Brian Fisher
Grace Bible Church
“Trained to Worship”
Hebrews 13:15-16
We were born to worship. We have been redeemed to worship. We learn the foundations of worship at home, particularly from our mothers. The lessons they teach us of praise, doing good and sharing are the building blocks of a life of worship to God.
Mothers teach us many things. They help to form the foundation of our character. Values instilled we carry throughout life. Some of the basic skills are actually the building blocks of a life of worship.
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"
—Hebrews 13:5-6
SETTING: Sacrificial system obsolete. Christ is final sacrifice. No more sacrifices for new covenant believers? Absolutely not. We continue to worship through sacrifices, but not blood sacrifices, not sacrifices to atone for sin.
Old Testament – bulls and goats, but the idea that there were more important ways to worship is latent in OT
Ps. 50:8-12; 69:30-31
Heart, from which flows fruit of lips, words that praise God
Mothers teach us to PRAISE
I. Praise – an verbal expression of what our heart values
“I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that loves keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.”
—C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms, p. 95.
Mothers praise their children; they praise the effort because they value the child
Sometimes as parents we become preoccupied with other things that are less important. When we have our eyes fixed on what is most valuable, we praise.
Mothers can teach us how to value what is most important and to use our words to express that value. That is worship.
Worship is the first activity of God’s people
1 Peter 2:9 — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Isaiah 43:21 — “The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise.”
Training our kids not just to see, but to stop and praise.
Skill of praise begins at home
II. Do good – Hebrews 13:15-16
Robert Fulghum, All I really Need to Know I learned In Kindergarten, Villard Books N.Y. 1988, pp. 6-8
"All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be, I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:
Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Take a nap every afternoon. Be aware of wonder.
Think what a better world it would be if we all -- the whole world – had cookies and milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap… And it is still true, no matter how old you are -- when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together."
Simplest acts of kindness can be acts of worship because they reflect image of God; always doing what is in the best interest of His creatures.
Cup of water to the least of these; Mt. 10:42
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
—James 1:27
Moms model this every day
Doing good for others is costly; sacrifice, worship
III. Share – Hebrews 13:15-16
Koinonia = fellowship; “common”; having a purpose in common, having time in common, having a meal in common, having our possessions in common
Simplest acts of sharing can be worship because they reflect the image of God
Read recently, We are most like God when we are giving (not enforcing justice).
Phil. 4:18; 2:4-8
Sharing reminds us that all we have is a gift from God; not owners but stewards
What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
—1 Corinthians 4:7
Sharing reminds us we are not center of universe; that we are connected to others
For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
—Romans 14:7-8
Conclusion
Mothers – thank God for this privilege of training your children to worship. Might not see the immediate fruit of your labors, but it is an eternally valuable investment.
Not a mother? Thank your mother. Thank others God has brought into your life to teach you what really matters.