The Call to Worship: God Speaks First

Transcript

Good morning, saints. If we haven’t met yet, my name is Andrey. I’m a member here at Trinity Church of Portland, and I have the immense privilege of also serving here as one of the staff pastors. So if you’re new here, welcome. We’re very, very happy to have you. As we get ready to spend some time in the Word, if you have your Bible, I want to invite you to open it and start finding your way to Psalm 95. If you don’t have a Bible, there should be one in the seat in front of you. You can use that Bible, and if you don’t have one at home, we’d love to give that Bible to you as a gift, encouraging you to read it and to rejoice in the opportunity to hear from the Lord as you read the words written on those pages.

As Pastor Sam said at the beginning of our service, this morning we actually get to start a new sermon series on the topic of worship. We’ve titled the series Living Liturgy, and our goal with this series is to help all of us better understand what is at the heart of Christian worship—to see worship as something God defines for us, something God communicates to us in His Word. We will walk through different aspects of our Sunday liturgy and see how those elements are given to us by God for our worship. These parts of our worship service are not just creative inventions of pastors—though some are creative—but every single aspect is defined by God in His Word.

In all of this, as we walk through Christian worship and look at God’s Word, our hope and prayer is that we would gain a better understanding of how this life of worship is expressed daily by God’s people. Worship is not just something we do here on Sunday; it permeates the whole of who we are. We’ll spend the next nine weeks digging into this topic together, including today, and the prayer of all the pastors is that this time will both enrich our corporate worship and help each of us live more meaningfully as worshipers of God.

As we begin our series, we begin with God calling us to worship Him. Would you stand for the reading of God’s Word, if you are able? Psalm 95, verses 1 through 7, and to the first half of verse 7:

“O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker, for he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”

This is the Word of the Lord, saints. Thanks be to God. Please be seated.

Would you pray with me? Father, would you help us to worship in the way that we see in this beautiful psalm? May our worship and enjoyment of You stem from hearts overflowing with praise to the One worthy of all our praise. Lord, we need Your help to that end. Work in our hearts and minds and help us to be the kind of worshipers You call us to be. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Christian, what do you think about worship? How do you think about worshiping God? What does the word “worship” mean to you? When I say we’re starting a series on worship, do you think worship is an act of exaltation? A posture before God? Something you do only on Sunday morning? Do you see the songs we sing as worship? The prayers we say? Is worship giving God His due praise and honor? Or maybe you’ve been influenced by modern American evangelicalism and see worship merely as a genre of music, or something you get to define based on your personal relationship with God?

Beloved, what we see in Psalm 95—and what we’ll continue to see in this series—is that worship encompasses the whole Christian life. It doesn’t start and stop on Sunday morning or when we enter and exit a building. Worship is something God defines for us and leads us into.

The word “worship” comes from an old English word, pronounced variously, but a modern reading is “worth-ship,” meaning to ascribe ultimate value or honor to something deemed worthy. Tim Keller offers a helpful definition: “Worship is the act of ascribing ultimate value to something in a way that energizes and engages your whole person, your whole being.” I want us to hold onto that definition as we move through this sermon.

Another helpful definition comes from theologian John Frame: “Redemption is the means. Worship is the goal. Worship is the whole point of everything. It is the purpose of history, the goal of the whole Christian story. Worship is not one segment of the Christian life among others. Worship is the entire Christian life seen as a priestly offering to God. When we meet together as a church, our time of worship is not merely a preliminary to something else; it is the whole point of our existence as the body of Christ.”

When we gather to worship—sing, pray, read God’s Word, encourage each other—we do so because God called us to be His people, so that those who see us see God in us. We proclaim a God who changes us, who sustains us, who saves us.

With this in mind, let’s hear from God as He guides us in worship. We’ll consider Psalm 95 in two parts: first, the way we worship (verses 1, 2, and 6), and second, the reason we worship (verses 3–5 and 7).

The way we worship: “O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.” Then verse 6: “O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.”

Saints, if we approach God in any way, He must call us first. God says, “Come.” We don’t get to define when or how we approach Him. That is not how it works with a sovereign God, who is far beyond us. So if we are to approach God, to have relationship with Him, to know Him, we must hear that word first: “Come.”

God calls us in. He beckons you to worship Him. Think about that—you and I, who have no business being in the presence of a holy God, no relationship to holiness or perfection, who did nothing to earn this place in God’s family—He says, “Come.”

How do we come? Do we come trembling or petrified? The psalmist says we come singing, making a joyful noise, with thanksgiving and songs of praise. Before we bow and kneel, the psalmist calls us to joyful worship.

Christian, do you see worship as a joyful occasion? Do you rejoice in singing to God, praying to Him, opening His Word, hearing from Him? Or is worship just another thing you do, part of your rhythm? The psalmist says, “Come with joy, come with thanksgiving.”

We can worship God in tears, in silence, in many ways, but here David tells us worship is joyful. This challenges any notion that being in relationship with God is burdensome. It is a gift and a joy to know the God who created and rules all.

How often do we thank God? Thanksgiving is not just occasional but a state of being—a reality we live in, even amid challenges and pain, because we know God is sovereign and works all things for good (Romans 8). Our worship is to overflow with gratitude.

Do we thank God for saving us, or do we move on to more “mature” spiritual things? Do we thank Him for His many kindnesses? We must avoid becoming spoiled, ungrateful children who take everything for granted. The Christian is joyful and grateful because of what God has done.

Our worship is worship of the Spirit who lives in us, glorifying God, not defined by musical style or liturgy quality. We worship in spirit and truth because Jesus made us new.

Worship is joyful, not a work. We get to worship, enjoy God, share His goodness, and encourage one another with the truths of who He is.

Notice the communal nature of this psalm: “Let us sing,” “Let us make a joyful noise,” “Let us worship and bow down.” There is no solitary “me and God” here. We are a people, a community called together by God.

Christianity is not an individualistic religion. Scripture repeatedly shows we belong to a body, a people. We are in awe of our Savior together, spurring one another on to a beautiful life of worship.

Individual worship prepares us for corporate worship. Our personal time with God equips us to edify and encourage others. Together, we see God move uniquely in each other’s lives. What a gift to witness God’s work among His people!

There is an interesting shift in the psalm—from joyful, exuberant worship to humble, submissive worship. The beginning calls us to sing joyfully; verse 6 calls us to bow down and kneel before the Lord, our Maker.

Though these might seem at odds, they are not. Scripture calls us to worship that is both joyful and reverent, glad and humble.

We don’t often use language of bowing or kneeling because we lack a sovereign king in our culture. But this imagery shows that God is so great and holy that the only appropriate response is humble submission.

This is reverence and awe. The “fear of the Lord” is not trembling judgment but being blown away by God’s greatness and holiness.

The psalmist says, “Do you realize how big He is? Bow down.” This is humble worship.

So, Christian worship is joyful praise and humble submission. We rejoice and thank God, but we also recognize His majesty and our unworthiness.

At the end of the psalm, we rest in His hand as sheep of His pasture. There is gentleness and comfort in this tension.

We shout for joy, we fall on our faces, and we rest, all before the great God who created and sustains all.

What is the opposite of joyful worship? Not sad worship, but unbelief. The psalm warns of hard hearts that refuse to acknowledge God and worship Him rightly.

Because God has opened our eyes and given us new hearts, we can worship Him as we ought.

Now, the reason we worship, verses 3–5 and 7:

“For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”

When God calls us to worship, it is all about Him. Worship is not about making us feel good or enjoying a music genre. The object and goal of worship is to exalt God, stemming from joy and deep satisfaction in knowing Him.

The psalmist calls us to consider God’s greatness. God is immense, magnificent, the Creator of all.

Think about the diversity and beauty of creation—the trees, the mountains, the seas, the stars. God made and sustains all.

There are more stars in the galaxy than grains of sand on all the beaches. The Milky Way is 100,000 light years across. The Mariana Trench could contain Mount Everest with room to spare.

All of this is known and held by our great God. How could we not worship Him?

Charles Spurgeon wrote of this psalm: “He is the God of the valleys, the caverns, and the peaks. In his hands are the deep places of the earth… everywhere and at all times is this true, the Lord rules upon the high places of the earth in lovely majesty.”

We know this God. The psalmist shouts in awe: I get to know Him, and He knows me.

This is the God who calls us, who loves us, who saves us.

How does the psalmist know this God? Not by subjective experience alone, but by God’s revealed Word. David ties God’s revelation throughout Scripture into his worship.

Worship is not something we define. God reveals Himself so we can worship rightly and know Him.

If you are regularly fed by God’s Word, your worship will overflow from the picture of God you receive there.

The God who sustains all creation is our Shepherd. We are the sheep of His pasture, safe in His hand.

The psalmist contemplates this God—great, mighty, our Shepherd—and explodes into worship.

May this be true for us as well. May God’s beauty and infinite worth cause us to worship Him rightly.

Contrary to popular thought, the world is not divided between worshipers and non-worshipers. Everyone worships something.

The world is divided between those who worship the one true God and those who worship false gods—money, success, self—which rob joy and fulfillment.

When we live as worshipers of God, it is noticeable to those around us and opens doors to share the gospel.

1 Peter 2

tells us we proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

We tell others of God’s greatness and salvation, pointing them to true satisfaction.

This joy is only possible through Jesus Christ. Apart from His saving work, we cannot worship God rightly.

John Piper says, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.” When God saves us, we see His majesty and want others to see it too.

God sent His Son to die for us, to give us righteousness and new hearts capable of worship.

We come to worship only when He calls us and saves us.

This is the basis of our worship—a life proclaiming the beauty of the Rock of our salvation, our God, King, Lord, Maker, and Shepherd.

Would you pray with me? Our great God, You are mighty, powerful, beautiful, worthy of all praise. As Your people gather to see You, hear from You, and praise You, guide our words, thoughts, affections, and intentions.

You deserve the best, true worship that aligns with Your Word and exalts You as the great King of the universe and our God.

Help us to live in such a way as to worship like this. We want to honor You and make You known, but we cannot apart from Your Spirit’s work in us.

Make us worshipers who accurately display You to a world that desperately needs to see You as You are.

We ask this in Jesus’ name, for His glory. Amen.