Worship and God's Word

Just as a brief glimpse into my world: I've been (since December or so) reading in the book of Matthew for my personal Bible reading. I usually try to daily read 4-5 chapters at a time, over the course of a month or so. While reading the same few chapters over and over, I've also been supplementing my reading by listening to John MacArthur's sermon series on the book of Matthew while I'm doing my household chores. It has been a delight to read and be taught from the word of God. I am so thankful to be part of a local church body that is also faithful to the teaching and preaching of God's word, and it is a wonderful experience to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ in the home as well as in the body of Christ, the church.

All that to say: As I was recently listening to a couple of excellent messages, I was shouting AMEN in my heart when I heard MacArthur say the following:

For those of you who are visiting with us, it is our custom at Grace Church to worship the Lord in the instruction of His Word. Sometimes I’m asked if I feel that teaching is a part of worship. And I guess I constantly answer that I think teaching is the most important part of worship because you can only worship a person that you know and you can only know Him as you understand His Word. And if we are to truly worship God, we are to worship Him as He is understood and as He is known and according to the worship which He demands which, of course, is revealed to us in His holy Word. So, as we come to worship this morning as always we open the Word of God to be instructed by the One we worship and I guess the essence of worship itself would be to listen to the One who is, in fact, the object of our praise.

The above quote is from the message titled Jesus' Personal Invitation, Part 2 (from Matthew 11:27-30). If you click on the quote above, it will take you to the website where you can read the whole message, or even listen to it for free. I was truly blessed by it and I hope you will be, too. May your heart worship the Lord in spirit and in truth!