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About shepherdbryan

My passion is to disciple and see men discipled in every area of their life to see the multiplication principle actually work in a 100 year generational blessing. As go men in the church, so goes the church. As go men in the nation, so goes the nation. Fortunately, because men have often not taken their spiritual role to the limit, God has raised up many godly women to carry the torch where men have laid it aside. May God rapidly raise up men for the next generation of leaders to the Fourth Generation of spiritual leaders! As men lead in a godly way, women will follow in a godly way and that people will be blessed of the Lord.

MSG: Drawing Near to God in Music

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This message was presented on April 21, 2013 as the third part of four message on music and worship.

Drawing Near to God in Music
Hebrews 10:19-25 

What is at the heart of music in worship?  There are authors on all ends of the music spectrum.  Some say because Scripture is not clear in regard to music, it doesn’t matter what we do.  Others are far more rigid and say that we must choose from within a small spectrum of music to be holy before God. What is the answer? Worship is, after all, not about us, but all for God. Worship is about God.  Let me give an example.

When God called Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, God called them to worship on that mountain where Moses was. Moses questioned God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them? God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” (Ex. 3:13-14) Worship is all about God, who was, is and will be.  Then we read in 1 Peter 1:15,16, “He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Pet. 1:15-16)  God is the eternally existent One, the holy One, and we are to be holy, i.e. set aside, for Him.  How then should you worship?

1)      Enter boldly to worship God Heb. 10:19-21 

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, (Heb. 10:19-21)

We note in Hebrews 10:19 that we have access to God and we are to enter boldly into His presence.  But how do we enter boldly, when we are sinful? That boldness is based on His work on the cross, not anything we can do or become.

In Israel’s time, the outer tent kept people away from the Holy of Holies.  God is holy and people must approach Him in a reverent, holy way.  People were not to approach God casually. There was one access to get into the tabernacle complex and then the Holy place where the Menorah or Golden Lampstand sustained burning oil for light, the Table of Shewbread and the altar of incense.  Through the veil was the Holy of Holies, where the high priest entered only once each year to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat.  When Solomon constructed the temple, the layout was similar, only more permanent. 

No Jew would consider entering into the Holy of Holies, the presence of God, except for the high priest annually. Why?  They remembered what happened to Uzzah. Do you remember Uzzah? David was anointed king and had defeated the Philistines, so he sought to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.  They went to Abinadab’s house where it was kept and they placed it on a new cart. Unfortunately, when the oxen stumbled on the road, the Ark began to fall from the cart and Uzzah reached out to steady the ark.  Note God’s action,

3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.
 5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.
 6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
 7 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.
 8 And David became angry because of the LORD’S outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah1 to this day. (2 Sam. 6:3-8)

Uzzah did what he thought was right, but Israel had violated God’s directions on moving the Ark (Ex. 25:14).   God directed the Ark to be carried, not riding on an cart.  God’s word must be treated holy and obeyed.  Why? God is holy.  Israel gained a fear of the presence of God.  Too often today, many Christians have little fear of the presence of God.

In Hebrews 10:20, the word “new” is prosphatos, which means “lately slaughtered,” or “freshly killed.”  Christ’s sacrifice was 40 years before, but it was recent in their memories. Christ’s sacrifice was a totally new type of sacrifice that removed the veil between God and man.  We can approach God, because of what Jesus had done.  Before, men trembled before God and kept their distance.  Now God invites believers to enter boldly.  It’s almost incomprehensible how fantastic what Jesus had done!

In Hebrews 10:21, Jesus is that high priest who made the way possible for us all.  In the Old Testament, only the high priest could draw near to God and enter only once each year.  It was an anxious moment, because no one knew if the high priest would come out of the Holy of Holies. The new access is through Jesus.  The writer to the Hebrews wrote, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25)

That leaves us several questions. Are we to pattern our worship services for believers or unbelievers?  Worship is about God.  Worship is not about unbelievers, it’s about God.  We need to have an evangelistic appeal, but is that the priority in worship?  Have we made everything so casual to help unbelievers fit in so that we have lost awareness of the holy?  The worship service is not a show, but a drawing near to God, the holy One. It is not entertainment, but a drawing near to the sovereign One. It is not a pay for view, but our expression to God.

We should not only enter boldly to worship God, but we should also draw near with full assurance of faith.  

2)      Draw near with full assurance of faith Heb. 10:22 

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb. 10:22) 

The writer beckons us, “Let us draw near,” not to a physical location, but to a spiritual connection with God through the spiritual presence of Jesus Christ by faith.  The specific verb “draw near” in Hebrews 10:22, is also found in Hebrews 4:16; 7:25; 10:1, 22; 11:6; 12:22, and translated, “let us come” or “draw near.” Will you today?  Will you accept what God has done for you?  What does it mean to draw near?

One of the concepts of “draw near” means we’ll sing, “Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.” (Ps. 100:2). It is not a “casual walk by.”  Note the transition from the tangible form of worship to the spiritual emphasis in Hebrews 12,

18 For you have not come to the mountain that  may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest,
 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.
 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned  or shot with an arrow.”
 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)
 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, (Heb. 12:18-22)

Note that the emphasis is not on the physical senses of touching or  hearing.  God wants us to relate with Him in Spirit and Truth. And the writer continues in Hebrews 12:25,

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,
 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake  not only the earth, but also heaven.”
 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
 29 For our God is a consuming fire. (Heb. 12:25-29)

God calls us to draw near, but we don’t go to God on our own initiative or our own way. We must put on a “true” heart.  The word “true” here means “real,” “genuine,” or “sincere.” When I served in the military, the commander determined the uniform.  Even in the field, he determined if it was garrison cap or Kevlar helmet for headgear.  We wore what he directed.  We didn’t have any other options to incorporate our own ideas, like, purple bandanas. God calls us near.  We draw near with a true heart.  Why?

I can’t draw near because of my sin.  I have no right to draw near.  God cannot look upon sin. Habakkuk declared, “You cannot look upon wickedness.”(Hab. 1:13)  Isaiah recognized his unworthiness before holy God when he saw the Lord in heaven. “5 So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.” (Is. 6:5)

How do you draw near to God with a true heart, in Spirit and Truth, when we are physical beings? We want something tangible, something our senses can “sense,” especially something we can feel. Then we can say, “That’s worship.”  And if we don’t feel “worship,” sometimes we begin to question if we have really drawn near in worship?  If I don’t have a certain kind of stimulating music, will I begin to question my experience by means of my physical senses? 

Certainly experience and feelings are good. Certainly I will experience and have some kinds of emotions in worship. The question is, “Are they the measure of worship?”  Paul said to the Philippians that the carnal types, those who relied on the flesh, those who were not filled with the Spirit, worshiped their belly, “whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly” (Phil. 3:19). In the ancient world, they called the belly the seat of emotions.

We can move emotions from the outside in.  For example, it is similar to a tickling stimulation, where laughter results from an outside influence. When I was a boy, my dad could let out a terrific roar when we were in the dark and scared us half to death.  That was an outside stimulus. 

Certain church movements have stretched the limits bycreating music that stimulates the emotions, and people often think that this is “worship.”  They teach that the external, physical signs accompany “true, spiritual” experiences.  So they stimulate through music to create that “physical sense of worship.”  Hence the church often has a longing or temptation to create worship that people can feel, experience and touch.  That is natural for people, who live by their senses.  However, it does not indicate true worship. It may be like what Cain offered and was not accepted by God. God also did not accept the worship of the Samaritans, because they had their own ideas about worship.  If we engage in music that stimulates physical responses, we expect that kind of experience from all music in worship and may get disappointed if we don’t get it.  We begin to depend on the physical experience rather than a spiritual relationship with God.

The writer exhorts that we draw near in “assurance” or certainty of being sprinkled pure by the blood of Jesus by faith.  The writer to Hebrews wrote, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)  Faith is what you cannot see, feel, taste, touch or hear. There is no material basis for faith. There is no physical evidence, no experience and no feeling that tells you worship is pure.  It is by faith, or dependence upon God’s character of holiness and mercy.

Note that emphasis in Hebrews 12:18-19 that is no longer on the physical or tangible,

18 For you have not come to the mountain that  may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness2 and tempest,
 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. (Heb. 12:18-19)

Old Testament worship was tangible. They could see the gold, fine linen garments and sacrifices.  They could touch the animal before its throat was slit, hear the silence when the sacrifice was killed and smell the sacrifice as it was offered.  Everything was physical and tangible.

When I was in boot camp, I was away from my wife for seven weeks.  I did have a picture of her, but I couldn’t touch her hand, smell her fragrance, hear her voice, taste her good food, or look at her beauty, but I had full assurance of her faithfulness.  I enjoyed a relationship with her because of all the letters she wrote, steamy as they were!

Finally, the writer insists that the assurance is by “faith.” There is everything right with experience and feelings.  However, to require them in order to describe worship, you cross what God has defined as worship and practice legalism, or as Paul said, “God is their belly.”  We worship by faith, not by sight or senses or feelings.  In fact, true worship is demeaned, or cheapened, when it is moved by manipulative music.  Should you be afraid of moving or clapping?  Not at all.  That may be a godly response of worship, but that does not measure worship.  David danced before the Lord, but that does not measure worship.  We worship by drawing near to Jesus Christ with full assurance by faith.

Let us summarize the tension of worship with two illustrations.  First, this illustration of Noah’s Ark:

[The picture would not transfer. It is a picture of Noah’s Ark for pre-school with two animals of each kind sitting on the Ark.]

 

 

What does this picture communicate?  There was an Ark and there were two of each kind of animal on the Ark.  That explains how God repopulated the earth after the flood.  Everything is nice, clean, fun and it explains an aspect of the Genesis narrative, especially for children. 

However, does it really explain the flood in Genesis?  What is the emphasis with the flood? Consider this picture.

 

[The picture would not transfer.  It is a picture of people clinging to a rock surrounded by a storm and waves crashing against them with the Ark in the distance]

 

This also has the Ark, but no animals.  What it does portray is the destruction of the people, because of the judgment of God.  Which is more realistic?  Should not our worship be true to who God is rather than what we want?  Do we want to have worship focused on us and be like children or focus it on God?

How should we worship?  We should enter with boldness to worship Him and draw near with full assurance by faith.  We should also emphasize the last part of this passage and the emphasis of this passage. 

3)      Let Us draw near to God Heb. 10:22-25 

This last portion of the passage helps us understand that worship is about the body of Christ worshiping together, not as individuals,

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:22-25)

The writer may have been a a gardener, for twelve times in Hebrews we have “Let us” exhortations (cf. Heb. 4:1,11,14,16; 6:1; 10:22,23,24; 12:1, 28; 13:13,15. The exhortations admonish us to draw together as one body.  Worship is about the corporate body, not the individual.  The writer exhorts us to draw near, hold fast and consider one another.  We’ve looked at the exhortation to draw near. There are two additional exhortations.

We are to hold fast our confession.  Our confession is Jesus Christ is Lord (Rom. 10:9-10).  Jesus will draw us together in unity of purpose in relationship with the Godhead (John 17:20-23). Additionally, we are to consider one another to stir up love and good works.  As the spiritual forces seek to divide, isolate and conquer Christians, we must “consider one another,” which phrase means to “concentrate on one another” to determine how best to “stir up” or provoke to love and good works.  The word “love” refers to thinking more highly of others than self and the word “good” refers to the intrinsic value of the works, which can only be accomplished by the filling of the Holy Spirit.  When the Holy Spirit does the work through the individual, then it has intrinsic value and is “good.” (1 Cor. 3:12)

As the body considers others more important than self, then worship will be about God rather than self.  When worship is about God, then there will be a crescendo of singing!
 

Draw Near to Jesus and you’ll worship God in music!

 

 

 

Message Based Discussion Questions

1)      What kind of music did your church (home) have when you were growing up?

Digging Deeper:

2)      Read Isaiah 6:1-8. What does Isaiah see? ___________________  How does his response teach us how we should approach God in worship?  How do you relate Hebrews 10:10-25 to Isaiah 6:1-8?

3)      What are six attributes of God? ________________; ______________; ________________; __________________; _________________; ________________   How does that relate to how we relate to God according to Phil. 2:9-11?

4)      Who is the main subject of Romans 11:33-36?  ___________________  How does your understanding of this passage affect how you should worship God?

Making application of the message to life:

5)      What can you do to prepare during the week to draw near to God on the weekend service?

6)      How can you help others draw near to God and experience His presence?

7)      What kind of assurance should people have when they leave a worship service at Grace?

Words: Godly vs. Ungodly Results

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Words: Godly vs. Ungodly Results

            In the Garden of Eden, Adam enjoyed perfect environment.  He was never concerned with rubbing his eyes from air pollution, testing the water for contaminants, or listening to foul-mouthed neighbors.  Everything was perfect, because he was made in the image of God and sin had not become a part of his nature or the world around him.

            Scream forward to Genesis 3 and the serpent allures the woman into a conversation, to which she can’t resist.

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, `You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
 3 “but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, `You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'”
 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Gen. 3:1-6)

At that moment, because of disobedience to God’s command, sin enters into the human race.  Now, instead of perfect environment, thorns and thistles grow, sweat becomes normal and childbirth is overcome only by the joy of new life. This initiates the contrast of godly and ungodly results. 

            Take for example the following chart. 
 

Component
Discipline
Proper Use
Sinful Use
Chemical Elements
Chemistry
Vaccine
Poison
Colors/light
Art
Michelangelo
Pornography
Spoken letters
Speech
Bible teaching
Lying, slander
Written letters
Composition
Music lyrics
C.S. Lewis, “Messiah”
Moral filth
Gangsta Rap
Sound waves
Music
Refreshing the spirit and body
Stimulating lust Instant gratification

 

There are four columns and four examples.  The first column identifies a component at its basic level.  For example, chemical elements can be hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen.   The second column identifies the particular discipline or category of study or function which comes from the “component.”  From chemical elements comes a discipline of “chemistry.”  From that discipline, there will be two types of uses of that discipline: a proper use or godly result and a sinful use or ungodly result.

There are many proper uses of chemistry. One example is to use chemistry to create vaccines.  Another is to develop prescription drugs, like pain killers for after surgery.  However, chemistry can be twisted in a sinful use or ungodly result, for example to develop poisons to hurt people. 

Each of the components has a resulting discipline and then a proper use or sinful use.  It depends on whether God is behind it or whether man’s sin nature is behind it.  If you understand this, you’ll understand why there is evil in the world and not be shocked when wickedness develops.  What other examples would you suggest to continue lengthening this chart?

 

           

SGL: Leading a Home Group: How to Encourage People to Pray

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Leading a Home Group: How to Encourage People to Pray

            Prayer is an essential ingredient for growth in the Christian life. There are three ingredients for growth, which include prayer (or faith), God’s Word and God’s empowering Spirit (Rom. 15:13-14).  As these three ingredients work in the relational environment of a small group, people will grow and want to pray. 
We listen to God communicate to us by listening to the reading, teaching and preaching of God’s Word.  We listen to God as we study and meditate on His Word.  But a relationship with God is built on two way communication.  People will never “know” the Lord, unless they have a dynamic prayer life.  That prayer life is developed over time.  We must help all Christians learn how to talk to God, just like a parent will help a baby learn how to talk to the parent.
            Yet, prayer is often a scary thing for some people.  For others, they hide behind the “shy” personality moniker or some others are just lazy and don’t feel like praying.  Here are several things you should consider in helping your group learn how to pray and grow spiritually to overcome their fear. 
First, people are afraid to pray in public. Even though they are talking to One who loves them more than anyone else, public prayer is like public speaking – it scares people to death!  They feel they might say a wrong word. They feel they might say something wrong. They feel awkward.  They can’t see God!  So for new people it’s frightening.
Secondly, people think praying is only for super spiritual people.They hear pastors and others give “eloquent” or really “spiritual” prayers and they think they have to pray like that also, or they better not pray.  Some don’t think they could ever sound spiritual enough, so they would rather remain quiet than say something that might come out “less spiritual.”  As a pastor, I think that way about my prayers at times.  Sometimes a prayer flows well, but other times, it seems like I stumble over myself or forget something important.  Yet, God knows my heart and I keep leading in prayer, because I know God wants me to talk to Him and lead others.
Thirdly, people have not been taught to pray.  Granted, prayer is just talking with God, but it is a big deal for new Christians.  There is no agenda, or order, or beginning or end that has to be said.  Using Scripture is the best thing to use in prayer, but it’s not an absolute, especially for new Christians.   If someone is a little nervous, they choose to think they don’t know what or how to pray.

Fourthly, people think what they pray must sound spiritual, intelligent and profound.  Fortunately, God hears the prayers of children often times more than the prayers of adults.  God is concerned with the faith behind the prayer more than the content or manner of prayer.
So what do you do?  I’ve tried things like asking people to pray one sentence prayers.  I’ve tried praying very simply so no one is intimidated.  I’ve tried asking who would pray for each of the prayer requests (but then that’s all they pray for and they are still uncomfortable).  But I’ve found something that seems to work.
In my home group, we close by praying around the circle.  I open the prayer time up for prayer requests, which I write down and then I tell the group that we’re going to go around the circle in prayer.  You can pray as you desire, or if you’d rather not, just tap the person next to you on the outside of the knee.  That tap lets them know it’s their turn to pray.  No one makes an issue of who prays or not.  To begin, I ask the person to one side to start and around the circle it goes.  That has been very effective in helping people feel relaxed about praying.  It’s not the inspired method, however.
You may want to meet with people outside the group who do not pray.  Your purpose is not to twist their arm, but to get to know them and build trust in the relationship.  As you get to know the person, you will be able to find out through discussion why they may not want to pray. 
Often it’s because they have never prayed in public and don’t know how.  In that case give them encouragement of something simple they could pray next time in the group, or even pray together right there with them – out loud.   It may be that as you see the person at the next meeting, you affirm them about the prayer time together from the last meeting. You may want to take some time to talk about prayer during one of the home group sessions.
Above all, affirm the prayer time with the group.  You don’t have to say something every time.  Yet, you can express once in a while how much you enjoy the prayer time together.  You can let people know how you are blessed by listening to the other prayers and praying along with them.  You the leader can dramatically change how people look at prayer and develop dynamic prayer lives.  There are many resources on prayer.  The key is that prayer is simply talking to God, expressing praise and thanksgiving for His goodness and character and for His ever faithful will in our lives.

 

Counsel: Finding Meaning in Scripture – SPEAK

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Counsel: Finding Meaning in Scripture – SPEAK

Recently, I gave a great tool for personal Bible study using the “Bible Study and Application Format” worksheet. It’s a simple exercise using 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as a pattern for looking at Scripture.  To sum up, you take a passage of Scripture and do four things with it.  First, record what the passage is teaching.  Secondly, examine self to see how you might be failing to live according to the standard of it.  Thirdly, identify the correction in which you need to get back on track with Scripture.  And fourthly, outline a plan of action to put the correction into real living. 
Sometimes it’s difficult for people to determine what the principles are.  This tool is designed to help you.  It’s an acrostic – SPEAK.  Each of the letters represents a word that will help you determine what the principles are from the passage.
S – Sin to confess or avoid
P – Promise to claim
E – Error to avoid/example to follow
A – Action to take/attitude to change
K – Knowledge of God to apply or praise
            By using each of the letters, you can more easily identify principles from the Word.  As you can see, the acrostic also is great for identifying the “reproof” and the “correction” aspect of the Bible Study and Application Format worksheet.
            Use this on several passages and you’ll gain tremendous confidence in making observations and applications from God’s Word.  AND you’ll be doing your own personal study, which will stick with you a much greater time than if someone just spoon-fed you.  Happy studying!

Just in case you needed the questions from the four columns of the Bible Study and Application Format Worksheet, they are below:
2 Timothy 3:16-17

Teaching– What is the commandment or principle?
Reproof– How have I failed to live by it?
Correction– What do I need to do?
Training in Righteousness-What is my specific plan- how will I do it?

 

           

 

Q & A: Choose Music Wisely for Holy Worship

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This is provided for the Message Based Discussion Questions from the message presented on April 7, 2013.  Below is a copy of the message insert and listing of questions, with considerations for answers given after the entire insert.  This is only a guide and not designed to be a complete set of answers.  The questions are designed to assist in the thought process.  The real work is allowing God the Holy Spirit work in the heart for transformation.

Choose Music Wisely for Holy Worship
John 4:19-24           

What is worship and how does music affect worship?  

1)      Worship is declaring God’s worth  John 4:19-24
          a)      We worship in Truth Rom. 15:13-14
        ·         We worship God alone  Is. 45:18, 22; Phil. 2:9-11
        ·         God has given us elements for worship: Scripture reading (1 Tim. 4:13); preaching
                   (2 Tim. 4:2-4); singing (Eph. 5:19-20; Col.. 3:16); prayer 1 Tim. 2:1, the ordinances of
                   baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:41-42) and giving (2 Cor. 16:2)    
          b)       We worship in Spirit
          c)       We worship the Lord
2)       Music will rightly or wrongly move you – is it worship? 
          a)       Scripture identifies many kinds of songs:
          ·         Work Num. 21:17-18; War Ex. 15:20; Love Sol 2:12; Entertainment Job 21:12; Lament
                     Job 30:31; Praise Ps. 150
          b)       Music often causes you to respond OR react in certain ways
          c)       Music helps us express right affections toward the Lord

           ·         Music educates and guides our emotions Acts 16:23-25
           ·         Music is a part of worship under pastoral leadership  Heb. 13:17
           ·         Singing is not optional   Eph. 5:18-19
           ·         Use music that expresses appropriate emotions 1 Cor. 14:40  
           ·         Musical choices matter, because music shapes our affections 1 Sam. 16:23

 

 

Worship is declaring God’s worth!
Wisely choose your music, because it affects how you worship!

 

Message Based Discussion Questions
(See below for suggested answers)

1)       What were some of the first religious songs you ever sang?
Digging Deeper:
2)      Read John 8:31-36.  What did Jesus say the truth would do? _____________  Why did the Jews
          not see their slavery?  Can a person be enslaved to a certain kind of music?  What biblical
          principles can you think of to help determine what kind of music is edifying? 
3)      Read Gal. 5:1; 3:1-3. According to Paul, what is the contrast between these two passages?
          ________________________________  What is the purpose of the Law in American?  What is
         the purpose of the Mosaic Law?  How can someone get enslaved to the Mosaic Law?  How can
         someone get enslaved to laws in worship?
4)       According to Gal. 5:13, what was Paul concerned about with liberty?
          ________________________________ How should a Christian use liberty?  What does that
          look like in worship?
Making application of the message to life:
5)      Based on the message, why is music good? How does it help you?
6)      How can you ensure you are worshiping in Spirit and in Truth?
7)      How can you help in corporate worship at Grace?  What specific things can you do?

 

 

 

Component
Discipline
Proper Use
Sinful Use
Chemical Elements
Chemistry
Vaccine
Poison
Colors/light
Art
Michelangelo
Pornography
Spoken letters
Speech
Bible teaching
Lying, slander
Written letters
Composition
Music lyrics
C.S. Lewis, “Messiah”
Moral filth
Gangsta Rap
Sound waves
Music
Refreshing the spirit and body
Stimulating lust Instant gratification

  

Message Based Discussion Questions 

1)      What were some of the first religious songs you ever sang?

           a)      One of the first songs was “This is my Father’s World.”
           b)      I also learned “Jesus loves me, this I know.” 

Digging Deeper: 

2)      Read John 8:31-36.  What did Jesus say the truth would do? __set me free_  Why did the Jews
          not see their slavery?  Can a person be enslaved to a certain kind of music?  What biblical
          principles can you think of to help determine what kind of music is edifying? 

a)      They were focused on their rituals as a list of things to do and by doing them, they thought God
         would be pleased.  They were more interested in the act, rather than the relationship.

          i)        They saw physical slavery in the Roman Empire and didn’t see their spiritual slavery to
                     sin.
          ii)      As long as they could not do temporal or physical things, they focused on those rather
                    than on the spiritual bondage to the Mosaic Law or their traditions.

b)      A person can be enslaved to a certain kind of music in several ways:

          i)       They may have their list of acceptable forms of music.
          ii)      They may restrict themselves from forms they consider unacceptable.
          iii)    They say music must be done in a certain way (often what they grew up with or were
                   used to hearing)

c)      Scripture is not clear on the kind of music God considers edifying, however, it does say that
         communication must be edifying and not corruptible.  Does the music corrupt or edify?  Does it
         enslave a person, or does it set them free?  What are  the results or what is produced from the
         “form” of music?

3)      Read Gal. 5:1; 3:1-3. According to Paul, what is the contrast between these two passages? __Be
          set free ( do not be enslaved) vs. why do you think that you can do it on your own__  What is
          the purpose of the Law in American?  What is the purpose of the Mosaic Law?  How can
          someone get enslaved to the Mosaic Law?  How can someone get enslaved to laws in worship?

          a)      The purpose of the law in America is to provide stability for the country, protect the
                   people from within and without and ensure people have equal opportunities to pursue life.

          b)      The Mosaic Law was to provide stability in Israel, protect the people from within and
                    provide a way for the people to worship God.  The Law also demonstrated that people
                    could not keep the Law and would need a Savior to deliver them.

          c)      People were enslaved to the Mosaic Law by thinking overt obedience to the Law put a
                   person in good standing with God.  They thought by keeping the Law, God would give
                   them eternal life.

          d)      People can get enslaved to laws in worship by legalism or saying music must be done a
                   particular way.  They do not leave room for flexibility or preference. They also become
                   enslaved by restricting themselves to one form of worship.

 

4)      According to Gal. 5:13, what was Paul concerned about with liberty? _not using liberty in
         Christ for personal use______ How should a Christian use liberty?  What does that look like in
         worship?

         a)      A Christian should use liberty to worship God

                   i)        Use liberty to serve others.
                   ii)      Use liberty to reach others with the gospel.
                   iii)    Use liberty to worship together in different cultures.

          b)      Liberty in worship looks like a variety of different worship forms, but all expressing
                   dependence and enjoyment in the presence of God.

                    i)       Liberty is freedom from legalism or oppression.
                    ii)      Liberty is willingness to worship with people who are different than you or
                             worship in a different way. 

Making application of the message to life: 

5)      Based on the message, why is music good? How does it help you?

          a)      Music is good because it is a mechanism to speak the truth.  It allows the Spirit to work
                   through us. 
          b)      It helps because it touches the emotions of life and assists in expressing passion toward
                   God in the same way that romance expresses passion in marriage.
           c)      Music is something many people can enjoy doing together. It is something people can do
                    repetitively. 

6)      How can you ensure you are worshiping in Spirit and in Truth?

             a)      I must have confessed my sins to God and be dependent on the Holy Spirit.(1 John 1:9)
             b)      I must have a repentant heart. (2 Cor. 7:9-11)
             c)      I must not have any idols of the heart, but be filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18)
             d)      I can support the lyrics and practices by the guidelines of the Scripture (1 Pet. 1:15-16).
             e)      I am humbly dependent on God loving Him with all my heart, soul and mind (John
                       5:19, 30).

 

7)      How can you help in corporate worship at Grace?  What specific things can you do?

            a)      Participate in instrumental or singing teams.
            b)      Offer to help in the upper room.
            c)      Offer to help with stage help or music assistants.
            d)      Make a joyful noise with the congregation.
            e)      Tell the music team they did a great job, if they did.
            f)       Encourage people to participate with their musical abilities.
            g)      Be early and prepare your heart to worship the Lord.

 

SGL: Leading a home group: Asking a person to read

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Leading a home group: Asking a person to read

There are few things more exciting than watching people grow spiritually.  Some people are going to be like John the Baptist and grow in difficult, desert conditions and deliver God’s message in difficult times.  However, most people are going to be far more hesitant to participate, let alone lead.  What about asking people to read Scripture in a home group setting? Does it matter?
It matters about asking people to read. Some people are afraid to read in public, because they may think they will say a word wrong, not know a word, or just stumble too much if they have to read.  Be careful not to call on people to read, unless you know them well and you know they are very willing to read.  Calling on someone to read may shut them down that night and even cause them to back out completely. Consider the following thoughts when you want people to participate by reading in home group.
People are afraid they won’t read well.  That prevents people from participating.  Some people did not learn how to read well in school or talk well publically.  Public speaking is one of the most fearful things people can do.  Many would rather die.  Even in a home group, it’s fearful for some.
People are afraid of unfamiliar words in Scripture. There are familiar words like Mary and Joseph, but there are also words like Jahaziel or Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (Is. 8:1), which look too scary to say in a closet!  People do not want someone else making fun of how they pronounce a word.  Even a snicker is intimidating, so people just don’t want to try.
People are “texting” communicators, rather than verbal communicators.  In our not so brave new world, people are getting used to texting back and forth and all the “text short-hand” causes people to text, rather than talk, even from opposite ends of a couch.  Hence, people would rather just sit and soak rather than do any reading.
Finally, people have been taught to be passive by watching television or the internet.  That passiveness rather than interaction makes people less willing to open up and read. 
So what do you do?  Here are several ideas.
First, ask for a volunteer to read the passage.  Normally someoneis willing to read it.  It’s okay if some would rather not.  Now, if the same person always does the reading, meet with them afterwards, outside the group and ask them to let others read and help them understand you are discipling everyone to get to the point of reading.
Secondly, talk to a hesitant person ahead of time to understand them.  Talk to the person to get to know them.  There might have been an incident in the past where someone made fun of them reading, or they used to stutter, or they just don’t think reading is “them.”  Listen to understand and empathize with them.  Compassionately and as a shepherd, ask them if they want to grow spiritually.  Then help them understand when they are ready, that reading is part of the process of growing spiritually. Help them see they will want to help others read and their overcoming will be an encouragement to others.
Thirdly, talk to a person ahead of time with a specific passage.If someone is not reading very often or at all, talk to them ahead of time and let them know a specific passage you would like them to read at the next group meeting and see if they are willing.  If willing, then make sure you tell them “thanks” right after they read, but don’t make a big deal about the reading in front of others.  After the meeting, affirm them much more enthusiastically and get their reaction.  Ask them if they are willing to do it again.  Keep working with the person to build confidence in the Lord and to participate with the group.
Fourthly, affirm those who read.  A simple “thanks” or “great” doesn’t hurt.  Is it necessary?  For most people it’s not, but what is the problem with giving extra encouragement and affirmation?  You’ll make disciples quicker by following these suggestions.
Asking someone to read is a small thing and yet it’s huge to some people.  A spiritual parent will consider where the person is in his/her spiritual growth and consider how best to stir him/her up to love and good deeds.

 

Counsel: Think and Do List

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Counsel: Think and Do List
God gave us the plan by which we can spiritually grow in this life – it is by renewing the mind. Paul records for us,
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. (Rom. 12:2)
He also records,
                  22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt
             according to the deceitful lusts,
             23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:22-24)
The best way is to focus on godly things is as Paul writes,
                  8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are
             just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good
             report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy– meditate on these things.
 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Phil. 4:8-9)
As you focus on Scripture, God begins His spiritual work in your heart,
13 …for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Phil. 2:13)

This “Think and Do List” exercise establishes biblical thinking, especially during times of temptation and circumstances where life-dominating sins can grab hold. It is great for planning ahead with upcoming events of surgery and other health or family issues.  It is an outstanding tool for developing a blameless thought life.  Who doesn’t have trouble with the thought life at times?  How many times have you been dissed (disrespected), and it got under your skin.  You maintained civility, but you were pretty ticked off.  You wanted to either let the person have it…or just avoid them.  You thought about it and couldn’t get your thinking off the person or the subject.  
Fortunately, you realized you weren’t going anywhere just mulling it over and over.  So how do you get your mind on something else?  This “Think and Do List” is an easy tool that anyone can develop to reorient his thinking.

Think and Do List
 
My temptations and sinful thoughts
What I should be thinking in
this situation?
 
What should I be doing in this situation?
 
 
 
 
 
 

             In the left column, list times of the day or circumstances when you know you struggle.  Remember that whether it is 5 seconds or 5 hours of sinful thoughts, it’s still sin (Jam. 4:17).  The center column is based on Philippians 4:8 and the specific thoughts that you ought to have in your times of temptation.  This includes specific truths from Scripture that apply and what God says that is true about the circumstance (Ps. 119:9, 105; 1 Cor. 10:13; Phil. 4:8-9; James 1:2-4).  The right column is your plan of action to deal with the situation.  It is not your responsibility to change others or the situation, but to complete your responsibilities (Col. 3:17, 23, 24) and bless others (Rom. 12:9-21; 1 Pet. 3:8-12).
            Our words and actions happen, because they exist in the heart (Matt. 15:18-19).  Renew your thoughts and you’ll renew your words and actions. 
            For additional information, see “Self-Confrontation: A Manual for In-Depth Discipleship” Supplement 9-10, pages 460-465.

 

MSG: Choose Music Wisely for Our Lord

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This message was presented on April 14, 2013 as the second of four messages on Music and Worship as we celebrate our new Pastor of Worship and Arts to the team at Grace.

Choose Music Wisely for Our Lord
John 4:19-24 

            Let us consider five comments. People often come to our church and like the messages, but leave because the music was not just what they wanted. There are people who stay out of the beginning of the service and come in when they think the singing is about done. For some, music is either irrelevant or just something we do because it is what “I as an individual like.”  Some churches have seven musical venues, so people can hear the kind of music they like and still get the same sermon. Some people might see the purpose of music as, “expressing truth with what I enjoy so that it will be memorable and it stimulates me.”   What is the common thread of these comments? The common thread is “the individual.” Is the individual the reason for having music in worship?

            Does music matter? It matters to God.  Do we only need to be concerned about lyrics and the actual music or the poetic form of the lyrics doesn’t matter?  IF the words are all that matters, then we can use whatever musical form we desire.  Music becomes purely personal preference, because the only concern is the content of the words.

Let’s first step back and look at what worship is and then consider how music affects worship.  What is worship and how does music affect worship? Let’s start out with this underlying motivation, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. (Col. 3:23)  What is worship?  

1)      Worship is declaring God’s worth  John 4:19-24 

In John 4:19-24 in His discussion with the woman at the well, Jesus describes worship for us. Jesus says two things. First, God seeks those who will worship Him and secondly, those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and in Truth. How we worship declares how we view God, our value of God, or His “worthship.”  How do I worship?

Jesus meets a woman of the city who draws her water at noon, because that is when no one else is at the well.  Everyone else goes in the morning or the evening when it is cool. She has been living a lifestyle whereby she wants to avoid people. Jesus asks her for water and in the discussion He offers her living water.  Living water?  She wants the living water, so she doesn’t have to go to the well. When Jesus discusses her life of being married five times and the sixth man she is connected to is outside of marriage, she gets uncomfortable and changes the discussion.

                   19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
              20 “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place
             where one ought to worship.”
              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.” (John 4:19-24)

The Samaritans said worship was to be done on Mt. Gerizim and the Jews said worship was to be done on Mt. Zion. In both cases, the emphasis was: what is the right way? What is the right form? Both the Jews and Samaritans were preoccupied with the overt form of worship.   God did, after all, in Exodus and Leviticus, establish a precisely prescribed procedure of how to worship. Later, He directed it to be done in Jerusalem.  But Jesus draws her to the heart of the issue – worship is done by Spirit and Truth.

            Many argue whether this refers to the human spirit or the Holy Spirit.  People have no trouble defining truth as the truth of God’s Word. But what does “spirit” refer to, since it is not capitalized in most translations?

            It is helpful to understand the three ingredients for spiritual growth. The ingredients are listed in Romans 15:13-14, where Paul writes, “13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 14Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.   
 
            Our God of hope wants us to abound in hope.  How will that happen? We will abound when we put three ingredients into our spiritual life practice. The first ingredient for spiritual growth is our responsibility of faith as the text says  “in believing.” Notice, the second ingredient for spiritual growth is what God provides as it says, “by the power of the Holy Spirit.” And the third ingredient for growth is God’s Word, or as the text says, “filled with all knowledge, able to admonish…” referring back to Romans 15:4, “4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  So, we have first, believing or faith; secondly, the Spirit and thirdly, God’s Word or Truth.  These are the three ingredients for spiritual growth.  They also are the three ingredients for worship. Let me explain.

             First, we worship in Truth.  I cannot worship God in whatever way I please.  Do you remember what happened to Cain when he offered a sacrifice to God?  He brought what he thought was a good offering of the ground, but God did not respect or accept it. Additionally, Jesus said it well in John 4:22, “”You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.”  Jesus was not hesitant to distinguish that the God of the Jews was the true God.  He was not hesitant to say the Jews were worshiping correctly, because they worshiped the true God. After all, the Samaritans had taken some ideas from the Jews and incorporated their ownideas for their god. They decided who their God was and how they would worship Him.  That is exactly what Cain did.

            So what should be included in worship according to Truth? Truth teaches we worship God alone.  The first commandment states, “I am the Lord your God…you shall have no other gods before Me.” (Ex. 20:2-3)  God spoke through Isaiah the prophet, “I am the Lord, there is no other.” (Is. 45:18)   Jesus Christ is the One to whom every knee will bow (Phil. 2:9-11). 

            Truth also teaches God has given us examples of the elements in our corporate worship. These include Scripture reading (1 Tim. 4:13); preaching (2 Tim. 4:2-4); singing (Eph. 5:19-20; Col.. 3:16); prayer 1 Tim. 2:1, the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:41-42) and giving (2 Cor. 16:2).  So we worship God according to His Word, that is, by means of truth from God.  In fact, Paul tells Timothy, “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (1 Tim. 4:13)  The elements of worship are important, because they are based on Truth.  Truth declares God’s worth, His value.  

            Secondly, we worship in Spirit.  John 4:24 records that we worship in Spirit and truth.  There is one preposition for both nouns.  The words are united as one thought.  Both go together for true worship. So, is it the human spirit or the Holy Spirit? 

           The woman was seeking a form of worship.  Jesus wanted her to get to the relationship of worship.  Jesus says, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37)  That is our entire being, in fact, our spirit.  

           We should recognize, however, Jesus did nothing on earth apart from the Holy Spirit. He was led into testing by the Spirit and led out of it by the Spirit  (Luke 4:1, 14). He verified his public ministry was anointed by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18).  His miracles were done by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 5:17; 6:19; 8:46; Acts 10:38).  And He was sustained on the cross by the Holy Spirit (Heb. 9:14).  If that were true of Jesus, how could we worship God apart from the Holy Spirit? In 1 John 5:6, we read about  the connection of the Holy Spirit to Truth, “The Spirit is truth.”

            Now, if you choose not to interpret pneumahere as Holy Spirit, that’s okay, because you still have to be filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit to worship God. And when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will worship through singing as Paul writes,

            …be filled with the Spirit,
            19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
             melody in your heart to the Lord,
            20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
             (Eph. 5:18-20)

So, when Jesus says to worship in Spirit and Truth, He is referring to worship from the inner being of the human spirit by means of the Holy Spirit.  Finally, the third ingredient of worship.

          Thirdly, we worship the Lord.  Our act of worship is the third ingredient of worship.  Worship is a form of dependence on God.  It expresses upon whom we are dependent.   Just as faith and prayer are both dependence on the Lord, worship says I trust only in the Lord.

          Worship is declaring God’s worth.  So, how does music affect worship? 

2)      Music will rightly or wrongly move me – is it worship?  

          Let us understand again the three ingredients related to worship. How do you worship the Lord?  “In truth” is easy, because you measure worship by the Word. The second ingredient “worship” is your dependence on God.  How do you worship “in Spirit”?  Is it your feelings? Is it your affections? Is it your passion?  Is the affection expressed in worshiping God the same as the emotional response of a team winning a championship?  Is the affection I have for God the same as the affection I have for Papa Murphy’s pizza?  How do I distinguish the affections a young girl has for a rock star singer and affections I have for Jesus Christ?  

          We have to be careful not to equate the human spirit with physical feelings.  Physical feelings can be stimulated without any thought or spiritual affection.  Let’s say that you tickle your granddaughter and she laughs till she almost wets her pants.  OR, if you tell her a joke, she may also laugh.  Are they the same? When tickling her, she’s stimulated without any kind of thought, but in the joke, she laughs because she intellectually understood the punch line and the laughter, the emotional expression, came because she understood the joke.  By tickling her, the tickling is driving her to laugh and is not a thought process. By telling her a joke, she laughs because she thought about it. One is an emotional response driven from something outside and the other is an emotional response because of something inside.

           Is music driving my feelings and I call it worship in the Spirit or is music a mechanism the Spirit uses to help me worship?   When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, music is a mechanism the Holy Spirit uses to enhance your worship. 

          Music provides a means to express your affections to the Lord.  Music is designed to help you.  We believe in a mighty God, and we put that truth to music in “A Mighty Fortress is our God.”  We believe in the shed blood of Jesus and it’s put into many hymns like “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” or “Before the Throne.”  Now, we’re not seeking emotions or feelings, yet they may be a strong response in worship. 

          Are there some emotions that would be inappropriate in worshiping God?  For example the emotion associated with uncontrollable rage? Or out of control frightful screaming? Or emotions associated with dreadful depression? Would you think it appropriate to worship a holy God with those emotions?

          We need to teach our spirits in the Word by means of the Holy Spirit.  Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col. 3:16).  David used music to lift Saul (1 Sam. 16:23).  Paul and Silas sang hymns to lift their spirits while in prison (Acts 16:25).  

          Scripture identifies at least five kinds of songs: a work song  (Num. 21:17-18);  a war song  (Ex. 15:20);  a love song  (Sol. 2:12); an entertainment song  (Job 21:12); a lament song (Job 30:31); and praise songs (Ps. 150).

          Music often causes you to respond OR react in certain ways:  Consider the following examples:

          First, what happens when we fill your heart with music that rages? 

[Link removed, because of the inappropriateness of the music and content]

How would that music affect your thinking in worship? 

          Secondly, what happens when you watch a steamy scene in a movie?  Besides being embarrassed if you’re watching with someone else from church, what emotions rise up? 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3gAfnrSyxY

          If that music was always played, what would be your view of God? How would that affect how you think? Is it any different than some of the sensual ways Christian singers express themselves today?

          Thirdly, if I play sentimental, light and fluffy music, how does that affect your view of God?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbRW73P24V8

          This kind can be okay for kids and fun, but if that’s all you had how would that affect your view of God?  How would that affect how you think about God? Let us summarize how music affects worship.

          Music helps us express the right affections toward the Lord.  Music helps us respond with our affections when we don’t have the right words.  Consider these principles:

          First, music educates and guides our emotions and feelings.  When we have troubling or wrong emotions, good music can draw us to right ways of thinking. Paul and Silas were imprisoned and when they sang hymns, their hearts were lifted as well as the other prisoners (Acts 16:23-25).

          Secondly, music is a part of worship under pastoral leadership. The buck stops with the elders and the pastoral leadership.  “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” (Heb. 13:17)

          Thirdly, singing is not optional.  Singing is not if or what I enjoy, but part of worship.  Singing is a God-ordained means for expressing right affections in worship (Eph. 5:18-19).

          Fourthly, use music that expresses appropriate emotions. Music should be done decently and in order to provide stability for emotional health (1 Cor. 14:40).  For example, raging music should not be used in worship.  Another example is using great lyrics in questionable tunes.  Amazing Grace is a great song.  However, I once was at a worship service, where it was sung to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun.”  It worked because it was metrically correct, but inappropriate for the meaning of Amazing Grace.  It was “interesting,” but we are not commanded to be interesting. We are commanded to worship God in Spirit and Truth.
 
          And fifthly, musical choices matter, because music shapes our affections 1 Sam. 16:23

 

Worship is declaring God’s worth!
Wisely choose your music, because it affects how you worship God! 

Ensure your music declares God’s worth, because it will affect how you worship.
 

Message Based Discussion Questions

1)      What were some of the first religious songs you ever sang?

Digging Deeper:

2)      Read John 8:31-36.  What did Jesus say the truth would do? _____________  Why did the Jews not see their slavery?  Can a person be enslaved to a certain kind of music?  What biblical principles can you think of to help determine what kind of music is edifying? 

3)      Read Gal. 5:1; 3:1-3. According to Paul, what is the contrast between these two passages? _____________________________  What is the purpose of the Law in American?  What is the purpose of the Mosaic Law?  How can someone get enslaved to the Mosaic Law?  How can someone get enslaved to laws in worship?

4)      According to Gal. 5:13, what was Paul concerned about with liberty? ________________________________ How should a Christian use liberty?  What does that look like in worship?

Making application of the message to life:

5)      Based on the message, why is music good? How does it help you?

6)      How can you ensure you are worshiping in Spirit and in Truth?

7)      How can you help in corporate worship at Grace?  What specific things can you do?

 

Component
Resulting Discipline
Proper Dominion
Evidence of Man’s Sin
Chemical Elements
Chemistry
Vaccine
Poison
Colors/light
Art
Michelangelo
Pornography
Spoken letters
Speech
Bible teaching
Lying, slander
Written letters
Composition
Music lyrics
C.S. Lewis, “Messiah”
Moral filth
Gangsta Rap
Sound waves
Music
Refreshing the spirit and body
Stimulating lust Instant ratification

 
1)      Work song  17Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well! All of you sing to it– 18 The well the leaders sank, Dug by the nation’s nobles, By the lawgiver, with their staves.” And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah, (Num. 21:17-18)
2)      War song 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. (Ex. 15:20)
3)      Love song 12 The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. (Sol. 2:12)
4)      Entertainment song 12 They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute. (Job 21:12)
5)      Lament song 31 My harp is turned to mourning, And my flute to the voice of those who weep. (Job 30:31)
6)      Praise song (Ps. 150)

Question: Did the ancient people know what a half-hour was?

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Question: Did the ancient people know what a half-hour was?

A question came from a reference in Revelation 8:1. It is the transition from the seal to the trumpet judgments. The seventh seal is the initiation for the seven trumpet judgments.  Revelation 8:1 states, “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (Rev. 8:1)  Did the ancient people really know what a half hour was?  That does seem to be a small length of time, considering they didn’t have quartz or digital watches!

The Greek word for half hour is ἡμιώριον(haymiorion) (Rev 8:1).  It means literally, “half hour” according to a Scripture dictionary.  It comes from two words “haymi,” which means “half” and “horion,” which is a dimunitive form  “hora,” or “hour”  So it is half an hour to the lines on a sun dial.  It’s only used in this one location in Scripture.

A couple references in Isaiah 38:8; and 2 Kings 20:9 reference telling time by a sort of sun dial.  Half the distance between lines would be the half hour. Sun dials were well known in ancient times. They were common in B.C. 1500 and some say the obelisks were used to tell time back to B.C. 3500.

Always ask the questions; always trust the Scriptures.

 

 

Counsel: Bible Study and Application Format

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Counsel: Bible Study and Application Format

How many times have you led someone to Jesus Christ and been asked the question “Okay, now what?”  You have been a Christian for a while, but their question sends you to the inner resources of your mind and you come out with a brilliant blank!  Or maybe you wanted to get started yourself and you don’t know where to begin studying in Scripture and you think, “If only I had a book that could tell me how to study or what to study in the Bible.”
            We often get the notion that we need another resource or person to dig into the Bible.  Certainly, everyone should begin their spiritual journey with a disciple-maker.  That’s the model that Jesus provided (Matt. 28:19-20).  Yet, you can gain a great deal of wisdom by doing your own personal study. The exercise below is a simple and easy tool to help you gain spiritual strength to dig into Scripture.
            This simple tool is called the “Bible Study and Application Format.”  It is based on 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  It’s likely easiest to understand in a chart form.

Bible Study and Application Format: (Biblical Reference)
 
Teaching- What is the
commandment or principle?
 
Reproof- How have I failed to live by it?
 
Correction- What do I need to do?
 
Training in Righteousness-
What is my specific plan- how will I do it?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Let me explain how simple it is and how you can gain immediate growth. First, choose a passage of Scripture.  I’d encourage you to choose a passage from the book of James, because it is so practical.  You could also choose a passage from the first eight chapters of Romans, or a passage from Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians, or even 1 John.  James is a very practical book and has great applications.  You could choose James 1:22-25; or James 2:1-5; or James 3:1-12; or James 4:6-10; or another passage.  Then follow the four steps with the four-column chart right above this paragraph.
First, what does the passage teach? There will often be a command or a principle that the passage is teaching.  You can record one or several principles.
Secondly, examine yourself and ask God to reveal how you may not be living according to the standard communicated in the passage.  This is called reproof from the Word.  It’s easy to examine yourself and by means of the Holy Spirit.  After recording the teaching from the passage, ask God to help you see how you may or may not be living according to the passage.  The Holy Spirit will reveal to you conviction about how you have failed to live according to the passage.  Fortunately, because God gives us the standard in His Word, He also gives hope that He will help us overcome the reproof.  The beginning of that process is in the third step.
Thirdly, in the third column, how am I corrected?  What should I be doing according to the Scripture? This step helps me get back on track to walk in a manner worthy of His calling.  I need a plan, however, because all step three is awareness.
So, finally in the fourth column, what does this passage communicate about how I should live.  This is the training in righteousness.  What is my plan to put the principles from the passage into action?  How do I implement the principles into life?  This is a good time to consider how I should engage my thoughts, my words and my actions that would help me live according to the passage.
Why is doing this exercise so important? Most people like to sit and listen to other people teach the Scriptures or to just read books.  Both of those options are great.  However, what is even better is doing the work yourself.  When we are beginning spiritually, we need to be spoon fed the truth or drinking on the milk of the Word.  However, we need to get to the point where we are  able to stick a fork into the Word and use a knife to cut off a portion to chew on it ourselves.  That’s when we are feeding ourselves.  The writer to the Hebrews explains,
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Heb. 5:12-14)
It may not seem like you get very much yourself, compared to what other teachers may be able to communicate.  But if you are patient with yourself, God will lead you to be able to dig out treasures and nuggets of truth just like other teachers.
For additional information, please see the “Self-Confrontation: A Manual for In-Depth Discipleship” Supplement 3, pages 437-439.