Baptist Christian Church

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Psalm 29

We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country  103.7 FM just after 8am. We began our series on worship by studying from Psalm 84 learning how to have a proper attitude in worship. Then we looked at some things that can hinder our worship. Today I would like for us to look at some elements for proper worship. If you study worship in the O.T., you will discover that it was a lot of work! Folks had to do a lot more than just get up shower and get dressed, eat and come to church. The longer Christ tarries in His return for us, true worship is often exchanged for easy believism, entertainment, feel-good theology, and a 5 or 10 minute speech that’s more focused on telling people what their itching ears want to hear so it suits their own passions – rather than preaching the inspired, inerrant, infallible, Word of God to reprove, rebuke, and exhort through the sound teaching of Biblical doctrine. Now, here is one of the great truths about a salvation relationship with Christ: it is never too late to start being pure, and you can start right now! Here is another truth that ought to encourage you: when you begin to increase your desire for godliness, God then begins to help you decrease your desire for ungodliness. So let’s consider some elements that are important to proper worship. Let’s begin with:

1. AWE. Read Dt. 10:12, 13; Ps. 68:35; Eccl. 5:1 and you will see in general, Awe = the fear of God. Awe is dreadful fright or fear, the kind of fear that stops you in your tracks and he immediately floods your system with adrenaline making you think your heart is going to jump out of your chest! It is not wrong to say such fear is designed to stop us in our tracks. No matter the reason or cause of the fear, it is for the purpose of causing us to change our current course of action. And almost always that change in action is to protect or preserve us in some way. Did you know proper worship must include:
2. TRUST? Read Ps. 4:5; Ps. 37:7; Heb. 11:6. Do you know one of the easiest ways to determine your level of trust in God? It’s really very simple! Think about all of your life and everything about you – got it? Now, imagine a piece of paper with a line drawn down the middle; one side is entitled, “those areas where I trust God without question to handle everything about my life.” And the other side is entitled, “those areas of my life where I have trouble, or just don’t trust God to handle them without some help from me.” Now, which side of the paper has the longer list? Worship also includes:
3. PRAISE! Read Neh. 9: 5, 6; Heb. 2:12; Rev. 7:11, 12. A true man or woman of God lives with a proper fear of God, and knows by personal experience that God can be trusted to provide the highest quality of life at all times – because they have learned to properly fear and trust God, they are able to praise Him even when life is difficult, painful, unpleasant, and makes no sense. When we consider proper worship in an attitude of awe, trust, and praise proper worship will also include:
4. THANKSGIVING. Read Ps. 100:4; Eph. 5:19, 20; Rev. 11:16, 17. Baker’s Encyclopedia of the Bible defines Thanksgiving, in part, this way: “gratitude is not a tool used to manipulate the will of God – it is a joyful commitment of one’s personality to God.” These four elements are essential for proper worship. Without them worship is empty. Next week we will look at why that is true.

If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.

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Romans 1:18-23

We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country  103.7 FM just after 8am. I have learned there is a “boat load” of excuses but very few reasons a person who calls themselves a Christian wouldn’t want – even anticipate – worship on Sunday morning. However, it is possible that a Christian is truly struggling in their attitude toward worship, not just on Sunday morning, but every day of the week. I want to share with you a few hindrances or barriers that could be working against you to keep you from having a proper heart and attitude toward this high in holy privilege called worship! Let’s start with:

1. WRONG RITUALS. Read 1 Sam. 15:22; Isaiah 1:13; Ezek. 33:31; and 2 Tim. 3:5. teaches, Today we might say the common theme among these verses is – going to church to go through the motions; or going to church for the sake of being seen at church. One writer says, everywhere in the OT sacrifice is a part of obedience to God; but nowhere in the OT does God ever intend for sacrifice to be a substitute for obedience. Another way we might say that same thing today is: nowhere in all of Scripture does God ever intend for “going to church” to be a substitute for true worship. What causes a person to substitute ritual for worship? One answer might be:
2. WRONG REASONING! 2 Tim. 3:1-9. The NIV uses the word “mark;” and the ESV uses the word “understand;” the NASB uses the word “realize.” Paul actually used the Greek word “gnoske” which means “to know with certainty.” Today we might say, “this is the truth,” or we might say, “know this for certain.” And what is it Paul wants Timothy to know for certain? It’s the rest of v. 1. In the last days there will be terrible times. If you’re using the ESV and you don’t think it’s a sin to write in your Bible, put in your margin by the word difficulty – perilous or terrible. The word difficulty just does not convey the full meaning and impact of perilous or terrible state of affairs. A great number of the people described in those 6 verses go to churches of all kinds – from the most fundamental and conservative to the most liberal! But the one thing they all have in common is they go for the wrong reasons. They go to be seen and to go through those wrong rituals. The only person those people have worshiped is themselves thinking what good Christians they are because they went to church. Another hindrance to worship is:
3. WRONG RELATIONSHIPS! 29:13. One hindrance to true worship is a wrong relationship to God! Read Isa. 29:13 and Matt. 15 and Mk. 7 where Jesus is quoting this passage. The obvious point that both Isaiah and the Lord are making is that a superficial, shallow, or purely physical knowledge of the Lord is not a relationship to/with Him. People who “know the lingo” or we might say, “talk a good fight” do not – in fact cannot – worship the Lord in spirit and in truth! The reason is they don’t have a relationship with God as one of His redeemed children. Read Mt. 5:23, 24. Sometimes our worship is hindered by wrong relationships to others. Nowhere does Scripture teach we are to isolate ourselves from the ungodly and unsaved because they are ungodly and unsaved! Scripture does, however, teach throughout that true men and women of God are supposed to, and will, separate themselves from the ungodly talk and activities and lifestyle of those who are ungodly and unsaved. We are to be separated from all ungodliness and sinful behavior, but we are not to ignore the people themselves.

If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.

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Psalm 84:1-7

We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country  103.7 FM just after 8am. In 1 Sam. 13 David is referred to as “a man after God’s own heart.” If God were to give you a “nickname” what do you think that name might be? Psalm 84 is one of many that helps us understand why God called David “a man after His own heart.” Did you know that everywhere throughout Scripture God commands that His people regularly participate in public, corporate worship. Ex. 20:8 “remember the Sabbath day, by keeping it holy.”(ESV). One of the saddest commentaries on the 21^st century Church is that she has lost her delight, awe, and desire for true Biblical worship lifted heavenward as a sweet smelling savor to the God who purchased her with His own precious blood. This Psalm offers us some insight into a proper attitude for Biblical worship. Notice David’s

1. DESIRE FOR THE WORSHIP! 1-4. Once in a while I ask the question, when you wake up on Sunday morning what is your attitude toward getting ready and coming to worship? Now let me ask you that same question in a little bit different way; when you wake up – every day – what is your attitude toward worship to God throughout every day? It is the idea, concept, or philosophy of this all- encompassing attitude of worship David is addressing here. Look again at v. 2. David says “my soul, my heart, and flesh.” It is the idea, concept, or philosophy of this all- encompassing attitude of worship David is addressing here. Look again at v. 2. David says “my soul, my heart, and flesh.” Notice in v. 4 David seems to express some envy for those who dwell in the house of the Lord meaning the priests who lived there. What was the point or the cause for David’s intense desire to worship? It was very simply this – David saw God as the one and only Almighty God, The Creator! The truth is we all know the real answer to the question “what is your constant attitude toward worship every day of your life?” And “how well do you know God?” Because we know the answer to those questions – the real question then becomes what are you going to do to improve and enrich your attitude and your knowledge? One of the questions the selfishness of sin causes us to ask is, “what’s in it for me?” I find it interesting as I study, throughout the Scriptures, God goes to great lengths to answer that question. Here David helps us see our
2. DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF WORSHIP 5-7. Look at v. 5, now 7. God never calls his children to sit, soak, and sour. Even in those times when we are positive God is telling us to be still, to wait, or to rest, we are to be active in spiritual growth. There is never a time we are to stop reading and studying Scripture, there is never a time we are to stop praying, and there is never a time we are to stop seeking God’s face. 24/7/365 God is working in us to conform us to the image of Christ preparing us for eternity with Him in heaven. From a human perspective constant work, or constant activity of any kind drains our strength from us. Vss. 5, 7 teach us that as we put out constant effort to minister and to grow, God makes it His business, not just to replenish our strength, but as David tells us in verse 7 God takes us to new levels of strength we have never experienced. Look at v. 6. Read! Valley of Baca is similar to our Death Valley. It is a hot, dry, desolate valley through which many Jews had to pass on their way to Jerusalem. Traversing the Valley was the most demanding and difficult part of the entire journey. In the context of this Psalm David is telling us that many of the pilgrims were so intensely focused on meeting with God in worship at Jerusalem, that the anticipation of such worship was such a driving force in their hearts, that the barrenness around them did not deter nor distract them from getting to the Temple. What does it take to stop you from corporate worship on Sunday morning?

If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.

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Romans 9:8-15

We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country  103.7 FM just after 8am. Last week we introduced this amazing doctrine of election. We defined election 1. As an act of God before creation in which He chooses some people to be saved. 2. Election is not on account of any foreseen merit in any person; 3. Election is only because of God’s good pleasure. We also indicated that the doctrine of election is presented in the NT as a means of consolation, adoration, and evangelization. This week we are looking at just a few of the ways or proofs that Scripture teaches the doctrine of election.

To begin, God Himself teaches the doctrine. In Ex.19:6 we read, “for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests a holy nation.” 2 Thess. 2:13 tells us, “…God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” Because God has chosen us to be redeemed, we are a chosen people, a Royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You are priceless because you are bought with the blood of Christ, and you belong to God forever!

A second truth is – those chosen receive God’s special attention and care. In Gen.18:19 we read, “for I have chosen Abraham to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice.” 1 Pet. 1:2 says in part, “… to those who are either lacked according to the foreknowledge of God the father.” In Scripture “to know or to be known by God” means that God has complete knowledge and understanding of each of us in every facet and detail of our life. It is this truth of this amazing doctrine that teaches, when your life is totally dedicated and submitted to God, He literally takes all the guesswork out of living the Christian life.

A third truth of the doctrine of election is that God’s choice is a matter of grace, or unmerited favor He made in eternity past. In Eph. 1:4, 5 we learn in part, “even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ.” One writer says, “election or God’s choosing some to be saved is unconditional because it is not conditioned upon anything that God sees in us that makes us worthy of His choosing us.” That means God gives to us because He desires for us to experience a way of life that is better for us than we could conceive in our wildest imagination!

Another truth of the doctrine of election is that God has given His chosen to Christ to be His peculiar possession. From a Divine perspective when Christians are being called a “peculiar” possession for Christ, it means a “purchased possession.” In our throw-away world where even human life, in or out of the womb, means nothing to so many, the doctrine of election brings to the true man or woman of God reason, purpose, value, and honor that begins deep in the heart of an Almighty God and flows into the redeemed heart of a person chosen to receive God’s divine favor and honor.

One more truth is that God’s chosen are the recipients of a special call from God. Read Romans 8:28, 29. If you think about that, you begin to understand the enormity and infinite love God has demonstrated to us in this amazing doctrine of election.

If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.