TEXT:  John 4:23-24

INTRODUCTION:

A.  AN ACT OF HOMAGE OR REVERENCE.

          TO REVERE WITH A FEELING OF AWE OR DEVOTION.  TO KISS TOWARD.

B.  WE TAKE WORSHIP FOR GRANTED.

          1.  Not enough thought given to its importance … No feeling.

          2.  How many can name the acitivities of worship?

C.  Acts 2:42;  Eph. 5:18-19.  THESE VERSES NAME THEM BUT DON’T TELL MUCH.

D.  OUR PURPOSE IS TO STUDY OUR ATTITUDES IN WORSHIP. WITH THE NOTION

          OF GETTING MORE OUT OF IT.

I.  WILLINGLY.

A.  NOT JUST BECAUSE WE ARE FORCED.

          1.  David (Psa. 122:1).

          2.  Judah (Mal. 1:13-14;  Isa. 29:8-10;  30:9-11).

B.  AN OUTPOURING  OF GRATITUDE (Heb. 13:15;  Psa. 100).

C.  HE IS WORTHY (Psa. 8:1-3;  Rev. 4:11).

D.  WILLING SERVICE BEGINS HERE (2 Cor. 8:5).

II.  ORDERLY (1 Cor. 14:40).

A.  IN CONTEXT (vs. 26-33).  ORDER IN WORSHIP.

B.  SOME THINGS THAT MAKE FOR DISORDER:

          1.  Coming in late.

          2.  Unprepared to start.  Loud talk, etc.

          3.  Talking during study and communion.

          4.  Cell Phones! – Texting.

          5.  Disorderly children è Nursery>Bigger kids, bigger problems.

III.  REVERENT.

A.  THE WATERGATE (Neh. 8).

          1.  Attentive (vs. 3).

          2.  They stood (vs. 5).

          3.  They reacted (vs. 6).

B.  Heb. 12:28-29.  REVERENCE AND AWE.

IV.  SPIRITUAL – SINCERITY.

A.  GOD’S EXPECTATION (John 4:24;  Matt. 15:7-9).

          1.  In Spirit – the Inner Man.

          2.  In Truth – Conforming to God’s Pattern (Matt. 15:9;  John 17:17).

B.  INNER MAN – Understanding (1 Cor. 14:15).

          NOT JUST GOING THRU THE MOTIONS.

C.  THE LORD’S SUPPER (1 Cor. 12:27-30).

D.  OUR SONGS, STUDY, PRAYERS – SINGING (Eph. 5:19).

V.  HUMBLE – HE WILL LIFT YOU UP.

A.  IMPLIED IN THE ACT (James 4:7-10).

B.  THE PUBLICAN (Luke 18:13-14).

C.  GOD RESISTS THE PROUD – BUT GIVES GRACE (1 Pet. 5:5-6).

D.  BEWARE THE PRIDE OF GRACE (1 Cor. 10:12).

VI.  INDIVIDUAL.

A.  YOU HAVE A PART IN EVERY ACTIVITY OF WORSHIP.

          1.  Do you sing? (Col. 3:16).

          2.  Do you pray? (Jas. 5:16).

          3.  Do you listen (Acts 17:11).

          4.  Do you observer the Supper? (1 Cor. 11:28-30).

          5.  What about giving? (1 Cor. 16:2;  2 Cor. 9:7).

B.  EVEN WHEN WE ARE ASSEMBLED.

VII.  PURE.

A.  PURITY IS EXPECTED OF US (2 Cor. 7:1;  Heb. 12:14-17;  2 Tim. 2:22).

B.  DRAWING NEAR ASSOCIATED WITH PURITY (Heb. 10:22).

CONCLUSION:

A.  AN UNDERSTANDING OF WORSHIP IS VITAL.

B.  SO IS THE PROPER ATTITUDE.