What God Wants - Not What I Prefer - Acts 2:47

Acts 2:47

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

In a world where nearly everything revolves around personal preference, it feels natural to approach church the same way we approach restaurants, stores, or entertainment. We form a list of what we want:  good music, friendly people, engaging preaching, strong programs, or convenience. None of those things are bad in themselves — yet when they become the basis for choosing a church, we may be thinking more like consumers than disciples.

The Greatest Commandments - Matthew 22:34-40

Matthew 22:34-40
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

When the Pharisees gathered around Jesus in Matthew 22:34–40, one of them—a lawyer—asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” His question was an innocent question. He and they others were testing Jesus, hoping to trap Him with His own words. But Jesus’ answer didn’t just silence their debate—it cut straight to the heart of what it means to follow God.

Jesus simply replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

In just a few short sentences, Jesus had summarized the entire Old Testament.

Psalm 29:2 - Worship as a Just Return to God

Psalm 29:2

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness."

Have you ever given someone a compliment that just felt right? “That was wonderful,” or “You did a great job on that,” saying it not out of politeness, but because it was the only honest thing to say. That’s what Psalm 29:2 is all about. When we worship God, we’re not just participating in a church activity—we’re responding truthfully to who God is. Worship is simply the most fitting response we can give to the greatness and goodness of our God.

Exodus 40:16 - Worship God His Way

Exodus 40:16
Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him. 

Is there any question that God is concerned about how we worship Him?

The several chapters that precede this verse are filled with detailed instructions about the construction of the tabernacle, the choices of materials to be used -- even the names of the craftsmen who are to do the work!

Without a doubt, God had a definite purpose and design for how He wanted to be worshiped by Israel.

How He is worshiped is something that He is still concerned with today.

Somehow, though, many “religious” people today believe that the method and means for worshiping God is subject to their whim.

Acts 17:22-23 - What Kind of Athenian?

Acts 17:22-23
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”

Some say it is "Nature." Some call it the "Cosmos." Some refer to it as "The Great Spirit." Others just call it "The Force."

In some way, most of us recognize there is something greater than ourselves.

These ancient Athenians did also -- and were careful to not exclude whatever it was from their worship. They had built an altar to the "Unknown God."

They had no real idea of how to worship Him, but they recognized a need that was not being met by the other "gods" they worshiped.

Paul, when before them, took advantage of the existence of this altar to begin explaining who their "Unknown God" was.

He did not find it necessary to berate them or ridicule them for their ignorance, but instead, saw it as an opportunity to give them knowledge.

When we are faced with someone who does not know God, do we try to educate them? Or do we tend to think of them as someone beneath us?