What Should the Church's Worship Look Like?

What should the church's worship look like much is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity why Abdul Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez reported that you had a wonderful three-day weekend. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. I would love to hear from you. Here's our phone number is 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 will be taking your calls for the next 25 minutes or so.

So jump on the phone right now. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first of today. Here's a voicemail from one of our listeners. This is from Bill Wright.

I guess we don't voicemail until April and I will counter an email.

Okay, whatever. We got Bill we got here is one from Larry and he says how are you born again and does what is it mean to be born again excellent question. Larry and I once saw a bumper sticker on a car that said instead of being born again. Why can't we all just grow up and I thought that was how this kind of funny. And what does it mean to be born again that that the place to go. Larry in in Scripture in order to answer that question specifically is in John chapter 3 because this is where Jesus gets into discussion with the Pharisee guy who was very religious, who was a teacher of the law, and yet misunderstood something so fundamental to the faith. I am thinking about Jesus's discussion with Nicodemus, beginning in verse one of John chapter 3.

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with them. Jesus answered him, truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Now Nicodemus said to him, how can a man be born when he is old Kenny enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born in Jesus answered, truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, that which is born of spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you. You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. In other words, this this born again experience is the work of the Holy Spirit you say what I have to do is formula the steps that I can take in order to make myself born again, the answer is no. It's it's the work the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit renewing our our hearts, not restoring us to life. It's it's the new heart that were given at regeneration.

That's of the sort of technical word describing the new birth, then of it. Of course it's closely associated with faith. Faith in Jesus Christ, the one who is born again believes and lays hold that lays hold of all the promises that God gives to us in the gospel with this is this is central to the Christian life, and this highlights the fact that were not just born into a good relationship with God. We are by nature, as the apostle is as the apostle said children of wrath, we must be born again. So you under it. Well, well what what do I need to do believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

It's it's what you know. Paul told the Philippian jailer believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved and so that discussion, it was so interesting about the discussion there in John chapter 3 with with this with this Pharisees.

It highlights the fact it's not just enough to be religious, and I love it mean of some people have wrecked and seen this in the tech is not as enough to be religious or externally moral. If you will know there needs to be a transformation of the heart. And that's only done through the gospel and by the work of the Holy Spirit. Larry and so appreciate appreciate your question if you just got a got a look to the Lord. And again it's it's his work in our lives, giving us that that new birth Douglas great explanation. Thank you so much for that. A girl this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology, you name it we would love to talk to you. Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Tim who is on the line from Edmond, Oklahoma Tim watcher question for atrial good afternoon and thank you so much for the service you provided heartwarming. I am widowed.

I recently met somebody who I really like and that she is a Christian woman and she likes me. Is it okay to slow dance and chess as long as it closed stay on and it doesn't leave the bedroom. They Tim, thank you for that question.

My amine my answer to that question is yes I do think that that's that's okay I'm I'm, you know, sorry to hear about the fact that your widowed. I'm grateful that you met someone feel Paul says so long as they're in the Lord. We can and in and we can pursue them in terms of having a relationship pursuant it in marriage and so you're you're free to be married. As Paul says in first print is chapter 7. Only in the Lord now with regard to some of the these other questions you know the specific boundaries in the dating relationship.

This requires wisdom so I would say I think I think that's okay. But here's where you need to exercise wisdom where you have to be careful that in in the process of dating you know being together before marriage that were not giving any provision to the flesh. We know that temptation is a very real thing and you want to honor the Lord in this relationship and you want to honor this person as well. Respecting her and so I would say exercise biblical wisdom. Don't put yourself in in compromising situations. Make sure that your growing first and foremost together in the Lord maybe maybe going to church together getting to know each other on on that level and then taking marriage very seriously and and if this is something that the Lord has for you again that that that I think clearly in Scripture. The only the only warning would be make sure that this person is in the Lord, but they are and so I'm grateful that you found someone and that they you know are also interested in you and may the Lord bless you guys in.

In this time and give you both wisdom and much grace as you as you are continuing this relationship. They Tim, thanks so much for your call. We really appreciate you and may the Lord bless you in this new relationship. Exciting.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez if you got a question for us would love to hear from you. 833. The core is our number that's 1-833-843-2673 tell you about a great book we have available for you this week. It's actually by one of my favorite authors, Dr. Tim Keller yeah but I love Tim Keller's well this really helpful. Great stuff related to apologetics in the Christian life. The gospel, but also work in that the blue blue book your offering. It's called every good endeavor, it's about work. A lot of times people think that work was something that was in up a part of the fall unit work is what we weren't supposed to work in paradise. If you will, and that because at many fell. Now all of a sudden our lives were forced to work with but that section not the case in front of things that Dr. Keller highlights in this book is it even even before the fall.

Work was a part of what the people of God were called to do. Glorifying the Lord. It wasn't until the fall that Beta work became toilsome but nevertheless work. This is something that God has for all of us and so so important that we have a good understanding of this. We think that this book will help you and so it's yours for a donation of any amount over core, Christianity.com.

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Maybe you're not sure about what you want to do for career. This is a book for you. Go to core Christianity.com/offers and look for that book by Tim Keller. What we do receive voicemails here at core, Christianity, and you can leave us one 24 hours a day. We do our best to check our voicemails each day, and here's one that came in from one of our listeners named Deanna I have a question. What does warship look like today in the church and outside Christian I believe you talked about worship before I find Christians do not truly understand what worship is.

I refer to Psalms 27 or as a good portion first. Thank you baby I thank you for that question. I love talking about worship as a pastor and once as I think we could say that all of our lives are meant to be lived. You know, under the authority of the Lord following him worshiping him, praying to him. So we live a life of worship as believers in Jesus Christ. But there is something to stink. That is what you're asking about their something distinct about the gathered assembly. When we come together as the people of God for corporate worship. II think the innocent as he was a will and they know it's not so much. You know what we do we go to church on Sunday. It's it's the everyday life that we live and we can create this false dichotomy between sort of everyday life worship and the gathered assembly we should do that we should honor the Lord. All of the days of our lives but we should also I think we just think of the fourth commandment with regard to the Sabbath. We should also take very seriously the fact that God calls us to worship him.

And so and so what what should that look like well think of Hebrews chapter 12. What were called to worship the Lord with reverence and awe.

First Corinthians chapter 14 were called to do all things decently and in order. In other words, is not just this free-for-all you think of acts chapter 2 work talks about the disciples and gathered data gathering around the apostles teaching the breaking of the bread the prayers, the fellowship, and so it seems like worship for the believers is something that's focused on the word of God. The word of God is central, God is speaking to us through his word, we have this fellowship.

This communion, the breaking of the bread of the Lord's supper and so it's it's centered around also those ordinances that Jesus gave to the church baptism and the Lord's supper is these perpetual ordinances are supposed to continue in the life of the church that we have to be doing that. We also need to recognize significant net reference piece that God cares about how he's worshiped.

Ask Nate Ebony by you in Leviticus chapter 10, God struck them down because they offered strange fire to him and so worship is not something that we should just do willy-nilly not not even not under the new covenant Yosemite will they call in the Old Testament God took us very seriously. But in the New Testament.

He doesn't not know.

Again, think about Ananias and Sapphire in the book of acts by God cares about how he's worshiped or Paul's exhortation first Corinthians 1011, where he talks about the Lord's supper and he says this is why many of you are weak and sick and some people have even died because you don't judge yourself when you come to the Lord's table. Instead you're clinging to your sins not repenting of them and then coming in this the sacrilegious way to the Lord's table. God cares about how he's worshiped as I think we need to recover that that sense of reverence and awe.

The centrality of God's word and the centrality of the gospel the message of forgiveness. Maybe that that's the most important thing in the apostle Paul said I know what I was with you I didn't I didn't know anything from Jesus Christ and him crucified. It's the message of the cross that is foolishness to the world. It's that message of the cross that was central to the preaching of the apostles and so we gather together for worship. It's that message of the cross that needs to be central.

The message of forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ that we have and you see that everywhere in Scripture. If that's not what were getting in church, then the main thing is missing appreciate your question sister thank you for giving us a call has a great theology of worship.

Thank you Pedro for that explanation. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

We are taking your calls for the next 10 minutes or so at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. By the way, you can also send us message through our YouTube channel. You can watch a drill right now on our YouTube channel and shoot them a question that way so check that out if you want to go back to the phones and we have a Julius on the line calling for the Midwest. Julius what your question for a drill I yeah I can hear Julius so I don't think grappling word but why God gender seems a little mean. Or, very, much more harsh in the Old Testament like he told Israel to wipe out. I mean scores and scores of people, but in the New Testament, it seems like it suddenly okay is the son. I don't think that's you yeah so how can the Old Testament is a God is is you know, commanding what you think of that of Canaan and the cleansing of Canaan. If you will, God calling his people to to drive out the Canaanites then also just that the heaviness of God's law writer that that the prohibitions there in the Old Testament, God's got civil law specifically for for Israel as his political body. Then you get the New Testament, Jesus shows up and he talks about forgiveness and grace and mercy. Was God really heavy-handed in the Old Testament with regard to his law in the New Testament is no big deal. Forgiveness I think Julius is just this assertive surface level reading I could see how sometimes people can can come to these ideas, or conclusions, but we really as we go deeper into the biblical text becomes very clear that there there is no difference if you will write and in terms of the God of the Old Testament of the New Testament, with one God driving the course of history redemptive history. Now he's administered his rule over his people in various ways throughout history. So for example you wrote them and mentioned you know Israel during the time of the theocracy in the Old Testament, the civil laws that were given to them and then now under the new covenant God ruling over his church spread about about throughout the whole world but but one God and the gracious promise of the gospel. Julius is there from the very beginning of the Bible Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 where God promises that the seed of the woman is going to crush the head of the serpent and so we have this great gospel promise from the very beginning God's grace and end that promises traced throughout Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy throughout the entire Old Testament, the prophets pick it up in and talk about it. Calling Israel to repentance. And it's ultimately fulfilled in Jesus and in the incarnation of Jesus Christ who comes and he brings a message of grace but he also brings a message of judgment you think about the strong words he had for the religious hypocrites are Jesus turning over the tables there in the temple, basically bringing judgment of Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., why because of this this judgment that God was bringing I'm currently preaching Julius through the book of Revelation were Jesus in Revelation chapter 6 opens the seals that lead to desolation and judgment, and so we have both. We have grace and mercy throughout the entire Bible. We also have the reality of God's law. You see, both blonde gospel and in redemptive revelation and so were all called to repent, to submit to the Lord and to experience his grace, his forgiveness, his mercy, and an especially Old Testament that grace and forgiveness was exhibited through the types and shadows of the sacrificial system in the Old Testament of the sacrificial lamb through the priesthood to the kings of Israel, which we do see it all over the place and so I would just say brother as we go deeper into the text of Scripture as we understand those promises and and trace them throughout the Bible we realize that is not it's not that God had one view there in the Old Testament, he changed his mind in the New Testament notes the same God who is promised his grace to his people and executed that promise in his son Jesus Christ for our redemption. God bless you Julius hey Julius, thanks so much for your call and thanks for listening to core Christianity let's go to Jean who's calling in from Indiana Jean, what's your question for a drill about Peter named get on things in the Catholic Church.

Yeah� If you're Roman Catholic you know traced to the sort of people lineage all the way back to Peter. The rock and the argument goes that in Matthew chapter 16 is one of the place and there are many techs that they would go to but but there are Jesus promised to build his church. I tell you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. So that's part of the argument there Jean that that they'll make now it's interesting about this is that these keys of the kingdom are extended to all the disciples later on. Think of Matt Matthew chapter 18 verse 18, specifically in, and Peter himself was an elder in the church met in in the first letter that he wrote in first Peter chapter 5 it's interesting how he how he speaks about himself and in think about this a dozen. He doesn't come to the church. As you know, the great Pope of of the Christian church, he says, and in first Peter chapter 5 verse one so I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed to shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight and so Peter was one of of many elders there in the church, an apostle as well and used mightily by the Lord. But the question is, is he really was. He really the head of the church and in the same way that the Roman Catholic Church teaches and I think will know II don't believe so, but those are some of the passages that they'll go to in order to make that case, Jean Douglas, of course, one of the beautiful things about Peter is that we can relate to many of the mistakes the stumbles that he made in his own life and then how Jesus forgave him and restored him.

And what a beautiful example for each one of us right every single person in the Bible abilities as you.

You can't escape that God loves to use people, imperfect people, knowing that that is every one of us, but it is an encouragement.

Also, I think as we read the stories of these these men and women who were used mightily by God and none of them or none of them are flawless. The only sinless one is Jesus Christ. And so Peter and the rest of the apostles there continually pointing to Christ Artie said it's it's the message of the cross. They don't preach themselves, but Jesus Christ and him crucified. So we need to do the same amount. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Brian who's calling in from Muskogee, Oklahoma. Ryan what your question for a drill. Although in the kind of want saved, always say repair or worse. Janet Bill and he said that all thing alive from the end of the beginning. It used to be. Say, why would he write your name down in the book of lies. If you can watch your name. What I'm trying to trying to get to know that it correctly got out.

Yeah. So in Scripture we have this language the book of life and thinking specifically of the book of Revelation.

Although you do see examples in in the Old Testament. Exodus Moses talking about book of life. In Exodus 32 but in Revelation chapter 3. Jesus promises the church in Sardis, the one who conquers will be clothed. Thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He wasn't your let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches house.

Interesting, as is this book of life as it spoken of.

Later in the book of Revelation place like Revelation chapter 13 verse eight Revelation chapter 17 verse eight as well talk about our names being written there from before the foundation of the world is I don't it's helpful for us to think of this book. As you know, it just our names are there and then they're not in God rewrites the manner erases them and is asserted this back and forth. You know what were doing really well in the Christian life in the cabin to put your name back in their Brian and then all of us and we struggle with with about a sin for a week or two and it's okay God takes the heavenly eraser erases the name out know what's being promised, you're the church of Sardis is your your your secure in me to the one who conquers I'm never gonna blot his name out of the book of life. Your your your there with me by faith and those names again are therefrom from the foundation of the world and so does. Obviously, with this is this is visionary prophecy and John is trying to communicate Jesus here specifically is communicating something to the church but I don't think it's I'm going to blot your name out you can lose your salvation. That kind of thing at the keep giving them this assurance. This comfort to the one who comfort conquers the neck and of course, in Revelation conquering is not something we do with with the physical sort. It's what we do, by faith. They conquered by by the blood of the Lamb by the word of their testimony that that's what it means for us to conquer who is the one who is victorious except for the one who believes that Jesus is the Christ on so for those who truly have faith Brian we don't we don't lose our salvation. God doesn't blot our name out of the book of life, which mentioned something you said you have been listening.

These people were kind of Nina once saved always saved that kind of thing I think I think people can have a bad understanding of salvation and assume that there saved because they made a prayer but they're not trusting in Jesus and are actually not saved so gotta be really careful here that we don't just think a lot and I'm saved by this prayer that I said and it is a matter what I do or what I believe nor saved by Jesus Christ by what he accomplished on the cross and were called the trust in him and those who trust in him are sealed with the Holy Spirit and God the son let them go stem and causes them to persevere in the face. Douglas thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together