Holy Smoke
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: What are the ingredients of true worship?
Other messages (G-2 and G-9) in this book deal with the issue of letting worship lose its meaning for us. Perhaps an examination of what constitutes real worship is needed from time to time. Isaiah 6:1-8 gives us a dramatic look at one person's exceptional worship experience. The Temple was filled with smoke for Isaiah. Is that the difference? If the church filled with holy smoke when we worshiped, we would all go out and become great prophets. But it doesn't and we don't. How do we experience the holy smoke?
a. Intention. Isaiah had to have wanted to experience the Holy Spirit to go to the Temple. We need to ask the reason why we go to church. Chances are much greater that we will experience God's presence if that is our goal.
b. Preparation. Hebrews in Old Testament times sang hymns on their way to the Temple. Preparation is so important. Great concert pianists must prepare assiduously. Successful athletes practice regularly. What do we do? Probably stay up late Saturday night (into Sunday morning) at a party or watching television. Our vision at church the next morning may be blurry, but not because of holy smoke. We must prepare our minds long before we get to church.
c. Extension. If worship is real for us it can happen anywhere, and does. Isaiah was the biblical exception. Most of the great worship experiences of the Bible happened away from church: Moses in the desert, Paul on the road, Jesus in the garden, Ezekiel outside (11:13-14), Paul and Silas in jail (Acts 16:23-26) -- the list is endless. I'm not suggesting we don't worship in church. I'm only saying it starts there and continues wherever we might be.
d. Practice. Real worship makes us follow through with holy living. Isaiah heard God calling and he responded by saying, "I will go, send me" (6:8). The famous analogy of the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee is apropos once more. The Galilean Sea had an outlet and was fresh and full of fish. The Dead Sea had no outlet and harbored no life. If worship is real we go out and serve.
Other messages (G-2 and G-9) in this book deal with the issue of letting worship lose its meaning for us. Perhaps an examination of what constitutes real worship is needed from time to time. Isaiah 6:1-8 gives us a dramatic look at one person's exceptional worship experience. The Temple was filled with smoke for Isaiah. Is that the difference? If the church filled with holy smoke when we worshiped, we would all go out and become great prophets. But it doesn't and we don't. How do we experience the holy smoke?
a. Intention. Isaiah had to have wanted to experience the Holy Spirit to go to the Temple. We need to ask the reason why we go to church. Chances are much greater that we will experience God's presence if that is our goal.
b. Preparation. Hebrews in Old Testament times sang hymns on their way to the Temple. Preparation is so important. Great concert pianists must prepare assiduously. Successful athletes practice regularly. What do we do? Probably stay up late Saturday night (into Sunday morning) at a party or watching television. Our vision at church the next morning may be blurry, but not because of holy smoke. We must prepare our minds long before we get to church.
c. Extension. If worship is real for us it can happen anywhere, and does. Isaiah was the biblical exception. Most of the great worship experiences of the Bible happened away from church: Moses in the desert, Paul on the road, Jesus in the garden, Ezekiel outside (11:13-14), Paul and Silas in jail (Acts 16:23-26) -- the list is endless. I'm not suggesting we don't worship in church. I'm only saying it starts there and continues wherever we might be.
d. Practice. Real worship makes us follow through with holy living. Isaiah heard God calling and he responded by saying, "I will go, send me" (6:8). The famous analogy of the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee is apropos once more. The Galilean Sea had an outlet and was fresh and full of fish. The Dead Sea had no outlet and harbored no life. If worship is real we go out and serve.
