Category: Authentic Worship

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

God moves worship beyond simply a practice or momentary act and moves it into the realm of our existence – our life, who we are, and therefore what we will naturally do. More than an act of offering, our whole lives become the act of worship.

In authentic worship we offer up our body, our whole life for the glory of God to be known in and through us. We also offer up our finances, resources, and time to the Lord as a spiritual sacrifice. We offer up our praise to the Lord.

“I have loved you” says the Lord speaks louder and further than we can fathom as we lovingly live in authentic worship of our Lord. By God’s grace, may we offer authentic and meaningful worship continually to the only One who is worthy of all honor and glory and praise, even among all the nations.

Prayer: Dear Lord, in view of your mercy, we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice this weekend. May our worship be holy and pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship singing to “I Surrender” by Hillsong. (Click Here)

– TR

Malachi 1:11 (NIV) – “My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets…” says the LORD Almighty.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) – “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

“When you get a glimpse of the greatness of God, when you gain a proper perspective of who Christ is and what Christ has done for you, you’ll never again play games with God. When we see Christ as the image of God, clearly presented to us as worthy of worship and praise, we must respond with loving worship and heartfelt obedience. And because of Christ, we are able to offer these sacrifices from a pure heart.” [Fries, Rummage, & Gallaty in “Exalting Jesus in…Malachi”]

All of me. In Christ. As wholehearted reverence for God’s majesty & greatness, lived as our whole-life response to his unfailing love, the “I have loved you” love. As we seek to live authentically in worship, together as his church loving God and loving others, this is how God’s name becomes great among the nations…beyond the borders of just us.

Prayer: Lord, open the eyes of our hearts to get a glimpse of your greatness day in and day out. And transform us to be the church that images you in every way. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship singing to “Glory To Glory” by Worship Central. (Click Here)

– TR

Malachi 1:10-11 (NIV) – “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets…” says the LORD Almighty.

Romans 3:24-25 (NLT) – “Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.”

The way God shut the doors to the fake, careless and inauthentic worship of irreverence and exchange was to – figuratively speaking – shut the doors on his very own son Jesus so that in him and through him the doors into God’s presence – into his glorious love and greatness would be opened to all. Not only would Jesus fulfill the perfect act of worship and sacrifice, but he would do it for all who would believe in him. In Christ we receive new and authentic worship unto the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for all that Jesus did for us on the cross so that we can be right with you and worship you in Spirit and in truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship singing to “Behold (Then Sings My Soul)” by Hillsong. (Click Here)

– TR

Malachi 1:6 (NIV/NLT) – “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve?” says the LORD Almighty.
“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.
“But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

Noting the connection with Malachi 1:1-5: “…the prophet then moved to point out why that divine love was unable to demonstrate itself fully. It was sheer indifference, carelessness, and half-heartedness, primarily on the part of the spiritual leadership, and then among the people at large, that blocked the full effects of the people’s privileged position and election from showing through in God’s love.”

“In direct proportion to which mortals grasp the greatness of the person, character, and attributes of God (- his name), to that degree will their own inadequacies, falseness, and diluted worship take on credibility, substance, acceptance, and posture.” [Walter Kaiser, Malachi: God’s Unchanging Love]

Simply put, if God is not supreme in my heart, he is not supreme in my life, and that is what will be reflected or enacted through me. May God be supreme in our hearts this week.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, where there is indifference toward you in our worship, revive us with passion for your holy name. Where there is carelessness in our worship, empower us with authenticity and sincere love for your name’s sake. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship singing to “Let There Be Wonder” by Matt Redman. (Click Here)

– TR

Let’s read aloud together the following Scripture, confession, and prayer:

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Manila Manifesto – The Local Church
Every Christian congregation is a local expression of the body of Christ and has the same responsibilities. It is both “a holy priesthood” to offer God the spiritual sacrifices of worship and “a holy nation” to spread abroad his excellences in witness. The church is thus both a worshipping and a witnessing community gathered and scattered, called and sent. Worship and witness are inseparable.

The church is intended by God to be a sign of his kingdom, that is, an indication of what human community looks like when it comes under his rule of righteousness and peace. As with individuals, so with churches, the gospel has to be embodied if it is to be communicated effectively.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the mercy we have received through Jesus – the perfect sacrifice, so that we can come and worship you with authentic hearts. May our worship be pleasing to you this week. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship singing to “There’s Nothing That Our God Can’t Do” by Passion (click here).

– TR