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November 17, 2013

WELCOME!
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE

We are a group of believers who simply try to follow the Bible as a guide for all we do. Everything done in our worship service is something for which we have a Bible basis. You are welcome to participate as much or as little as you wish. We will sing hymns together and we will observe the Lord's Supper or Communion together. We will also have an opportunity to give to the work of God in this area. This collection is for the members here, and if you are visiting you should not feel and pressure to give. Our lesson time will be divided into two groups. The young children will go to our classroom area in the basement where they will be taught the Bible at a level they can understand. The adults will stay in the auditorium for a lesson at an adult level. We do try to serve the community, and if you have some needs that we can help you with, mention it to one of the members. Thank you for worshipping with us.

FAMILY NEWS

REMINDER: There will be no Wednesday night class on November 27 — the day before Thanksgiving.

TUESDAY NIGHT CLASS: This coming Tuesday, November 19, we will have our monthly Bible class at the home of John and Cynthia Clayton. This involves Christians from all over the Michiana area. We have a class and then a period of food and fellowship. Come and join us at 7:00 this Tuesday. If you need directions, see John or Cynthia.

REMEMBER DECEMBER 6: We need everyone to help us with our float in the Dowagiac Christmas parade. No special talent needed — just ride the float, sing Christmas carols, and wave to the crowd and smile. We will have a time and float number for you — the parade will be in the evening.

CHILDREN'S BIBLES: We are buying children's Bibles for the class and service that meets downstairs. We want all the kids to have the same translation, and we are getting the NIV so it is easier for the children to understand. If you have a child that does not have a Bible of their own, let us know.

TODAY'S LESSON

WORSHIP

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John 4:19 – 26

John Clayton

INTRODUCTION
A. What is Worship?
1. Meaning from Greek — “To kiss (the hand) towards”
2. Homage, adoration, reverence, obeisance
B. All humans engage in worship — built into us.
1. Can be a cause — politics, PETA, civil rights
2. Can be our bodies — body building, sex/glamour
3. Can be recreation — sports, fishing, art, music
C. The Bible identifies five kinds of worship.
I. VAIN WORSHIP
A. Matthew 15:8 – 9 — Issue driven with human opinions
1. Hand washing was the issue.
2. They avoided other commands.
B. We live in an age of vain worship.
1. “Why don't you” questions — better music, a more beautiful building, better preacher, etc.
II. IGNORANT WORSHIP
A. Acts 17:22 – 24
1. Ignorant worship is vain, but not all vain worship is ignorant.
B. Ignorance is no excuse — Romans 1:20.
1. 2 Peter 3:4 – 5 — Willful ignorance does exist.
III. PERVERTED WORSHIP
A. Romans 1:21 – 25 — nature, humanism, sex, immorality
B. Witchcraft, New Age, Devil worship
IV. WILL WORSHIP
A. Colossians 2:13 – 23 — self designed worship
B. Neglect of the body — asceticism
1. Self abuse, flagellation, bolemia, anorexia
C. Any worship that is by our own rules
V. TRUE WORSHIP
A. John 4:23 – 24
B. I Corinthians 14:15 — Brain should be engaged in worship.
1. Know why we do what we do.
2. Every act of obedience to God makes sense

THE BACK PAGE

WHO NEEDS WORSHIP ANYWAY

This morning's lesson deals with worship. Every church and every denomination has a method of worship that is peculiar to them. One of the points of our lesson is that what distinguishes us as a congregation of the Church of Christ is that our worship limits itself to those things we have a biblical command or example for. Many of our denominational friends have a tradition or a decision by a church board or leading theologian that controls what they do. We try very hard to not let any human opinion or belief dictate what happens during our worship service. That makes our service very plain and simple. It is not entertaining or technically advanced.

It is easy to let this plainness and simpleness move us to say the service is boring or “doesn't do anything for me.” That happens when we have become spectators instead of participants. If you are not singing and are just listening to our song service, it will not be a pleasure for you to hear. If you listen to our public prayers, you will not find a Hollywood vocalization that moves you to tears. Our sermons are not material for the Toastmasters Club, spoken with soaring eloquence.

We point out in today's sermon that the word “worship” in the Greek conveys homage, adoration, reverence, and obeisance (an obedient attitude). All humans find something they hold in adoration. It may be a possession, a person, a political party, or an activity; but all humans have a need to look to something beyond themselves that they can dedicate themselves to. Those who work with people suffering with addictions tell us that it is fundamental that a person learn to look to something beyond themselves if they are to conquer their addiction.

As Christians we believe that God's Spirit helps us overcome the world and its temptations. We all need worship, but to use that need to tap into God's power is something that most people do not understand and have not done. Worship is not a spectator sport, it is the fulfillment of a need we all have. Use that need God's way.

— John Clayton