Revelation 4:6-11 New Living Translation

Worship in Heaven

 ⁶ In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

⁹ Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

¹¹ “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

“…the logic of John’s vision is not that what he sees in the heavenly dimension is merely reflecting what is going on in the life of the church, but rather that what he sees in heaven is what ought to be going on here on earth.”

NT Wright

Transforming Worship

Romans 12:1-2 New Living Translation

¹ And so, dear brothers and sisters I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.^[b] 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Worship In Exile

Worship is an indispensable part of the “Now and Coming Kingdom” process.

• Conviction, Repentance & Relationship Restoration
  
  
• Revelation, Overwhelming Awe, & Worship
  
  
• Service unto God
  
  
• Reflection of God’s Being & Glory
  • Hope
  • Love
  • Grace
  • Character 
    
  
  

“Culturally Washed”

It’s difficult to worship God in a fallen world saturated with idols. 

Hard Things

If you are a Christian, a follower of Jesus, you are continually going to be asked by God to sacrifice, serve, and give. 

Entertaining God

Read the Bible and Listen

Sacrifice

Give

Mark 12:30- New International Version

³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength

If you are a Christian, a follower of Jesus, you are continually going to be asked by God to sacrifice, serve, and give.