The Beauty and Power of Authentic Worship: July 21, 2019

Sermon Notes

Title: The Beauty and Power of Authentic Worship

Text: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 (NIV)

1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

I. AUTHENTIC WORSHIP IS VALUED BY GOD

TEXT: 10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!  11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?” says the Lord.  “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats

II. OUR WORSHIP SHOULD BRING GOD PLEASURE

TEXT: 12 When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?  13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!  Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.  14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being.  They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening.  Your hands are full of blood!  

III.  TRUE WORSHIP IS ABOUT DOING  

TEXT 16 Wash and make yourselves clean.  Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.  17 Learn to do right; seek justice.  Defend the oppressed.  Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. 

IV. IN TRUE WORSHIP THE SCARLET SIN IS TURNED WHITE AS SNOW 

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.  19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”  For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 

QUOTE OF NOTE

To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.

William Temple (15 October 1881 – 26 October 1944) Renowned Anglican Teacher and Preacher