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Why Worship God?
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe Christian way of life, as revealed in the Bible, focuses profoundly on the worship of the Creator God. Worship is both an attitude and an action, encompassing reverence, honor, and homage paid to God through ceremonies and services. It extends beyond a physical place, as the underlying concept in Scripture, derived from Hebrew abôdâ and Greek latreia, signifies service to the One revered. This service includes any activity done because of and in homage to the One worshipped, expanding worship into every aspect of life—home, workplace, and beyond. Biblically, the Creator initiates our worship, and our response is a reaction to His presence in our lives. Jesus in John 4:21 shows that worship is not confined to a specific place like the Temple, and Paul further reveals that we are the Temple, allowing worship to occur at any time, place, or circumstance. This broadens the practice of worship to include all activities, demonstrating the high regard and homage we hold for God. The most basic reason we worship God is that He commands it, as seen in I Chronicles 16:29 and Matthew 4:9-10, where Jesus rebukes Satan, affirming that only the Lord God should be worshipped and served. God forbids the worship of any other beings or things, linking worship inseparably with service. Acceptable worship involves consciously choosing to devote our feelings, time, and energies solely to Him, even amidst temptations to give these to others. Furthermore, God deserves our worship due to His attributes and actions. Worshipping Him allows us to imitate and conform to His image, gradually becoming like Him in Spirit and character. Unlike worshipping frail and fallible human idols, which cannot elevate us beyond our human limitations, worshipping the Lord God Almighty enables us to rise above through His unlimited strength. This transformation, as Paul describes, is a process of being changed into His image from glory to glory, ultimately leading to a resurrection into His Family, the Kingdom of God. Thus, we worship Him not only because He commands it but because He alone is worthy, and through worship, we achieve the fullness of Christ.
The Second Commandment
Bible Study by Martin G. CollinsHuman nature tries to limit God to the confines of physical objects. Men fabricate images, called idols, to aid them in worshiping a god they have concocted.
Identifying Our Idols
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughWe tend to ignore the possibility of idolatry in our lives. But we need to do the hard thing and examine ourselves to identify any hidden idols.
Psalms: Book One (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBecause Jesus is God's Son, we can avoid the rod of His anger by paying respect with worshipful awe. We must know both His instruction and Him personally.
Born Again (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We have been adopted into the family of God and have become members of God's Kingdom. The Kingdom is here in the same way the church is a spiritual entity.
Childrearing (Part Four)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughChildren do not initiate love but reflect it. If a child does not receive a convincing demonstration of this love, he will not become a conductor of love.