This talk concludes our “Anchor” series that has been taking us on a deeper dive into what holds our house together theologically. Jon Harkey teaches us about the extravagant worship of God and how it relates to His glory, radical grace, and our lives.
Key Takeaway
Extravagant worship is what happens in response to God's glory and His radical grace. We will come against enemies and distraction, but when we truly see how good God is, we will naturally want to worship the one who has given us life.
What keeps our souls steady in Christ?
- The Glory of God
- Radical Grace
- Extravagant Worship
Worship is much bigger than a gathering, a song, or a genre. It is love expressed—our affections, adoration, and desires—all of which boil down to preferences.
Our choices in life are always made based on our appraisal of the options. We weigh the worth of things internally that cause us to react externally. We pursue what we desire. We worship what we have deemed to have worth.
When we talk about Jesus, we aren't talking about a reasonable good option among many. We're talking about life and death. Jesus isn't just a solid option; He's THE option. Christians are those who have come to desire He who is most desirable. Your whole life is mobilized in worship of Him.
Louie Giglio says, "Worship is our response, both personal and cooperate, for who He is and what He's done, expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live." Worship is when our heart and life say, "Yes, more!" to God. All we are is yours because all we want is you.
He's worth so much more than music. Extravagant means exceedingly the limits of reason or necessity. It's giving everything. It's a lifestyle.
We want to make God seem as good as He is. Is the extravagance of our worship commensurate with the beauty of His glory and grace? If we believe God is glorious beyond measure and supremely worthy, and if we believe that His grace is radical, reaching for us through Jesus, then why do we spend so much of our lives toying with other things?
God has created us for joy. "God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him." -John Piper.
All other things are less valuable than God. In Galatians 5:17, Paul admits something is off with our worship as a lifestyle.
We have been saved from the penalty of sin, are slowly being saved from the power of sin, and one day will be saved from the very presence of sin. Because we still live on this earth, our hearts cry out, "I love you, God, I want to love you more." Romans 1:21 tells us that before we were saved, nothing in us preferred God. However, 2 Corinthians 3:17 says that now we are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
Where do we go from here? In our pursuit of extravagant worship...
1) We have enemies
- The Flesh- Galatians 5:17, our flesh has contrary desires to the Spirit. We have competing loves. Your flesh wants you to love yourself above all else.
- The Devil- he just wants you to worship anything but God. 1 Peter 5:8, the lion looks to devour you. He's not omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent, but he's still prowling and hungry. He hates you, and he hates God.
- The World- 1 John 2:15, if the love of the world is in you, then the love of the Father is not. Matthew 16:26, are you forfeiting your soul?
2) We are being transformed.
- 2 Corinthians 3:18, God removed the veil, and He is transforming us. Philippians 1:6, He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. Philippians 2:3, it is God that works in us. He didn't save us and leave us. He saved us and is sanctifying us. We cannot spend our lives trying to pay God back for His gift of salvation. The greatest command is to love God. Yes, it's good to serve, but He calls us to love. God doesn't need what you can bring to the table. He's not at a deficit. So why did He make us and save us? Because He wants us and our love. See Revelation 21:3. He wants it for us more than we want it for ourselves.
3) Transformation is the product of beholding.
- It happens internally.
- For the believer, when we start focusing on doing things, we stop beholding. We view God as a boss, and we keep our heads down. But Jesus comes as the Good Shepherd in kindness and patience, reminding us that we have a good Father.
The enemy is trying to distract us with guilt and shame, filling our time or filling our ears and eyes, but Psalm 23 says God makes us lie down in green pastures. If we want to love God more deeply we have to behold Him. The degree to which we are enamored by His love will be the degree to which our worship is extravagant. See Romans 8:38.
Worship and obedience are the natural response to His love. Our "yes, more!" is from His love, not for it.
Discussion Questions
What are the three theological anchors of Passion City Church DC?
How did Jon define extravagant worship?
If all of our choices are made on our appraisal of the options, what makes you choose Jesus?
When you think of worship, what rises up in your soul?
Is the extravagance of your worship commensurate with God's glory and grace?
What does Romans 1:21 say about our hearts before we knew Christ? What does 2 Corinthians 3:18 say about us after we've come to know Him?
What are our three enemies? Which one tends to affect you the most?
Who is transforming us? See Philippians 1:6, 2:13. Why does He want to transform us? See Revelation 21:3.
How do you consistently behold God in your life? What happens to your heart if you don't?
Read Romans 8:38-39. How convinced are you that nothing will separate you from the love of God?
Scripture References
