First Christian Church of Brazil Indiana Sermons First Christian Church in Brazil Indiana

It's What We Do: Why Worship Matters
The Stakes are high. Why?
Because worship is what God is all about.
Worship should matter to you because it matters to God.
Because worship is what God is all about.
Worship doesn’t begin with us, it begins and ends with God.
God is the center of everything that exists.
He is above all the little gods of earth.
He alone is the Creator. Sustainer. Originator. Life Giver. Beauty Maker.
God’s Word affirms that God dwells in endless praise.
They were created to give God glory and praise!
What’s really crazy?
This God, who has never known any shortage of worship, wants to be worshiped by you.
God doesn’t need any more worship to be worthy. Why?
God knows who He is.
God knows what He’s worth.
God knows the best thing He can give us is Himself.
God is not an egotist seeking more than He deserves from us.
He is God, choosing, in worship, to reward us with Himself.
Don’t waste your worship.
Worship should matter to you because you are and always will be a worshiper.
We are created to worship, therefore we need to make sure the thing we declare to be of greatest value is really worthy in the long run.
You only have one life, and it’s imperative that you find an object worthy of your affection, worship.
Guard your worship.... and evaluate all potential takers.
Enjoying the things that God has made is not a sin, but when we elevate any of these to the highest place in our hearts, we’ve gone too far and cheated both God and ourselves.
Every day there is a battle for your worship.
Satan having been in God’s presence knows God is central and worthy of all praise.
Satan, because of pride, he couldn’t bow, and now leads a band of fallen angels spreading his mutiny to as many as he can.
How does Satan advance his rebellion against God today?
“to exchange the truth of God for a lie” to serve the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.
Paul at the Areopagus
“Areopagus” after Ares, the Greek god of war.
Where did God choose for Paul to give his address on the real meaning of life?
In the very arena where opinions battled, and war was waged daily to shape the philosophical foundation of man’s existence.
Satan, the very fallen angel who challenged God, will challenge what God is saying to you.
“I didn’t start this war of worship, and I don’t care to be in it. I just want to live my life, make my own choices, and do my own thing.” This is not an option.
The reason why this is not an option is because our very lives are on loan from God, a sacred trust of opportunities and decisions.
We bear the very likeness of the Worthy One, every one of our choices is made on a battlefield with heavenly ramifications.
Jesus faced the same battle.
Jesus’ wilderness challenge: 40 days and nights
Your worship matters to God.
Important: Whatever you worship, you imitate. Whatever you imitate, you become.
Why be careful what you choose to worship?
Whatever you worship, you become.
Whatever you worship, you become obsessed with.
Whatever you value most, will ultimately determine who you are.

That Thing We Do: Something More
I believe most people know there’s something more to life.
Acts 17:16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
God is seeking you.
He blankets each new day with the invitation, “I am here.”
Acts 17:22-23 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
“To the unknown god.”
People everywhere are still searching....and still building idols.
The Ultimate Search
God is always seeking you.
Every sunset, every clear blue sky, every ocean wave, every starry night, God is saying, “I am here.”
God reveals Himself to everyone through the natural world.
We know He’s there.
There’s something more to this life than living and dying.
Nature alone wasn’t enough to tell His story, God couldn’t be clearly known...until His Son appeared.
Jesus came to “Seek and Save the lost.”
God wants you to know Him.
Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
God wants you to know Him.
Meet God
Acts 17:24-25 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
God isn’t stuck in church world.
God is near now!
God is really close to you in this very moment.
Every last one of us has been created with a searching soul.
Acts 17:27-28 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
We are designed by God so we would find no rest until we find our rest in Him.
We are reaching for someone we cannot see.
God is reaching for you too.
He’s seeking you because He is God.
Jesus willingly came to connect us to God and awaken us to the possibility of centering our worship on who and what matters most....forever.

Worship: It's What We Do is our Summer series on Worship and how worship is more than just singing a song. It's to be evident in our entire lives, and we are to be close to God through it all and focusing on serving Him.

Dan filled in to speak while Chris was gone on vacation.

In this inspiring sermon episode, we delve into Joshua 1:1-5, exploring God's guidance to Joshua as he embarks on a new journey. Discover how these ancient lessons resonate with our modern lives, offering timeless wisdom on embracing change, finding contentment, and claiming God's promises.
Drawing from Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, we reflect on God's desire for our happiness, the importance of helping others, and finding joy in our work. Learn how to turn the page on past burdens, as God instructs Joshua to move forward from Moses' leadership. Just as Joshua was called to stake his claim, we too are encouraged to claim our territories, with the assurance of God's unfailing presence.
Join us as we unpack these three vital steps to experiencing God's abundance:
Turn the Page: Let go of the past to embrace new beginnings (Joshua 1:2).
Stake Your Claim: Step confidently into your God-given territory (Joshua 1:3, Romans 8:37).
Claim Your Promise: Trust in God's eternal presence and strength (Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20).
Through Philippians 4:11-13, we learn the secret to contentment in all circumstances, reminding us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Tune in to this episode to be empowered to move forward, thrive, and live out the full potential God has designed for you.

Remember is the sermon given by Chris Gregg on the Sunday before Memorial Day on May 26th, 2024.