Session 3 | Worship That is Personal The best way to worship God as a lifestyle is to simply read and study the Bible. Second to that is participating in an accountable biblical community. Big Ideas: · Our worship brings glory to something. · Our lifestyle of worship to God diffuses His goodness and points people to Him. · The heart of worship and the renewed mind. · Making it personal to my life. Our worship brings glory to something. As a disciple of Christ, I am called to honor God with my worship as a lifestyle. (remove idols) There are authentic religious experiences apart from Christ. These are forms of worship that are not acceptable to God. Our lifestyle of worship to God diffuses His goodness and points people to Him. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. As believers in Christ, we can do a whole lot more for non-believers by being Christlike than we can by figuratively beating them over the head with our religion. “The strange and wonderful thing about it is that truly winsome and loving saints do not even know about their attractiveness. The great saints of past eras did not know they were great saints. If someone had told them, they would not have believed it, but those around them knew that Jesus was living His life in them.” -A.W.Tozer The heart of worship and the renewed mind. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Conform- “to act in accordance or harmony [with something]; to comply; to act in accordance with the prevailing standards, attitudes, practices, etc., of society or a group; to be or become similar in form.” Transform- “change in form, appearance, nature, or character.” Renew- to take up again, a conversation, to say or do again, to reestablish, revive 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. “Pulling down”-demolition, destroy, tear down “Casting down”-Refute, destroy, dethrone Hebb’ Law- “Cells that fire together, wire together” and, more formally, “any two cells or systems of cells that are repeatedly active at the same time will tend to become 'associated,' so that activity in one facilitates activity in the other” Proverbs 4:26- “Ponder (weigh & watch) the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.” (Your thoughts will direct your path) Making it Personal to My Life Take Away: What information am I allowing into the gateway of my soul? Where am I getting my information from? What lies am I believing? What truth from God’s word am I replacing those lies with? Do I have accountability outside my own brain? What/Who am I listening to? What/Who am I watching? What/Who am I allowing to form my character?