The Joshua Mission Podcast
Podcast – Weekly, Wednesday, from 17 04 2024 for 6 weeks
Updated 240302, Saturday
Living a Life of Worship
Theme for The Joshua Mission Spiritual Retreat
Friday, 9 to Sunday, 11 July 2010
Pulai Springs Resort
Outline of Messages by Date
Friday, 9 July 2010
Worship / Singspiration / Theme Intro – Theme Message
Session 1 – What is Worship?
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Session 2 – Worship in Personal Life
Session 3 – Worship in Body Life
Worship & Ministry – Exhortational Message
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Morning Service - Sermon
Six Messages in Total
Questions for Each Group Discussion Time
Based on the Messages covered today,
- Highlight what is Most Significant to you personally and Why
- How would you respond to what you have learnt?
- Highlight what is Most Significant to you for church life and Why
- How do you think the church should respond to the points noted?
Friday, 9 July 2010
Living a Life of Worship
Theme Message
Theme Song – You are the Peace that guards my heart
You are the peace that guards my heart
My help in times of need
You are the hope that leads me on
And brings me to my knees
For there I find You waiting
And there I find release
So with all my heart I'll worship
And unto You I'll sing
For You alone deserve all glory
For You alone deserve all praise
Father we (I) worship and adore You
Father we (I) long to see Your face
For You alone deserve all glory
For You alone deserve all praise
Father we (I) love You
And we (I) worship You each(this) day
The Centre of our Worship
The Foundation of Worship – Who do we Worship?
Father, Son & Holy Spirit – One God in Three Persons
Applies personally & corporately
What is Worship?
Giving Honour & Praise to the Highest Degree
The Highest Priority
The Highest Significance
This belongs to GOD Alone!
Our Motive & Attitude in Worship
The Highest Worship – Nothing but to honour & praise GOD
Not seeking personal benefits
Not seeking His help for others or for situations or issues
Purely to give Him His due as the ONE to whom alone is worthy of our all-in-all
A Great Paradox
When we Worship Him as He should be Worshipped
we Receive the Most & the Best for ourselves!
He honours us according to what is His bequeth to us as we honour Him for what is truly due to Him alone
This is A Path of GROWTH for all of us – to be able to Truly Worship Him in the Highest.
Friday, 9 July 2010
What is Worship?
Session 1
Review of Theme Message
What is Worship?
Giving Honour & Praise to the Highest Degree
The Highest Priority
The Highest Significance
This belongs to GOD Alone!
Putting Him First in Personal Life
Christ in our Life
Where does He stand?
His Rightful Place
Christ the Head
Christ the Centre (Heart)
Leading & Empowering of the Holy Spirit
The Place of Personal Devotion
The Seven Areas of Discipleship
Word, Spirit, Worship, Prayer, Fellowship, Service, Witness
Areas of our Life
Family Life
Church Life
Work Life
Social Life
Leisure
Personal Health
Personal Development
Challenges to His Lordship
Sin – the Enemy Within
- Beliefs, Values, Outlook on Life
- The Self – selfishness, self-centredness, self-interest, self-exaltation
World – the Enemy Around
- Our Social Environment
- The People around us at work and at home
- Their Expectations, Beliefs, Values, Outlook on Life, Way of Life
- Societal Expectations, Values, Beliefs, Outlook on Life
Devil – Demonic spirits & forces – Perpetrators of Rebellion & Evil
- Works through our Sin – undermines our own hearts and minds
- Works through the World – instigates the environment against us
- Direct Attacks – through direct action at striking fear and gaining control
Putting Him First in Church Life
Christ in Church Life
Where does He stand?
His Rightful Place
- Christ the Head
- Christ the Centre (Heart)
- Leading & Empowering of the Holy Spirit
Areas of Church Life
Putting Christ First through the Different Areas of Action & Activities
- Preaching & Teaching
- Worship Services
- Church Groups
- Meetings
- Outreach
Challenges to His Lordship in Church Life
Sin – the Enemy Within
- Be Aware and Beware that you own expectations, beliefs, values, outlook, way of life, would Definitely Affect the way you see people, situations and things in church
- How true are these? How biblical are these? How sinful are these?
- What is the basis of your own Perception of Church Life?
- What is the basis of your own Relationship with fellow believers?
- What is the basis of your own Involvement in Church Life?
- Consider these Questions in the light of
- Leaders, People, Worship, Teaching, Groups, Activities, Finances, etc.
World – the Enemy Around
- Be Aware and Beware that the World is in the Church to the extent that our fellow believers are not yet fully surrendered to Christ and not yet fully matured in Him
- Note: You are yourself a part of the church environment to others
Our Social Environment
- The People around us in church vis a vis those at work and at home
- Their Expectations, Beliefs, Values, Outlook on Life, Way of Life
- Societal Expectations, Values, Beliefs, Outlook on Life
Devil – Demonic spirits & forces – Perpetrators of Rebellion & Evil
- Be Aware and Beware that the devil and his forces are at work in the church environment to undermine God's will and God's way among believers
- Works through our Sin – undermines our own hearts and minds
- Works through the World – instigates the environment against us – this includes the church environment
- Direct Attacks – through direct action at striking fear and gaining control
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Worship in Personal Life
Session 2
Review of “What is Worship?”
Putting Him First in Personal Life
Overview of our Personal Life
More than one way of Analysing each our life as a human being.
The following is one way used as a Guide for putting GOD First in our personal life – the Meaning & Practice of Worship in Personal Life
- Personal Devotion with GOD
- Family Life
- Church Life
- Work Life
- Social Life
- Leisure
- Personal Health
- Personal Development
Foundation & Centre
Our Practice of Personal Devotion is the Foundation of our Personal Life of Worship
- An Enactment of giving Him First Priority in our personal life – Effecting Worship in our life
- Bible Study & Application – the God-given Basis of Christian Life – Worship, Walk, Service, Witness – our Spiritual Food
- Prayer – Ongoing Communication with GOD – opening to Him our lives and seeking His input in guidance, empowering & transformation
Areas of our Personal Life
Built on Christ as our Foundation
Radiates from the Centre of our worship of Him
- Family Life – our personal & social platform
- Church Life – our involvement in church – our family in Christ – Word, Worship, Prayer, Fellowship, Service, Witness
- Work Life – career path, means of remuneration, recognition, achievement
- Social Life – need for friends & social contact
- Leisure – need for rest, refreshment & renewal
- Personal Health – key factor in our physical, psychological & spiritual well-being
- Personal Development – further education, personal enrichment, extended skill-development
ALL Areas are
- Founded on our Walk with Christ
- Intertwined with the others – mutually affects each other
Need for Prioritisation & Structuring
The Parallelogram of Forces
Legend:
Big Dark Blue Arrow – God's Direction for our life
Big Red Arrow – our Personal Devotional Life – what keeps us on track with Him
Light Blue Arrows – the Different Areas of our Life – Family, Work, etc.
Small Green Arrows – Each Area of our Life may have different aspects to be balanced
The Angle of the Arrows to the Big Dark Blue Arrows
the Way we relate each Area to God's Will & Direction for our life;
each Area may be angled (related) in a different way the main arrow;
Wrong Angling will throw us Off His Path
The Size of the Arrows
the Relative Priority Given to each Area;
each Area may be prioritised higher or lower than the others;
Wrong Prioritisation will throw us Off His Path
Christ our Centre
Living a Life of Worship means Putting Christ at the Centre of our lives
- Our Personal Devotional Life is the Primary Engine of our Worship
- Each Other Area of our life Need to be Angled & Prioritised according to His Leading & Enabling
This is a DYNAMIC Not a Static Situation!
Day by Day we Walk with Christ as our LORD, GOD & SAVIOUR
Day by Day we Commune with Him
Day by Day we Seek & Obey His Guidance & Walk by His Enabling
Day by Day we ADJUST each Area according to life's situation
- internal – as arising from changes in our own person or family
- external – as arising in our spiritual, social, physical environment
Keep All Areas Aligned under His Lordship
This is the Basis of Ongoing Healthy Walk, Service, Witness & Growth
This is How to Live A Life of Worship at the Personal Level
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Worship in Church (Body) Life
Session 3
Review of “What is Worship?”
Putting Him First in Church Life
- Christ need to be truly worshipped & obeyed
- This has to be Expressed and Worked out in all areas of church life
True Discipleship under Christ
Seven Areas of Discipleship
Word, Spirit, Worship, Prayer, Fellowship, Service, Witness
One Key Process - Disciple-Making
The Great Commission of Disciple-Making – Mt 28:18-20
We are called to nurture all believers to be Disciples of Christ – ie. The 7 Areas should be healthy and active in each believer's life
How to Put Christ First in Church Life
The Outworking of the 7 Areas & Disciple-Making in Church Life
How do we Approach Church Life & Activities?
Why do we Do the things we Do?
Motive – Giving Him the Highest Honour and Glory
- who is LORD who is servant?
- His glory or ours?
Purpose – Seeking to Know and Do His Will
- His will or ours?
- His agenda or ours?
- His interest or ours?
- His Kingdom or ours?
Leadership – to lead in following Christ and be example to the flock
People – to follow Christ to serve, witness and grow
- follow obedient leaders to honour Christ
- love one another in deed and in truth
- pray for salvation and correction of erroneous leaders by Christ
- to be witnesses of the Gospel by life & Word
Areas of Church Life
Putting Christ First through the Different Areas of Action & Activities
Preaching & Teaching – do these exalt Him, proclaim Him, teach biblical truths, call for, encourage and instruct how to live with Christ as Lord?
- Is there sufficient reach?
- Is there sufficient content?
- Are the people able to understand and apply?
Worship Services – are these true expressions of His Lordship in our lives?
- Do those who lead worship understand and practice this?
- Do the people understand and practice this?
- Do the Worship Services enhance your discipleship?
- Do you approach it right yourself?
Church Groups – cells, children, youth, ladies, men, adults, families, special interest, service groups – do the leaders, members, participants come to learn from Christ, unite in Him, receive from Him, serve Him?
- Do you approach it right yourself?
Meetings – committee meetings, prayer meetings, outreach meetings, any meetings for a task or service – do we meet to seek His will and do it and do it well?
- Do we conduct it well in His honour and under His Lordship?
- Do you approach it right yourself?
Outreach – what we do to preach the Gospel and bring people to Christ – may be done through services, groups or meetings.
- Do we do it out of His love?
- Do we do it in ways that honour Him under His guidance?
- Is He the Lord of the harvest to us?
- Do we seek Holy Spirit leading, gifting and empowering?
- Do you approach it right yourself?
Disciple-Making – is it the Vital Process in church life that it is meant to be?
- Are there any disciples being made?
- Are there those who are making disciples?
- Are the leaders giving it enough priority and leadership?
- Are new disciples mobilised into service according to their call?
- Do you approach it right yourself?
Making it Happen – Your Role
For Leaders – seek God's will for you as to what kind of input you are to give under His Lordship to make it happen
- for those under your charge
- for fellow leaders in other areas
- for the senior leaders
For Members – PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! Pray for all your leaders – especially those more senior, so that they may hear and obey the Lord for themselves and for the church.
Seek the LORD for what He may want you to do as a member
- Speak to the leaders?Any specific ones?
- Speak to fellow members?
- Any specific action?
Know your rightful role and do not exceed it – the Lord does not work by rebellion – HE will set things right in His Way and at His Time
Session 4
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Exhortational Message
Worship & Ministry Time
Exhortation from Scripture
Psalm 37:1-9
Put God first in our lives
Need for “Tuning In” to Him!
Submit all to Him
Commit all to Him
Psalm 139:23-24
Ask the Lord to search out of us all that is sinful & erroneous
Repent
Seek His Cleansing
Seek His Correction
Walk in His Way
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Session 5
SUNDAY, 11 July 2010
Sermon
Sunday Communion Service
Mark 14:12- 26 – the LORD's Supper – the Heart of Worship
Jesus Christ our Passover
We receive His Body broken for us – as we eat it He lives in us & we in Him
We receive His Blood shed for us – as we drink it His Life is in us and we live in Him
This is the Deepest Union with our GOD
This is our Union with one another In Him
This is the HEART of Worship!
- We celebrate it occasionally – monthly, weekly, daily
- We are to LIVE It Day by Day, Moment by Moment for the Whole of our Lives – Corporately or Personally