Is Worship Boring?

 As a kid I always thought worship was boring.  I have never liked singing very much and since, in my limited understanding at the time, worship = singing, you can see why I was not so enthused. Added to this was the fact that I understood heaven as a place of continual worship - a place of continual singing.  I want to remind you this morning of what we talk about every summer at SB2W.  All of life is worship.  By this I do not mean that all of life is an opportunity to sing.  Worship encompasses so much more than singing and Sundays.  At camp over and over we talk about glorifying God on the athletic field.  The point is that there is equally an opportunity to worship God as you compete in sports as there is anywhere else.  Sports, time with friends, academics, playing in the band, a family dinner...every moment in life is an opportunity to worship. 

Josh Riley, pastor and founder of worship.com says,  “Worship is everything we think, everything we say, and everything we do, revealing that which we treasure and value most in life.”  When we wake up Monday morning with the week ahead of us we are looking out over a landscape filled with opportunities to worship God.  We don't wait for the next Sunday morning worship service, thinking that alone is our opportunity.  In fact Sunday morning is meant to set our heart and mind in the right place so that as we walk out those church doors we are prepared to worship God throughout the week's activities.

Having been to SB2W you have learned something of what it means to worship, but let's be reminded of a few simple things in the form of questions to ask ourselves this week.

1.  Whatever activity you are engaged in, be it hanging with friends, playing basketball, doing schoolwork, eating a meal with you family, etc., have you submitted how you are doing that activity to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Are you seeking to honor Him in that activity? Have you asked Jesus to help you honor Him, knowing that in of your own strength it is impossible?
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1) "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (I Corinthians 10:31)
 
2. Does your behavior in doing that activity reflect that you know Jesus Christ as Lord?  Are you giving your very best?
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men...you are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

3. Is your heart filled with thanks as you do that activity?  Are you recognizing your time, talents, and all else as a graciously loving gift from God?  Are you experiencing participation in this activity, whatever it is, as enjoyment of God's love, joy, and peace?  Is God's love, joy, and peace as you are experiencing them overflowing to others that they might see your good deeds, your worship, and join you in worshiping Jesus Christ as Lord?
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:14-15) "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17)

  All of Life is Worship - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Indeed as mentioned above, Sunday morning can prepare you to worship the rest of the week.  What about the week's activities?  Perhaps in approaching them rightly, they might also be preparing our hearts and voices to truly worship this Sunday.  Yes, to sing...

That which receives our highest affection and admiration, that which we revere and praise, that which consumes the majority of our energy and resources, that is the object of our worship.