Worship that is accepted by God is a privilege unique to the Christian (I Peter 2:5). It is

not a right. I am permitted to offer acceptable worship only by the grace of God. Therefore it is disheartening when children of God deliberately reject this privilege and wantonly absent themselves from the public assembly God has ordained for His glory and our good.

Consider briefly the significance of worship:

1. It is obedience to a divine command.

2. It is a means of nourishing the spirit.

3. It assists in achieving spiritual growth.

4. It encourages others in their spiritual development.

5. It shows the world where my priorities are.

6. It is one means of expressing my love for God.

7. It is an avenue God has provided by which I can praise His name.

8. It is the offering of spiritual sacrifices.

9. It is a way of showing my thanksgiving to God for all He has done for me.

10. It is a period of communion with God with the world shut out entirely.

11. It is an experience that should make the heart of every Christian glad!

encourage one another." (Hebrews 10:25)

The Lord’s Day is a very special time for a child of God. It should be a day we look forward to enjoy and from which we draw strength . Here are some important steps we can take to make the day all it can be:

1. Rise early enough on Sunday to spend some time in the presence of the Lord before you leave for service. This really begins Saturday night by preparing yourself and your family for a day of worship. Sure there will be times you are rushed, but try to get in the habit of "slow preparation" for worship.

2. Enter the church building with great expectations of God’s presence and blessings. You are entering a "house of worship". You have come to join with brothers and sisters in Christ to worship the King of Kings.

3. Take part in the worship service. Worship is "showing reverence" for God. We do this by singing, praying, praising and listening to His Word. We really "get out" of a worship service what we "put in".

4. Make the Lord’s Day unique. Spend special time as a family together. Worship as a family. Help your family know this is a unique day of worship, and love. Avoid the unnecessary things of the other six days and set this day apart for this is the Lord’s day."

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!". PSALM 133:1

A. God took the initiative to reveal Himself to mankind. Genesis 2-3

B. True worship is manifested when we try to restore intimacy with God.

C. God has revealed Himself through His individual and compound names.

1. Elohim – The mighty, strong, or prominent being.

2. Jehovah –"The self-existing one".

3. El-Shaddai – "The Lord God Almighty!"

4. Adonai – "Lord".

D. We need to know God in a personal way.

A. By state of the art we mean the form, the procedure of things.

B. The real factor in worship is the heart desire for God. Isaiah 1:10-17; I Samuel 15:22

A. A renewed reverence for God. Psalm 29:1-2; Hebrews 12:28-29

B. A practice of the presence of God. Psalm 139

C. A deepened sense of the family of God. Psalm 133:1

A. Preparation for worship begins prior to coming to the assembly.

B. Preparation for worship means that we clear our conscience.

C. We can’t really expect God to be present if we sit in the service just waiting to leave so we

can go and do our own things the rest of the day.

See you in worship service Sunday!