True Worship and The Mission

March 10, 2013
True Worship and The Mission
Mark 11:15-19
Scott Howard

"On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and begain driving out those who were buying and selling there.  He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry murchandise through the temple courts.  And as he taught them, he said, 'Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of robbers.' '  The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.  When the evening came, they went out of the city."   ---Mark 11:15-19

A little history...
In this passage, Jesus is quoting first from Isaiah 56:7 and then from Jeremiah 7:11.  He is upset because the place where the Jews were setting up their merchandise and carting things back and forth was the outer courts of the temple, which was specifically set aside for the Gentiles and people of other nations to come and worship and experience the presence of God.  In addition to occupying the space for themselves, they were also showing disrespect for the sanctuary of Almighty God.  What kind of witness for God were they showing to the Gentiles and people of other nations if this is how they treat the temple of God? 

Ok, back to sermon notes...

When God is the center of our worship...

1.   We Revere His Greatness

• They had become uninterested in the Majesty of God.
• They had become unaware of the Presence of God.  ---see Isaiah 1:11-14  God wants sincerity of the heart.

      True Worship...

• Rediscovers His Majesty. --> if you truly worship, you will not grow casual with God
• Rejoices in His Presence. --> because we know He is with us, we can be joyful

2.   We Reflect His Holiness...

• The Church: A reflection of God, or the world?  --> in our text, Jesus came into the Temple courts expecting a place set apart for worship, but instead found a place that looked just like the market, same as outside the temple.
• We are the temple of God! --> after Jesus died, the curtain of the Holy of Holies in the Temple was torn, symbolizing our own personal access to God's presence.  This means we are the temple of God.  *See 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Personally: What areas of my life are not reflecting His Holiness?
Corporately: What areas of the church are not reflecting His Holiness?

3.   We Commit to His purpose...

• How we worship will greatly affect who esle worships.
• Worship is the fuel of this unstoppable mission.  -->others will see the Glory of God
• Worship is also the goal of this unstoppable mission.  -->we all will Glorify God for eternity

God-centered worship always leads to God-sized sacrifice and obedience. 

When we walk into the sanctuary at church, or even as we live our lives outside the church, are we really thinking about how we will Glorify God?  About His Greatness?  About His Holiness?  Most of the time we are consumed with what is going on in our earthly lives.  It is time we think on Heavenly things.  It is time we set apart the church, our hearts, our time, to truly worship our King.  When we are focused that much on Him, others will notice and come to know the Grace of God.