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Chapter 27

Worshiping God

1. General
   1. Worship God
      • We must worship God
      • Worship God alone – do not worship anything or anyone else
      • Worship God for his glory and sovereignty
      • Worship God for his marvelous deeds – including his creation of everything
      • Worship God because of his care of his people
   2. Worshiping before God
      • Worship before God, in his presence
      • Worship God in spirit and by the Holy Spirit
      • Worship God in reverence and awe . . .
      • . . . Even bow and fall down before God
      • Worship God with praise
      • Worship God with thanksgiving
      • Worship God through prayer and even with fasting
   3. Worshiping Together (I): General
      • Worship God together
      • Offer praise and thanksgiving together
      • Pray together
      • Repent together for corporate sin
      • Offerings should be made during collective worship
      • Have order and propriety in collective worship
   4. Worshiping Together (II): OT Feasts and Festivals
      • The Israelites were to celebrate together three annual festivals or feasts
      • Celebration of God’s deliverance: The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
      • Celebration of God’s provision: The Feast of Weeks (or Pentecost); . . .
      • . . . and the Feast of Booths
      • Israel was also to celebrate new moon festivals
      • The feasts and festivals were generally times of rejoicing
      • The feasts and festivals included sacred assemblies and days of no regular work
      • Offerings to God were a prominent part of feasts and festivals

2. Offerings
   1. Reasons to Give to God
      • We are required to give offerings to God
      • Offerings are an important part of worshiping God
      • Offerings acknowledge God’s provision for us . . .
      • . . . In fact, all we have to give God has been given to us by him and ultimately belongs to him
      • Offerings express thanksgiving to God for his deliverance
      • Offerings support the service of God
      • Offerings are often to help the needy – bringing thanks and glory to God
      • By giving to God, we ourselves will be blessed
      • Note: God has given us the ultimate gift – Jesus Christ himself
   2. What to Give to God
      • Give the “firstfruits” to God
      • Give the best to God . . .
      • . . . Do not give what is inferior to God
      • Give all that you can
      • The practice of giving an amount in proportion to one’s income – such as a tenth
      • Offer spiritual sacrifices to God
      • Note: The OT grain and peace offerings
   3. How to Give to God
      • Give in a way that is acceptable to God
      • Give willingly
      • Give joyfully
      • Give generously
      • Give regularly . . .
      • . . . and give on special occasions
      • Note: The practice of making of vows to God, which have to be kept
   4. Righteousness and Making Offerings
      • We must live righteously to acceptably worship God . . .
      • . . . Our offerings are not acceptable to God if our lives do not please him
      • God desires righteousness more than offerings and sacrifices
      • We should in fact offer ourselves to God, in service to him

 ➜Major headings in: 27. Worshiping God (and all of Unit F)

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