Hollow Worship

Introduction

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” 3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’[a] and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[b] 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’[c]” —Matthew 15:1-9 (NIV)

Hollow Worship Is

Worship to be

Reveal Answer

of other.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.[a] 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. 5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.[b] 6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’[c] —Matthew 23: 1-7 (NLT)

They do all their deeds to be seen by others. —Matthew 23:5 (ESV)

Worship that

Reveal Answer

good

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” Matthew 15:1-2 —Matthew 15:1-2 (NIV)

“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain …’” Matthew 15:7-9 —Matthew 15:7-9 (NIV)

TRUE WORSHIP

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Worship is Treasuring God above all Things that overflows into external acts of glorification. —Hebrews 13:15-16 (NIV)

HOW DO WE EXPRESS OUR WORSHIP?

Sometimes we

in reverence.

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. —Psalm 95:6

Sometimes we lift our

in adoration.

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. —Psalm 63:4

Sometimes we

in celebration.

Let them praise his name with dancing … —Psalm 149:3

Sometimes we worship with a

of praise.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise … —Hebrews 13:15

Daily, we lay down our

as an act of worship.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. —Romans 12:1

CONCLUSION:

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! … 27 Honor and majesty surround him; strength and joy fill his dwelling. … 29 Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. … 31 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!” 32 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! …34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. …36 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting! And all the people shouted “Amen!” and praised the Lord.  —1 Chronicles 16:25, 27, 29, 31-32, 34, 36 NLT

My Next Steps:

1. Make it a priority to become a true worshiper.
2. Establish a daily time alone with God in pray and bible study.

My Upcoming Events:

Please Make Seat Reservations for Next Sunday.
Next Week’s Message: Spiritual Pride