOT Grudgingly - or of NOT Grudgingly - or of

necessity; butnecessity; but Cheerfully - Cheerfully - With Thanksgiving to GodWith Thanksgiving to God Liberally -Liberally -

Do you lay

something aside on the

first day of the week

according to your ability -

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Those who give the MOST, Those who give the MOST, often are those who give the often are those who give the least . . . (43,44) least . . . (43,44) The rich gave of their The rich gave of their

abundance –abundance – The poor of their poverty - 2 The poor of their poverty - 2

Cor 8:1-3Cor 8:1-3 Acceptable giving is not Acceptable giving is not

determined by amount given – determined by amount given – but the sacrifice but the sacrifice

The amount you give hinges on The amount you give hinges on the extent to which you have the extent to which you have given yourself to the Lord - 2 given yourself to the Lord - 2 Cor 8:5 Cor 8:5

"....... Many that were

rich cast in much. And

there came a certain poor

widow, and she threw

in two mites” (Vs.

41-42)

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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The New Testament does not set a The New Testament does not set a percentage (percentage (like the "tithe", or a like the "tithe", or a tenth, found in the Old Testamenttenth, found in the Old Testament), ),

The New Testament instructs us to The New Testament instructs us to give according to the following give according to the following principles:principles: Christ's law: "love" and "liberality." - 2 Christ's law: "love" and "liberality." - 2

Co 8:2-8 Co 8:2-8 According to what we have - 2 Co According to what we have - 2 Co

8:12 8:12 "As we may prosper" - 1 Co 16:2 "As we may prosper" - 1 Co 16:2 Whatever one can give "cheerfully", - Whatever one can give "cheerfully", -

2 Co 9:72 Co 9:7

How Much Shoul

d One

Give?

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Involves Involves SACRIFICE - SACRIFICE -

2 Co 8:9 2 Co 8:9

Is a Is a thermometer thermometer of our love! - of our love! - 2 Cor 8:8,242 Cor 8:8,24

Promotes Promotes more more

blessings - 2 blessings - 2 Cor 9:6 Acts Cor 9:6 Acts

20:3520:35

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Addressing our needsAddressing our needs – – Benevolence – 2 Cor 8,9Benevolence – 2 Cor 8,9 Preaching – 2 Cor 11:8,9; Preaching – 2 Cor 11:8,9;

Phili 4:10-18Phili 4:10-18 Edification – 1 Thes 5:11Edification – 1 Thes 5:11

Thought question:Thought question: How much How much money is needed by a church money is needed by a church that is doing little or no work?? that is doing little or no work??

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Jesus saw:Jesus saw:• How people

gave –• Who gave –• Sacrifice –

What does What does Jesus see when Jesus see when

you give?you give?

Jesus saw:Jesus saw:• How people

gave –• Who gave –• Sacrifice –

What does What does Jesus see when Jesus see when

you give?you give?

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Contrast the Lord’s supper with O.T. Sacrifices...

Contrast their giving with O.T. Tithing...

Contrast their singing with O.T. Music...

Contrast other elements of worship...

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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• Old Testament Worship:

• A physical tabernacle (temple)

• Separate priesthood• Special garments• Burning of incense• Elaborate ceremonies,

special feast days

• New Testament Worship:• The temple is the people of

God – Ep 2:20-22 • All Christians are priests –

1 Pe 2:5,9 • They adorned themselves

with Christ – Ga 3:27; Co 3:5-14

• Their prayers are as incense – Re 5:8

• Observance of feast days was a cause of concern – Ga 4:10,11; Co 2:16,17

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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The Current Assault On Scriptural Worship

Unbiblical objectives and goals in worship

To emotionally stimulate an audience by entertaining them

To put on such a production - people will want to come back

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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• “Once you have the correct actions in place for worship, where the real effort comes in is keeping

your heart and mind focused on what you are doing! Worship in spirit takes REAL WORK-REAL EFFORT!

It takes mental and physical preparation. Unfortunately, the current climate in the church tends

to treat worship as a time for entertaining the worshipper and catering to the worshippers wants.

Consequently, worshippers have lost that deep, reverent, mindset that approaches the worship assembly with a sense of respect and cautious

intention to please God. (Dave Miller, Piloting the Straight, pg. 182)

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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Must we invent unbiblical means to worship in order to FEEL more spiritual?

Music – Special days – New preaching styles - Dramas - Special effects

• If the simple pattern of worship revealed in the N.T. doesn’t appeal to

you - Who needs to change?

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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The attitude God’s people had towards worship –

• Isaiah 66:3 3 “But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog’s neck; He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine’s blood; He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, (ASV)

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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The attitude God’s people had towards worship –

• Jeremiah 7:21 23 “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 “Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. (ASV)

Don Mcclain 65th St church of Christ - 10/3/04

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• We should seek to offer what Jesus described as “true worship”

• There are Three kinds of false worship mentioned in the NT –

• But there is only ONE kind of TRUE WORSHIP which we must engage in!! (John 4:24)

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Southside Church of Christ in RodgersSouthside Church of Christ in Rodgers

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