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From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Living in Colorado, we're surrounded by breathtaking beauty - the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, countless mountains and hiking trails. Yet many locals never visit these wonders, taking them for granted until a visitor reminds them of the treasure in their backyard. Similarly, we can become so familiar with worship that we forget its profound beauty and purpose. What Is Worship Really About? To an outsider, our worship gatherings might seem strange - people coming together to sing, pray, and focus on someone they can't see. But worship isn't about entertainment, musical preferences, or even making ourselves feel better. It's Not About Us One of the most important principles to understand is that it's not worship until it's not about us . If worship is about us, it becomes idolatry rather than true worship of God. We don't worship because we like the music style or because we need emotional comfort - though these things may happen as byproducts. The Foundation of Worship We worship God for three fundamental reasons:
When we come to worship, we enter the intersection of these three realities - who God is, what He's accomplished, and how it has changed us. This convergence creates something powerful and life-changing. God Is Holy - Set Apart and Unique Understanding God's Holiness The word "holy" literally means "set apart." God is utterly unique, unlike anything in creation. He didn't emerge from this universe - He created it and exists completely separate from it. As Psalm 99 declares three times: "Holy is He." “The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!" (Psalm 99:1-3, ESV) What God's Holiness Means for Us Here's the amazing truth: because God is holy, He has made us holy through Jesus. What seems impossible from a human perspective - making sinful people pure and set apart - God accomplishes through Christ's sacrifice. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21, ESV) We have become "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9). This isn't something we achieve - it's something God has done for us through Jesus. God Is Mighty - Powerful Beyond Measure The Power of Our God Scripture repeatedly calls God "Almighty" and describes His incredible power. Psalm 89 paints a vivid picture of His might: 8 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? 9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. (Psalm 89:8-9, ESV) God spoke the entire universe into existence. He parted the Red Sea, delivered His people from Egypt, and performed countless mighty works throughout history. Victory Through God's Might But the greatest display of God's power wasn't just in creation or the exodus - it was in raising Jesus from the dead. Through this ultimate demonstration of might, God won victory for all who believe. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57, ESV) …in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37, ESV) God Is Worthy - Deserving All Praise God's Inherent Worth David captures this beautifully in Psalm 8: "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! " God is worthy of worship simply because He exists. His worthiness doesn't depend on what He does for us - though He does incredible things. Guilt Removed, Righteousness Given God's worthiness becomes even more amazing when we consider what He's done about our unworthiness. He has completely removed our guilt through the cross. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14, ESV) The phrase "all our trespasses" should be circled in your Bible. When Satan reminds you of your failures, remember this truth - God has forgiven ALL. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV) We don't just receive forgiveness - we receive Christ's own righteousness. The Power of True Worship More Than Singing Worship is incredibly powerful. When believers gather to worship God in spirit and truth, something profound happens. Even unbelievers can witness this and sense there's something more going on than meets the eye. Creating Space for God Our goal isn't to create the perfect musical experience or make everyone happy with song choices. Instead, we aim to create an atmosphere with the fewest barriers, allowing the Holy Spirit to work as we focus on who God is, what He's done, and how He's transformed us. Life Application This week, challenge yourself to approach worship differently. Instead of focusing on musical preferences or personal comfort, intentionally enter worship by remembering:
Ask yourself these questions:
When you truly grasp who God is and what He's accomplished for you, worship becomes not just something you do on Sunday, but a natural response to the incredible reality of your relationship with the Creator of the universe.
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Apply it!Next Steps is a collection of articles drawn from the sermons of Pastor Jon Alsdorf, and guest speakers, written to help you connect God's Word to real life. Each post is designed to inspire, challenge, and encourage you to live out your faith in practical, everyday ways -- because following Jesus is more than words, it's actions. Archives
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