“I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:8-10
Worship is the glad response of the whole being to beholding God’s glorious goodness. It is enabled by the Holy Spirit, fixated on the gospel of grace, and directed by the Word of God.
“Christian worship is awe and adoration of the self-revealing God as incomparably worthy. It includes an awareness of his dominion and amazing grace.” Carl F.H. Henry, The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, Vol. 2, No. 4-Winter 1998, p.58
RESPONSE:
Christ Jesus our hope (v.1), stewardship from God that is by faith (v.4), sound doctrine (v.10), perfect patience (v.16), and entrusted (vv.11, 18).
The Priority of Worship “First of all“ (v.1).
Staying on Message “One God, One Mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ who is the ransom for our sin” (vv.5-6).
Worship Particularities (vv.8-10).
MEN:
• “Holy Hands” (the pursuit of obedience and purity).
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
“To know oneself is to disbelieve in utopia. To seek realism is to learn mercy.” Michael Novak
• “Without anger or without quarreling” (not slaves to anger and a quarrelsome spirit).
When angry, we often see someone else’s offenses in high definition and our own offenses through rose-colored glasses. We drain off anger by running to the grace of the cross and rejoicing in the tender mercies of God.
“Here is the point. We tend to treat other people the way we have been treated. If you believe you have to meet an impossible standard, you will impose that on others and you will be angry when they fall short. But, if you believe your god shows you unlimited patience then you will come to treat others as you have been treated.” Ed Welch, A Small Book About A Big Problem (Meditations on Anger, Patience and Peace), p.152
WOMEN:
• Should adorn themselves in a respectable, modest, self-controlled fashion without giving priority to an ostentatious display of wealth and privilege.
• Worshippers (especially women) should profess godliness with good works (1 Timothy 5:25, Titus 2:7, 14, 3:1,8,14, James 3:13, 1 Peter 2:12, Revelation 2:5, 19, 3:8, 14:13).
PRINCIPLES FROM THE TEXT:
1. Worship is a response to tasting the tender mercies of the Lord. (Distinguish between: observing that honey has a wonderful composition and literally tasting the honey). Why is worship seen as the continual desire to “taste and see that the Lord is good”? (Psalm 34:8, 1 Peter 2:1-following)
2. Worship involves the pursuit of holiness (particularly men).
3. Worshippers are not to be known for anger or a quarrelsome spirit, but should be people with a peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified manner of life (v.2).
4. The gospel of grace drains off ____________ by showing us the unlimited patience of our living God.
5. Worshippers are sensitive to others and not given to displays of ostentatious wealth.
6. Worship as response compels good deeds.