Church 1/7/2023
Offertory scripture:
Psalm 35:27
Being humble means saying what God says about you. Continually.
Proverbs 3:9-10
God wants to bless you more than even you want to be blessed.
Sermon message:
Thesis: Start the year with worship
Worship is praising God, gathering in fellowship, and spending time in His Word.
Worship is to esteem something important, to revere it/Him.
Start the year this way. It will set the tone for the whole year.
Characteristics of worship from the Christmas story that we can learn and examine.
Wise people in the Bible:
Zechariah: he was worshiping and God talked to him. Elizabeth and Mary as well. The shepherds too. And Simeon, Anna, along with others.
And the wise men.
Matthew 2:1-2
The wise men arrived sometime around 18-24 months after Jesus was born. They walked ~850 miles to get to Bethlehem.
Point #1: worship involves personal sacrifice.
Matthew 2:1-2
The wise men saw something that they were called to do and followed through on it.
Point #2: worship opens our eyes to spiritual realities
Matthew 2:3-9
When you worship God, He will open your eyes to see and hear things others don’t see or hear.
Point #3: Worship brings us great joy.
Nehemiah 8:10
Matthew 2:10
Point #4: worship involves giving to God.
Matthew 2:11
Point #5: worship changes you
Matthew 2:12