Purpose of church 1.1 - Worship

Last time I said we fulfill the purposes of worship with our lives, not just ritual. What are those purposes though? I think the best place to look is God’s instructions for worship in the book of Leviticus. Granted, we are under the new covenant now, not Mosaic law. Again, the new covenant is just a fulfillment of the old one, not something independent of the previous covenant. While the sacrificial system that the old covenant worship centered around is obsolete due to Jesus, for he was the final and absolute sacrifice under that system. The basic principles behind these offerings are still valid. I have them listed here under three different categories, for many are very similar with only minor distinctions. 

Honoring God
*Devotion to God

*Commitment to God
*Surrender to God

Gratitude towards God

*Recognition of God’s goodness & provision
*Giving thanks to God

Seeking Holiness

*Atonement for sin
*confession of sin

*cleansing of defilement

*restitution of sin
*seeking forgiveness from God

All their ceremonial acts of worship served one or more of these purposes. Our motivation in coming to church should be no different. It’s just not done through animal sacrifice any longer. If we honor God by studying his word on our own, we are worshiping. If we show gratitude towards God by supporting his church with our resources, time and talents we are worshiping. If we seek holiness by applying those teaching to our lives and following his commands we are worshiping. Not that I am saying there is no room for more formal acts of worship. I’m just saying we need to be more deliberate with our worship in its many forms. We need to respect God everyday, not just on Sunday. Always keeping these ten basic principles in mind, and on our heart.

Worship