TITLE: HOW TO BUILD A GREAT CHURCH: Great Worship (6 of 6)

TEXT: John 4:23-24

PROPOSITION: Great churches are built be great worship.

QUESTION: What?

KEY WORD: Elements

READING: Same

1. Worship is to be:

          A. With the spirit I Corinthians 14:15

          B. In the spirit John 4:24

          C. By the spirit Philippians 3:3

2. Two purposes for worship:

          A. Glorify, reverence, honor God

          B. Be encouraged, stimulated, built up

3. Two extremes in worship:

          A. Cold, stiff, legalistic, formalism

                    Isaiah 1:10-14

          B. Folksy, loose, without order and decency

                    1 Corinthians 14:40

          C. Who said that worship had to be somber (funeral atmosphere)

                    Reverence <> quietness

          D. Whatever happened to "AMEN" or "Hallelujah"?

4. The building should not be the PLACE of worship -

          It should be the CENTER of activity.

          Beehive not - place of work - center

5. Fancy buildings - crosses, drapes
          Create a somber atmosphere

          We strive for funeral mood

          IS OUR LORD DEAD OR ALIVE?

          IS WORSHIP A FUNERAL OR A CELEBRATION?

6. We need fellowship

          Know each other

          Love each other

7. We must avoid sacramentalism (work of merit) worship

          A. Must attend to partake of communion = WRONG!

          B. Come Sunday night because you missed Sunday AM

          C. "Early mass" = take LS then leave

8. Remember:  There must be --

          A. Quality - Our heart must be right

          B. Quantity - How OFTEN (not seldom)

          C. Presence of God – Matthew 18:20

          D. Righteousness hearts and lives