topic: worship

John 4:21 "21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Gearing up for the New Year, Pastor Steve took a week to look at a powerful story in Genesis--the story of Abraham's obedience (God calls it worship) in taking Isaac, his only son, to Mount Moriah to sacrifice him to God. What are you holding back from God? Do we truly worship Him if we don't give Him everything? A great reminder as we enter a new year with hopefully a renewed passion to serve Him wholeheartedly!

Wednesday, two days before Passover, as Jesus was reclining with His disciples, Simon the Leper, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, Mary breaks the expensive alabaster box of perfume and begins to pour it on the head of Jesus. In that adoring testimony of love and honor Mary poured out her soul in worship even as she poured out the perfume.

During August the focus of our Lighthouse lens is on “prayer and fellowship with the Father”. We encourage you to use the worship time during service to reinforce application (how to) of prayer and worship skills; you might even use a few minutes of this time to be quiet and listen for HIS voice after you worship. Then journal or write down some of the things you felt Him saying to express what you heard! Additional scripture references: Ephesians 5:18-21, Nehemiah 8:10-13

A reflection on the "dance" of David.

Is there a haunting echo in your life? Is there a sight, sound or smell that reminds you of some failure? Is there something that repeatedly floods your heart with shame? Then this is the time and place to turn all that over to Jesus. From now on the very things that condemned you, can remind you of Jesus' love and forgiveness. Inspired by a sermon entitled "Barnyard Echoes" by Robert Holland who was Pastor of Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (c) 1987 Preaching Today.