What do many Christians worship that God forbids?
(1 Chron. 16:29; Psa. 78:1-7; 95:1-8; Dan. 3:19-25; John 4:19-26; Acts 17:22-31) Blog Nov. 08-14, 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Adam and Eve learned through manual employment, governing responsibilities, marital compatibility, and divine instruction. Education is best received from One who provides our needs and to whom we respond with loving obedience. The Ten Commandments teach us about God and about how we should live for his glory. Together with the story of Genesis we are able to form a correct worldview about origins, meaning, morality, and destiny of life. In sending us his Son God gave us a perfect revelation of himself and an embodiment of the Ten Commandments.
What is Worship? (1 Chron. 16:29; Psa. 95:1-8; John 4:19-26; Acts 17:22-31; Heb. 1:4; Rev. 14:6-7; 22:9)
1. What is worship? It is giving supreme worth, value, or affection to some person or object.
2. Why should we worship God? Because he created us, sustains us, & redeemed us.
3. Where in the Old Testament is true worship succinctly outlined? In the first four commandments.
4. Who alone does the Bible say we are to worship? God: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.
5. What does the second commandment prohibit? and why? The use of any icon or object as a symbol to be worshipped because it lowers our conception of the greatness & holiness of God.
6. How can we take the Lord’s name in vain? By using it flippantly or in unnecessary repetition, or in claiming to be a Christian but not acting like one.
7. What commandment specifies a special time for supreme worship? and why? The fourth commandment which is the only one that names the Lawgiver, his territory, & authority & points to the seventh day Sabbath as a reminder that God is our Creator.
8. What two primary aspects of true worship did Jesus relate to the woman at the well? That true worship must be in spirit (fervent devotion) & truth (beautiful Biblical form).
9. What four ingredients of worship are given in Psalm 95 (& 1 Chron. 16:29)? Reverence (v. 6) exuberant joy (vs. 1-2), praise & thanksgiving (v. 2), & lifechanging results from hearing the Word (vs. 7-8).
False Worship (Dan. 3:19-25; Acts 17:22-31; Col. 2:18; Rev. 22:9)
10. To what do most people in our world today give supreme worth, value, or affection? To their children, pet, house, fame, lover, or some other person or object.
11. What do most people really worship? Themselves.
12. How could we simply define false worship? The worship of any person or thing less than God himself.
13. As demonstrated by the three Hebrews, what is preferable to false worship? Death.
14. What do many Christians worship that God forbids? They worship angels: pastors, evangelists, or divine messengers.
15. According to Paul on Mars Hill what are we to do if we have ignorantly or knowingly worshipped anything less than God? We are to repent & seek to understand & worship the true God.
Teaching How to Worship (Psa. 78:1-7; John 4:19-26; Acts 17:22-31;)
16. How did Jesus go about teaching true worship to the woman at the well? By offering her something better than she then had.
17. What effective method did Paul use to turn the pagans of Athens from worshipping false gods? He began by referring to their superstitions, then pointed to the natural world around them & God’s continual provisions for life, & finally quoted from their own poets so as to draw them into thinking together with him.
18. What principle in regard to turning people from false religion did Jesus demonstrate at Jacob’s well? The principle of openly contrasting heaven-ordained religion from all or any other religion.
19. When our worship is both in spirit and in truth what do we avoid? By maintaining the form of truth we avoid sentimental emotionalism & by maintaining spiritual worship we avoid dry formalism.
20. What is the “Normative Principle” that should apply to all worship? That worship should include what the Bible enjoins be never include anything just because it is not prohibited in the Bible.
21. What is the goal of teaching future generations how to worship? That they might set their hope in God, not forget his works, keep his commandments, & teach their children.