Discussion Guide: Worship According to God

Dec 29, 2025

Opening Prayer

Let’s ask the Lord to move in such a way that our worship would be acceptable to Him and life changing to the world around us.

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Key Takeaways from the Sermon

1. True worship is initiated by God, not humans

- Worship begins with God revealing Himself to us, not with us reaching up to Him

- The shepherds were going about their ordinary duties when God interrupted their lives with His glory

- Christianity is God reaching down to connect with us, not us trying to reach up to Him

2. True worship is rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ

- Worship must be centered on Jesus and who He truly is according to Scripture

- True worship is done "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24)

- Worship without the gospel is empty ritual; worship centered anywhere other than Christ becomes idolatry

3. True worship responds in faith and obedience

- The shepherds didn't just hear the message, they acted on it ("Let us now go to Bethlehem")

- God's revelation should produce movement in our lives

- Worship is not passive observation but a faith-filled response

4. True worship involves humble adoration of Christ

- We worship Christ as He is, not as we want Him to be

- The shepherds found Jesus in humble circumstances, no stage, no spectacle

- True worship is often quieter, deeper, and more reverent than our culture expects

5. True worship overflows into evangelism

- The shepherds "made widely known" what they had seen and heard

- Worship and mission are inseparable

- If worship never leaves the building, do we really understand it?

6. True worship produces lives that glorify God

- The shepherds returned to the same fields but weren't the same people

- Worship doesn't remove us from ordinary life; it reshapes how we live in it

- "Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31)

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Discussion Questions

Understanding Worship

1. Before this sermon, how would you have defined worship? How has your understanding been challenged or expanded?

2. Pastor Matt said, "We don't get to define what is acceptable worship, God does." Why is this distinction so important? What happens when we define worship on our own terms?

God's Revelation

3. Read Luke 2:8-14. The shepherds were doing ordinary work when God revealed Himself. When has God interrupted your "ordinary" life with His presence or truth? How did you respond?

4. The sermon emphasized that worship begins with God revealing Himself, not with us seeking an experience. How does this change the way you approach corporate worship or personal devotion time?

Spirit and Truth

5. What does it mean to worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24)? Why do we need both components?

6. Pastor Matt said, "Truth without spirit produces cold, formal, lifeless religious activity. Spirit without truth becomes misguided, mere emotions, and unanchored." Have you seen examples of either extreme? What does the balance look like practically?

Faith and Obedience

7. Read Romans 12:1. What does it mean to present your body as a "living sacrifice"? How is this connected to worship?

8. Pastor Matt asked, "Are you being moved by what God has revealed about Himself?" Honestly assess: Is your worship producing movement toward Christ, greater faith, and deeper obedience?

9. The story of Jesus weeping in John 11 was mentioned. Jesus wept over the heart of disbelief among the people. Does your life cause Jesus to weep because of unbelief and disobedience, or does it make Him smile because of trust and obedience?

Worship Beyond the Building

10. "If our worship never leaves the building, do we really understand worship?" How has your worship (or lack thereof) been evident in your daily life this past week?

11. The shepherds couldn't keep quiet about what they had seen and heard. Who did you tell about Jesus this week? What makes it difficult to share what God has revealed to us?

Transformed Lives that Glorify God

12. The shepherds went back to the same fields but weren't the same people. How should genuine worship transform our ordinary, everyday lives?

13. Read 1 Corinthians 10:31. What would it look like practically to do everything (eating, drinking, working, parenting, etc.) to the glory of God.

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Practical Application

Choose one of the following to practice this week:

1. Daily Worship Audit: Each evening, reflect on your day and ask: "Did I worship God today through my actions, words, and attitudes? How did my life bring Him glory?"

2. Scripture Meditation: Spend time meditating on Romans 12:1 or 1 Corinthians 10:31. Ask God to show you specific areas where He wants you to present yourself as a living sacrifice or do something for His glory.

3. Evangelism Step: Identify one person who needs to hear about Jesus and pray for an opportunity to share with them this week. Ask God to give you boldness and the right words.

4. Obedience in One Area: Identify one specific area where God has been calling you to obedience but you've been resisting. Take one concrete step of faith this week.

5. Worship Journal: Start a journal documenting how God reveals Himself to you each day and how you respond. Track the movement in your life.

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Prayer Focus

Pray together, asking God to:

- Open your eyes to see His glory and revelation in everyday life

- Give you hearts that respond in faith and obedience

- Transform you into true worshipers who glorify Him in all things

- Give you boldness to share the gospel with others

- Help you live lives that make Him smile rather than weep

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Additional Resources

Scripture Memory: Romans 12:1 or 1 Corinthians 10:31