Session 2: RECEIVE

Summary

The speaker draws a parallel between being a wide receiver in football and being a worshipper, emphasizing that both require a 'thrower' or source of inspiration. True worship, according to the speaker, is not just about giving to God but receiving from Him first. The Word of God is presented as essential for worship, providing both correction and the 'breath of God' necessary for genuine, heartfelt worship. The analogy of having the wind knocked out of you illustrates the yearning for deep connection with God, which is achieved through receiving and reflecting His Word.

Takeaways

• 🏈 The analogy of a football receiver emphasizes the importance of having a good quarterback to make a successful catch, paralleling the need for a 'thrower' in worship to connect with God effectively.
• 🎁 Worship is described as a 'giving back' to God, not just a gift we offer, but a response to the gifts and breath God has already given us.
• 📖 The Word of God is a crucial gift that allows us to know God and respond to Him in worship, serving as a guide and enriching our worship experience.
• 🗣️ God must speak to us first before we can speak to Him in worship, highlighting the necessity of understanding who God is before we can offer acceptable worship.
• 🤔 The script challenges the idea that worship is solely about our actions towards God, but rather a response to His actions and words towards us.
• 🧐 The Word of God is described as 'living and active,' piercing to the core of our being, revealing our true motives and the state of our hearts in worship.
• 🙏 Receiving God's correction through His Word is essential for true worship, as it exposes our wrong motives and helps us align our hearts with God's will.
• 💬 The Word of God is said to be 'god-breathed,' which is a metaphor for the life-giving breath needed for worship, suggesting that the Bible is not just a text but a living, breathing communication from God.
• 🌟 The Word of God is useful for showing us the way to salvation, correcting our mistakes, and training us to live according to God's will, making it indispensable for our spiritual growth and worship.
• 🌬️ The metaphor of having the wind knocked out of you illustrates the feeling of being unable to worship fully without first receiving and breathing in God's Word.
• 🔄 The key to true worship is to first receive God's Word and His breath, which then enables us to exhale and give God His breath back in worship.

Q & A

What is the main analogy used in the script to describe the role of a worshipper in relation to God?

The main analogy used is that of a wide receiver in football, emphasizing that just as a receiver needs a good quarterback to throw the ball, a worshipper needs to receive from God before they can give their worship back to Him.

According to the script, what is the primary mistake people make regarding their understanding of worship?

The primary mistake is that people tend to think of worship as something they do for God, rather than recognizing that it is a response to what God has first given them.

What does Louie Giglio suggest about the nature of worship?

Louie Giglio suggests that worship is about giving God His breath back, implying that it is a reciprocal action where we return to God what He has first given us.

Why is the Word of God considered essential to worship according to the script?

The Word of God is essential to worship because it is through His Word that we come to know God, understand His character, and receive the guidance necessary for our worship to be meaningful and in response to Him.

What does the author of Hebrews say about the Word of God in chapter 4 verse 12, as mentioned in the script?

The author of Hebrews describes the Word of God as living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart, indicating its power to correct and reveal our innermost being.

How does the script relate the act of receiving the Word of God to the experience of having the wind knocked out of you?

The script uses the experience of having the wind knocked out to illustrate the feeling of being unable to breathe deeply and fully, and then relates this to the need to receive the Word of God to 'breathe in' God's presence and truth before we can 'breathe out' in worship.

What are the two main things we receive when we receive the Word of God, as per the script?

The two main things we receive are correction, which helps us discern our motives and intentions, and God's breath, which is essential for true worship and a deeper understanding of God.

Why might people worship with the wrong motives according to the script?

People might worship with the wrong motives such as for therapeutic reasons, to feel better, or to impress others, rather than focusing on a genuine response to God's Word and character.

What does the script suggest could be the reason for dissatisfaction with one's worship life?

The script suggests that dissatisfaction with one's worship life could stem from not having received and internalized the Word of God, which is necessary for genuine and meaningful worship.

How does the script use the experience of a spring break mission trip to Mexico to illustrate a point about worship?

The script uses the experience of working in the mud and muck during a mission trip to illustrate the realization of one's own imperfections and the need for God's Word to correct and guide us in our worship.

What does the script imply about the importance of the church's role in worship?

The script implies that while the church can provide a context for worship, the true depth of worship comes from the individual's personal reception of God's Word and their response to it, rather than the church's style or structure.

Outlines

00:00

🏈 The Role of a Receiver in Worship

This paragraph draws a parallel between the role of a wide receiver in football and the role of a worshipper in faith. The speaker emphasizes that just as a receiver relies on a good quarterback to make a great catch, a worshipper relies on God's guidance to offer true worship. The concept of worship is explored as not just a gift to God, but a response to God's Word. The importance of receiving God's Word before giving it back through worship is highlighted, with the Word of God being the foundation for understanding God and offering Him acceptable worship.

05:01

📖 The Breath of God: Receiving and Responding

The second paragraph delves into the transformative power of God's Word in worship. It discusses the necessity of receiving God's Word as a form of His 'breath' to enable authentic worship. Two key aspects of receiving the Word are identified: correction and inspiration. The author of Hebrews' perspective on the Word as a tool for divine correction is presented, illustrating how it penetrates to the core of our being. Additionally, the paragraph references Paul's words in 2 Timothy, which describe Scripture as 'God-breathed,' essential for guiding us in truth, exposing our rebellion, and shaping us for God's purpose. The analogy of having the wind knocked out and the desperate need for a breath is used to convey the yearning for a deep, intimate connection with God through His Word in worship.

Keywords

💡Worship

Worship, in the context of the video, refers to the act of showing reverence and adoration for a deity, particularly God. It is central to the video's theme, illustrating that worship is not just a one-way act of giving to God but also a response to receiving from Him. The script uses the analogy of a football receiver to explain that true worship involves receiving God's grace and spirit before offering it back to Him.

💡Receiver

The term 'receiver' is used metaphorically to describe the role of a worshipper. In the script, it is likened to a wide receiver in football, emphasizing that the ability to receive is crucial to the act of worship. Just as a football receiver must be adept at catching the ball thrown by the quarterback, a worshipper must be receptive to God's Word and Spirit to engage in true worship.

💡Quarterback

The 'quarterback' is a key player in American football who throws the ball to the receiver. In the video, the quarterback represents God, who initiates the act of worship by providing the Word and Spirit. The script uses this analogy to convey that every great act of worship begins with God's initiative and provision.

💡Word of God

The 'Word of God' in the script refers to the divine revelation found in the Bible, which is essential for understanding God's nature and will. It is a central concept, as the video emphasizes that worship is a response to God's Word. The Word is described as a tool for correction and guidance, shaping the worshipper's understanding and approach to worship.

💡Grace

Grace is defined as the unmerited favor of God, a gift that is freely given to humanity despite their shortcomings. In the video, grace is one of the gifts from God that worshippers receive, which enables them to respond in worship. It is part of the foundation upon which true worship is built, as it reflects God's love and mercy.

💡Spirit

The 'Spirit' in the context of the video refers to the Holy Spirit, the divine presence and power of God working within believers. It is a gift that empowers worshippers to engage with God in a deeper and more meaningful way. The Holy Spirit is essential for understanding and responding to God's Word, facilitating true worship.

💡Image of God

Being made in the 'Image of God' means that humans reflect God's characteristics and are created with inherent dignity and purpose. The script mentions this as a gift from God, which is foundational to the concept of worship. It implies that worship is a natural response to the divine image within us, connecting us to God.

💡Correction

Correction, as discussed in the video, is the process of being guided and corrected by God's Word. The script uses Hebrews 4:12 to illustrate that the Word of God is like a sharp instrument that exposes and corrects our inner thoughts and motives, ensuring that our worship is pure and aligned with God's will.

💡Motives

Motives refer to the underlying reasons and intentions for one's actions. In the script, it is suggested that worshippers may have incorrect motives for their worship, such as seeking personal benefit or impressing others. The video emphasizes the importance of examining and correcting our motives through the Word of God to ensure that our worship is genuine and directed towards God.

💡Breath

Breath is used metaphorically in the video to represent the life-giving and transformative power of God's Word. The script references a quote by Louie Giglio, stating that worship is 'giving God his breath back,' which means offering back to God the life and spirit He has imparted to us through His Word. This metaphor illustrates the dynamic exchange between receiving and giving in worship.

💡Intimacy

Intimacy in the video refers to the deep, personal connection between the worshipper and God. The script suggests that dissatisfaction with one's worship life may stem from a lack of intimacy with God. It is implied that true intimacy is achieved through receiving and responding to God's Word, which allows worshippers to know and love God more deeply.

Highlights

The analogy of a wide receiver needing a good quarterback to make a great catch relates to worshippers needing God's Word to truly worship.

Worship is often misunderstood as a gift to God, but it is more accurately seen as giving back to God what He has given us, including His breath.

Louie Giglio's perspective on worship as giving God 'his breath back' is a biblical concept, not just a metaphor.

True worshippers are receivers; they must first receive God's grace, spirit, and Word before they can give it back in worship.

John Stott emphasizes that God must speak to us before we can speak to Him in worship, highlighting the importance of God's Word in our worship.

Scripture is essential for directing and enriching our worship, as it reveals who God is and how we should respond to Him.

Without God's Word, we would not know who God is or how to worship Him authentically.

The Word of God is like a substitute teacher; it commands respect and understanding, which is necessary for genuine worship.

God's Word provides correction, as described in Hebrews 4:12, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, and discerning our thoughts and intentions.

Worship with wrong motives can be exposed and corrected through the living and active Word of God.

A personal story about worship during a mission trip to Mexico illustrates the importance of purity in worship and the impact of God's Word.

Paul's words in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 emphasize that every part of Scripture is useful for showing us the way to salvation and for living God's way.

The Bible is described as 'God-breathed,' which means it is His breath and essential for our worship.

An analogy of having the wind knocked out of you during football practice illustrates the feeling of being unable to worship without first receiving God's Word.

Dissatisfaction with our worship life may stem from not receiving God's Word, which is necessary for a deep, intimate connection with God.

The key to true worship is to first take in God's Word, allowing us to breathe deeply of who God is and then exhale that back to Him in worship.

Transcripts

when I was in high school I played wide

receiver on her high school football

team I don't claim to have broken any

records or really even have caught any

touchdown passes at all but one thing I

do know about being a receiver is that

it's way easier if you have a good

quarterback every amazing catch you will

see on a Saturday afternoon or a Sunday

afternoon came with one thing in common

somebody had to throw the ball every

great receiver has one thing on the

other end of that receiving effort and

that is a really great thrower so what

does this have to do with worship true

worshippers are receivers we tend to

think that worship is is our gift to God

and that's that's not entirely

inaccurate but we do tend to think that

we come and we give something to God and

more accurate way to say that would be

that we give something back to God Louie

Giglio says it this way that worship is

giving God his breath back that's a

pretty good way to describe worship but

the problem seems to be that when we

come to give God his breath back we

don't have anything to give true

worshipers are receivers before you can

give God his breath back you have to

receive it in the first place there are

countless things that God has given us

as gifts he's given us his grace he's

given us his spirit he's also made us in

His image which is a gift in and of

itself but I want to talk about

something that God has given us which

seems to be overlooked especially when

it comes to our warship let's talk about

the gift of the word of god john stott

says it this way God must speak to us

before we have any liberty to speak to

him he must disclose to us who he is

before we can offer what we are in

acceptable worship the worship of God is

always a response to the Word of God

scripture wonderfully directs and

enriches our worship have you ever

thought of it that way if we are

incapable of worshiping God without his

word without reading his word and

knowing who he is because

without it we wouldn't know who he is he

would you trust somebody you didn't know

would you serve someone you didn't know

would you worship someone that she had

no clue anything about them you see God

knows this about us it's like when you

were in school and you had a substitute

teacher and when you saw the substitute

walk-in you just knew that she wasn't

going to get the amount of respect that

your normal teacher did the whole class

treated her differently it God knows

that about us we have that tendency to

not trust people we don't know and so he

has given us his word so that we can

know him there there are two huge things

that we get when we received the Word of

God and it leads us to worship the first

is that through his word we receive his

correction the author of Hebrews rights

in chapter 4 verse 12 for the word of

God is living and active sharper than

any two-edged sword piercing to the

division of soul and spirit of the

joints and marrow and discerning the

thoughts and intentions of the heart you

might not believe this but some people

worship with the wrong motives now I I

say that kind of jokingly because I

think we know that even even ourselves

we we come in and if we're honest we

might not have the right motives when

we're worshiping maybe it's some sort of

therapeutic deism or or to make

ourselves feel better to impress our

friends with our voice or something like

that but we worship with the wrong

motives I remember being on a spring

break mission trip to Mexico and we

spent all of the day in the mud and the

muck of mission we were building houses

we were mixing concrete and it was just

a really fulfilling service day later

that night we had a worship service

where the worship leader had asked us to

raise our hands up to the heavens up to

God and as I raised my hands I realized

just how dirty my hands were I mean I

had mud caked in between my fingernails

every crease and crevice of my hand was

smeared with some sort of muck and it

was it was pretty disgusting and I

started to think in that moment

if this is what I see just on the

outside on the surface level what does

God see when I raised my hands and

worship to him you see receiving the

Word of God receiving his correction

through the Word of God the author of

Hebrews says that it leaves us wide open

it it pierces to the deepest parts of us

not just the the surface II level stuff

the dirt on our skin the mud and our

fingernails but it goes down deeper to

the bone and the marrow discerning our

spirit and discerning our thoughts you

see receiving the correction of God is

raising your hands in worship knowing

that your hands are dirty but also

knowing that there's a God who wants you

to do it regardless the second big thing

that we receive when it comes to

receiving the Word of God is that we

receive his breath Paul writes to

Timothy in the book of second Timothy

chapter 3 verses 16 and 17 and you may

have heard these verses before but I'm

going to read them in a different

version too may be here at new for the

first time all over again there's

nothing like the written word of God for

showing you the way to salvation through

faith in Christ Jesus every part of

Scripture is god-breathed and useful one

way or another showing us truth exposing

our rebellion correcting our mistakes

training us to live God's way through

the word we are put together and shaped

up for the task that God has for us

do you rember that Louie Giglio quote

from the beginning of the lesson worship

is giving God's breath back that's not

just some cute way to remember what

worship is or something he made up that

that is that is what the Bible says

about itself the Bible is breathed out

by God it is his breath we need it to

worship have you ever had the wind

knocked out of you I remember one quite

vividly it was in football practice in

high school and and we're taught that

any time the ball hits the ground and

someone yells fumble you've got to jump

on it and so as any good teammate would

I saw a ball on the ground and I jumped

for it at the same time about 12 of my

teammates jumped as well I got on the

ball and I held it as tight as I could

but the weight of everyone else landing

on top of me pushed all of the air out

of my lungs as the ball went up into my

stomach isn't that the worst feeling

ever like I mean you know that you're

going to be okay you can usually stand

up and walk around and sometimes you can

even talk but but all you want to do is

take that big breath that inhale and

exhale but you can't it's the one thing

you want to do and you can't many of us

are dissatisfied with our worship life

you're dissatisfied with your Christian

walk you're dissatisfied with the

spiritual side of your life it's like we

go through life and we try all of these

things and the only thing we really want

to do is take a deep breath of who God

is and exhale that back out maybe you

come to a worship service at a church

and and you just don't you just don't

feel that intimately connected with god

but could it be

is it possible that that it's not the

style of the music or or the way that

you worship or if you raise your hands

or you don't could it be that it's it's

not even the church that you go to but

is it possible that in order to breathe

you have to receive you see we search

for all of these different things as to

as to how we can get more intimately

connected with god when really his word

is there all along the intake of his

word when we when we take in his word

and we breathe deep that breath then we

can truly give God his breath back and

the key for true worshipers to giving

God his breath back is to take it in in

the first place

you