Notes on the Word
5 Fruitful Practices: Hospitality & Worship
Jeffery A. Raker January 22, 2012
John 4:1-26 (Message)
Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed (although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing). They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals in the eyes of the people. So Jesus left the Judean countryside and went back to Galilee.
4-6 To get there, he had to pass through Samaria. He came into Sychar, a Samaritan village that bordered the field Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob's well was still there. Jesus, worn out by the trip, sat down at the well. It was noon......
19-20 "Oh, so you're a prophet! Well, tell me this: Our ancestors worshiped God at this mountain, but you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place for worship, right?"
21-23 "Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God's way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.
23-24 "It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."
25 The woman said, "I don't know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we'll get the whole story."
26 "I am he," said Jesus. "You don't have to wait any longer or look any further."
What is Passionate Worship?
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Worship is a lifestyle not an event
Jesus said: “It's who you are and the way you live that count before God.”
Relationships and the way we live is part of our worship, in fact it's central to our worship. If we don't live right during the week our weekend worship won't be right either. This is why Jesus said this about worship:
Matthew 5:21-24 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
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Worship is of the heart not a particular action
Jesus said: “Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth.”
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Worship is focused on God not ourselves
Jesus said: “That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.”
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Worship is more than music
This is where most of the focus is when we talk about worship and while music is enormously helpful to worship you don't need music in order to worship.
What is Radical Hospitality?
We do this really well as a church. Our hospitality is second to none but it has a gap, a limit and that is where God is beginning to push us.
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Hospitality is not getting people into a worship event but into the Kingdom
Our great hospitality stops with Sunday worship. I want to see us enlarge our understanding that hospitality extends everywhere to everyone at every time because it's about welcoming people into the Kingdom not just Sunday worship.
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Hospitality is........for those who are strangers
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inviting,
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welcoming,
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receiving and
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caring
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How to practice Passionate Worship:
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Prayer
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Personal devotion
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Corporate worship
How to practice Radical Hospitality:
Letter from Davis & Ann Tapp
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Invite God's love into your life through a personal relationship with Jesus
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Accept God's love
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Extend God's love by inviting others into the spiritual journey with Jesus
