Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

CHEAP WORSHIP

1. To pay homage and reverent respect to God: Ps. 99:9
2. Types of worship:
   1. Praise and thanksgiving - Ps. 42:4; 50:23
   2. Bringing gifts unto God - Ps. 42:4; 50:23; 68:29; 76:11
   3. Obey His holy will - Matt. 4:10; 1 Sam. 15:23
   4. Witnessing for the truth - Acts 1:8, 9; 1 Pet. 2:9-11

1. David made many mistakes in his life; we all make plenty of mistakes: Jas. 3:1-8
2. But David possessed the grace to give the best he had to God in his worship:
   1. Our text is one outstanding example of David's ability to appreciate the worship of the Lord God of hosts.
   2. He left us a pattern of true worship.
3. He had a chance to let the other fellow cover the material cost of his worship. That man offered to pay it all:
   1. But David knew better; he knew that God knew what David was able to do to worship Him.
   2. Said David, "Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price" - 2 Sam. 24:24
   3. "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing" - verse 24.
   4. He did not believe in cheap worship - Mal. 1:6-8
   5. Neither did he believe in taking advantage of other liberal worshippers to pay his way.
   6. That was forbidden by law - Lev. 22:22, 25. This is a point for all of us to keep in mind when we worship.
   7. Let us search our hearts and see whether it will condemn us for seeking to float along in our church relationship.

1. Our worship should be guided by four specific factors:
   1. Love to God which is the very foundation of acceptable worship; Deut. 6:4-6 gives us an inspired commentary on acceptable worship; Isa. 29:13. True love to God is marked by us giving the best we have to God - EXAMPLES -
      1. Abraham loved God and he gave the best he had to God - Gen. 22:1-12
      2. The poor widow loved God and she gave all her living to God - Mark 12:44
      3. Mary Magdalene loved the Lord and gave the best she had - Matt. 26:7; Mark 14:3; Luke 7:37
   2. True worship reveals itself - In our loyalty to truth - Job. 23:10, 11; Dan. 6:10; Gen. 39:8, 9 -
      1. It is manifested by our recognition of the reasonableness of serving God - Isa. 1:18, 19
   3. Cheap worship overlooks the central truth of worship -
      1. That God is the real giver of all we have or could give to God - 1 Chron. 29:11, 12
      2. That when we withhold any blessing from God, we deprive ourselves of the blessings - Prov. 11:24; Hag. 1:6
      3. That when we give the best we have to God, He will multiply it in return to our own benefit - Mal. 3:8- 11; Mark 10:28-30
   4. Cheap worship is indicative of our concept of God -
      1. We have a narrow concept of God.
      2. We depreciate His love sacrifice for us.
      3. God gave all to save us - John 3:16
      4. Why and how can we do less than we are able?