Discipling our WORSHIP Team

WORSHIP TEAM 101 Basic Edition

Table of Contents

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Extravagant Worship Worship Praising God The Ways We Praise & Worship The Names of God Davids Tabernacle

PLUS ...
THANKSGIVING emphasis

1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

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Since WORSHIP is a LIFESTYLE. What we bring to the platform in church should be an extension of our lives off the platform. What matters most is who we are when no one is watching and only God can see us. Character is what you are in the dark.

Obedient Worship:

John 14:21-23 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

Psalm 86:11 teach me Your way, oh Lord and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.

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Worship is a choice. It is unreasonable. It is excessive. And it is very costly. But it is also your path to living in your dreams and seeing the promises of God fulfilled in your life. What about your decision to spend time alone with God? The choice alone is an act of obedience and worship. How? Because you have turned your heart to consider Him and the act of spending time with Him shows that you value Him and recognize your need in Him. God loves that kind of heart and He is constantly out for it.

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HOME STUDY GUIDE Read the story in Mark Chapter 14:3 to 9 Write in your own words the story again as if you are to share it to our His Lambs Kids Church next week. It must be simple and understandable to kids.

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SMALL GROUP SHARING: Share to the group your personal experience about THANKSGIVINGS at His Life since 2004. Recall how did you prepare. Include also your preparations for this year.

Extravagant Worship
The happiest, holiest and most useful Christians, those most heavenly in their disposition and state, are those who praise God most and best (Charles Hodge)

Definition of Extravagance
Lets look at the word extravagant. It means to be: - excessive, over generous, elaborate - going over and above - exceeding reasonable limits; (meaning extravagance is unreasonable) - abundant; expansive; superfluous; lavish; precious; rich; priceless and valuable.

Let us thing about us:

What kind of a picture is this painting to you? Now place it in the context of your worship does it fit? Are you on the right track? What do you bring to offer as worship to Him? Are you excessive? Are you so generous that others cant quite work you out? Do you exceed what is reasonable? Are you unreasonable when it comes to what you are willing to do to express your adoration and love to God? Let us ask again What do you bring in worship of God that is extravagant?

Remember that: We bring our lives and our testimony unto the platform when we worship. The literal translation of the word honor in the Scriptures is to VALUE. Do we bring our BEST to the Lord, when we come to worship Him? Sacrificial Worship: Please READ the following ... Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise the fruit of lips that confess His name. Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship.

When Is Our Worship Not Acceptable to God?

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The multitude of your sacrifices what are they to me? says the Lord. I have more than enough of burnt offerings I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; Even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. (Isaiah 1:11-15)

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There were times when God was not pleased with Israels way of public worship because they were merely going through the rituals of offering (animal) sacrifices to atone for their sins and yet their lives were full of secret sins, disobedience and rebellion against God. Many times in the Scriptures, courageous prophets of the Lord would rise and call the Gods people to repentance. Their central message: WORSHIP COULD NOT BE DIVORCED FROM GODS MORALITY.

HOME STUDY GUIDE

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Worship is initiated by God who always desires to reveal Himself. Study the passages below and find out Gods revelations in the following:

Why do we say that, God Initiates Worship? See Psalm 19:1-4 ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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Why is it important to worship God in spirit and in truth? See John 4:23 ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

Why is repentance and confession of sin essential to worship? See 1 John 1:8-10 ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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Why, through faith in Jesus, is our worship is made acceptable to the Father? Read: Hebrews 4:14-16 ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

(References: The Complete Worship Leader Kevin J. Navarro The Worship Maze Paul Basden In Pursuit of God, Life of A.W. Tozer James L. Snyder)

WORSHIP
Worship is a shortened English version of the old Anglo-Saxon word weorthscipe, transliterated to worth-ship which translates to worthiness. Although men sometimes worship created beings or things, which is of relative value, to worship God is to declare the absolute worthiness of God. To worship God is the highest and ultimate expression of His Lordship in our lives as He calls us to, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

Why Worship?
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy! (1 Peter 2:9-10) Every human being is a worshiper. The question is not are we worshiping, BUT who or what are we worshiping? For Christians, the knowing and personally experiencing the death and resurrection of Christ is essential to worship. Therefore, true worship is only possible to those who have been RE-BORN through the death of Jesus on the cross and those cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.

How Do We Worship?
As Christ followers, we always go back to the Scriptures (The Bible) as the ultimate source of knowledge and reference on all questions regarding our faith and in this context: WORSHIP. Throughout the Scriptures, a common pattern emerges: First, God manifests His greatness and glory. Second, His people respond in awe, gratitude and worship. Third, God accepts their praise and worship offerings. In all instances, it is always God who initiates worship. Man, by himself, is incapable of true worship. Worship is always a human response to divine initiatives. As God is Spirit, therefore, only those who have the Holy Spirit will be able to worship God in spirit. Yet, a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. (John 4:23)

...when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten (2 Chronicles 20:22). When Gods people begin to praise His name, it sends the enemy running! Be person of praise, and you will experience the release of the power of God!

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The 7 Hebrew words for the word PRAISE

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A) YADAH to extend to throw out the HANDS in praise. Psalm 63:1 I will bless thee as long as I live; I will (yadah) lift up my hands in thy name.

B) TOWDAH the EXTENSION of the hands in adoration or acceptance. Psalm 50:23 Whosoever offers praise (towdah) glorifies Me: and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.

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C) SHABACH to address in a loud tone; to command; to triumph; to glory; to SHOUT. Psalm 145:4 One generation shall praise (shabach) thy works to another and declare thy mighty acts.

D) HALAL to be clear to shine; to boast show; to rave; celebrate; to be clamorously FOOLISH. Psalm 113:1-3 Praise (halal) ye the Lord, praise (halal) Oh ye servants of the Lord, praise (halal) the name of the Lord.

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E) ZAMAR to touch the STRINGS and is used concordantly with instrumental worship. 1 Chronicles 16:9 Sing to Him, sing praises (zamar) to Him; speak of all His wonders.

F) TEHILAH to sing; to laud; it is a sort of chanting whereby the words of HALAL were melodiously CHANTED. Psalm 22:3 Yet Thou art holy, O Thou who art enthroned upon the praises (tehillah) of Israel.

G) BARAK to kneel DOWN; to bless God as an act of adoration. Psalm 34:1 I will bless (barak) the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

HOME STUDY GUIDE

Read the following passages of Scriptures above (7 Hebrew words for PRAISE). Then encirlce all the words praise in the text. Then write out your PRAISES to God.

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SMALL GROUP SHARING

Recall a Church Worship Service you attended (any church group) that is exuberant in PRAISE. Share. (NOTES varied from SermonCentral.com entries)

PRAISING God
Praise by definition is: "an expression of approval or commendation; applause. It is getting hilariously excited! Praise is usually something LOUD and AUDIBLE and VISUAL. Doxologies, which are spontaneous praises given at anytime are high exclamations in response to what you believe God has done! A doxology is commonly called PRAISE! The Bible tells us the manner in which we should show our praise to God! None of these ways include reserved silence. There are times for silent meditation. But meditation is a different aspect of our life with God. Meditation is not praise.

Praise Elevates us into Gods Presence and Power. The Bible says that
God inhabits in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). In other words, God dwells in the atmosphere of His praise. This means that praise is not merely a reaction from coming into His presence - Praise is a vehicle of faith which brings us into the presence and power of God! He must be the one preached about, sung about the one praised and worshiped. I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee (Hebrews 2:12). Praise to God should be a lifestyle, ...I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth (Psalms 34:1). Praise is an expression of faith, and a declaration of victory! It declares that we believe God is with us and is in control of the outcome of all our circumstances (Romans 8:28). Praise is a sacrifice, something that we offer to God sacrificially, not just because we feel like it, but because we believe in Him and wish to please Him. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name (Hebrews 13:15). Praise Sends the Enemy Running. Since praise manifests Gods presence, we also realize that praise repels the presence of the enemy Satan. An atmosphere which is filled with sincere worship and praise to God by humble and contrite hearts is disgusting to the Devil. He fears the power in the name of Jesus, and flees from the Lords habitation in praise. When the children of Judah found themselves outnumbered by the hostile armies of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, King Jehoshophat and all the people sought the Lord for His help. The Lord assured the people that this would be His battle. He told them to go out against them, and He would do the fighting for them. So what did the children of Judah do? Being the people of praise (Judah actually means Praise), and knowing that God manifests His power through praise, they sent their army against their enemies, led by the praisers! So on they went, ahead of the army declaring, Praise the Lord, for His mercy endureth forever! And the scripture says,

____________ for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the rams horn shout for joy before the Lord, the King. (Psalm 98:4-6)

(7) The Lifted Hands

Let us lift up our hearts and our __________ to God in heaven, and say (Lamentation 3:41)

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Thenand fell on my knees with ____________ spread out to the Lord my God and prayed. (Ezra 9:5)

Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I _________ my hands towards your Most Holy Place. (Psalm 28:2)

______ up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. (Psalm 134:2)

(8) The Grounded Face

when all the people saw this, they fell ________ and cried (1Kings 18:39)

and the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their ___________ and worshiped. (Revelation 11:16-17)

(9) The Lifted Head

Lift up your ___________, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors. (Psalm 24:7)

I lift up my ____________ to the hills where does my help come from? (Psalm 121:1)

(10) The Dancing Body

Then Miriam the prophetess, Aarons sister took a tambourine and dancing. (Exodus 15:20)

David, wearing a linen ephod, ____________ before the Lord with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14-15)

Let them praise his name with ____________ and make music to him with tambourine and harp. (Psalm 149:3)

SMALL GROUP SHARING: Among the 10 above which WAY do you most see yourself in spontaneous worship and praise. When did this begin?

The Ways We Praise and Worship

HOME STUDY GUIDE
Read and fill in the BLANKS using your Bibles. The following passages and describe the forms and ways by which we praise and worship God.
(1) The Laughing Mouth Our mouths were filled with ____________, and our tongues with songs of joy. (Psalm 126:2) (2) The Singing Mouth I will _______ of the Lords great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. (Psalm 89:1) (3) The Bent Knee Come let us ______ down in worship, let us ________ before the Lord our Maker. (Psalm 95:6) (4) The Bowed Head Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their _______ to the ground. (Nehemiah 8:2) So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their __________ and worshipped. (2 Chronicles 29:30) (5) The Clapping Hands __________ your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. (Psalm 47:1) (6) The Shouting Voice Come let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us __________ aloud to the Rock of our salvation. (Psalm 95:1)

"YHVH" is the Hebrew word that translates as "LORD". Found more

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often in the Old Testament than any other name for God (approximately 7,000 times), the title is also referred to as the "Tetragrammaton," meaning the "The Four Letters". YHVH comes from the Hebrew verb "to be" and is the special name that God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM; and He said, thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you... this is My eternal name, and this is how I am to be recalled for all generations'" (Exodus 3:14-15). Therefore, YHVH declares God's absolute being - the source of everything, without beginning and without end. Although some pronounce YHVH as "Jehovah" or "Yaweh," scholars really don't know the proper pronunciation. The Jews stopped pronouncing this name by about 200 A.D., out of fear of breaking the commandment "You shall not take the name of YHVH your God in vain" (Exodus 20:7). (Today's rabbis typically use "Adonai" in place of YHVH.) Here are some examples of YHVH used in scripture: YHVH Elohim - LORD God: (Genesis 2:4). YHVH M'kadesh - The LORD Who Makes Holy: (Ezekiel 37:28). YHVH Yireh - The LORD Who Sees / provides: (Genesis 22:14). YHVH Nissi - The LORD My Banner: (Exodus 17:15). YHVH Shalom - The LORD Of Peace: (Judges 6:24). YHVH Tzidkaynu - The LORD Our Righteousness: (Jeremiah 33:16). YHVH O'saynu - The LORD our Maker: (Psalm 95:6).

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The LORD who revealed Himself as YHVH in the Old Testament is revealed as Yeshua (Jesus) in the New Testament. Jesus shares the same

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attributes as YHVH and clearly claims to be YHVH. In John 8:56-9, Jesus presents himself as the "I AM." When challenged by some Jewish leaders regarding His claim of seeing Abraham (who lived some 2000 years earlier), Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM." Those Jewish leaders understood that Jesus was claiming to be YHVH. This is clearly established when they tried to stone Him to death for what they considered blasphemy under Jewish Law. In Romans 10:9, Paul declares, "if you confess with your mouth Yeshua as LORD... you shall be saved." Immediately thereafter, in Romans 10:13, Paul backs up this declaration by quoting the Old Testament, "Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD (YHVH) will be saved" (Joel 2:32). Calling on Yeshua (Jesus) as Lord is the same as calling Him YHVH, because Yeshua (Jesus) is YHVH (LORD), the Messiah foretold throughout the entire Old Testament.

HOME STUDY GUIDE

Out of the many Scripture references above, choose 3 to 4 passages from each of the 4 Categories to underline in your own Bible.

SMALL GROUP SHARING

(NOTES Borrowed from www.allaboutgod.com)

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Share a personal experience with God. What Name became more real to you?

The Names of GOD

The Names of God used in the Bible act as a roadmap for learning about the character of God. Since the Bible is God's Word to us, the names He chooses in scripture are meant to reveal His true nature to us.

Names of God: His Titles Revealed in Scripture

"ELOHIM" (or Elohay) is the first name for God found in the Bible, and it's used throughout the Old Testament over 2,300 times.
Elohim comes from the Hebrew root meaning "strength" or "power", and has the unusual characteristic of being plural in form. In Genesis 1:1, we read, "In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth." Right from the start, this plural form for the name of God is used to describe the One God, a mystery that is uncovered throughout the rest of the Bible. Throughout scripture, Elohim is combined with other words to describe certain characteristics of God. Some examples: Elohay Kedem - God of the Beginning: (Deuteronomy 33:27). Elohay Mishpat - God Of Justice: (Isaiah 30:18). Elohay Selichot - God Of Forgiveness: (Nehemiah 9:17). Elohay Marom - God Of Heights: (Micah 6:6). Elohay Mikarov - God Who Is Near: (Jeremiah 23:23). Elohay Mauzi - God Of My Strength: (Psalm 43:2). Elohay Tehilati - God Of My Praise: (Psalm 109:1). Elohay Yishi - God Of My Salvation: (Psalm 18:47, 25:5). Elohim Kedoshim - Holy God: (Leviticus 19:2, Joshua 24:19). Elohim Chaiyim - Living God: (Jeremiah 10:10). Elohay Elohim - God Of Gods: (Deuteronomy 10:17).

"EL" is another name used for God in the Bible, showing up about 200 times in the Old Testament. El is the simple form arising from Elohim, and
is often combined with other words for descriptive emphasis. Some examples: El HaNe'eman - The Faithful God: (Deuteronomy 7:9). El HaGadol - The Great God: (Deuteronomy 10:17). El HaKadosh - The Holy God: (Isaiah 5:16). El Yisrael - The God Of Israel: (Psalm 68:35). El HaShamayim - The God Of The Heavens: (Psalm 136:26). El De'ot - The God Of Knowledge: (1 Samuel 2:3). El Emet - The God Of Truth: (Psalm 31:6). El Yeshuati - The God Of My Salvation: (Isaiah 12:2). El Elyon The Most High God: (Genesis 14:18). Immanu El - God Is With Us: (Isaiah 7:14). El Olam - The God Of Eternity (Genesis 21:33). El Echad - The One God: (Malachi 2:10). "ELAH" is another name for God, used about 70 times in the Old Testament. Again, when combined with other words, we see different attributes of God. Some examples: Elah Yerush'lem - God of Jerusalem: (Ezra 7:19). Elah Yisrael - God of Israel: (Ezra 5:1). Elah Sh'maya - God of Heaven: (Ezra 7:23). Elah Sh'maya V'Arah God of Heaven and Earth: (Ezra 5:11).

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For one generation (about 30 years under David and 12 years into Solomon's reign), two tabernacles existed in Israel. In Gibeon there was the dead, liturgical worship that characterized the Tabernacle of Moses. In Jerusalem, there was the lively, spontaneous worship that characterized the Tabernacle of David. The worship in Gibeon was the performance of ritualistic symbolism. The worship in Zion was the experience of the presence of God. At Gibeon, the priests offered the sacrifice of animals. At Zion, the offering was the sacrifice of praise: "Come before Him with joyful singing . . . Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise" (Psalm 100:2,4).

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The Prophetic Significance. The Tabernacle of David served as a joyous bridge

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between the spiritual deadness that had come to characterize the Tabernacle of Moses and the Spirit-filled glory that would characterize the Temple of Solomon. In like manner, since the reestablishment of the nation of Israel in 1948, God has been raising up the Tabernacle of David again to serve as a joyous bridge of transition between the dead worship of mainline Christendom and the glorious worship that will characterize the coming Millennial Temple of Jesus Christ. God wants His Son to return on a cloud of praise!

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A Move of the Spirit. The Church at large is the symbolic Tabernacle of David.

But the more literal Tabernacle of David today consists of those churches that have rediscovered the true meaning of worship and have given their people the freedom in Christ to worship God with all their energy, resources, gifts and talents.

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That is the reason that renewal in worship is sweeping Christendom worldwide. It is a move of the Spirit. It is a fulfillment of prophecy. It is a mark of the end times. It is a sign of the soon return of Jesus. And it is preparation for that day very soon when:

The ransomed of the Lord will return, And come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads, They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10

That is the day when the Tabernacle of David will be restored completely! Maranatha!

HOME STUDY GUIDE

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Read the following passages of Scripture and mark (underline, encircle) the acts of PRAISE and WORSHIP that you see: Psalm 47; Psalm 149:3; Psalms 134:2; Psalm 20:5; Psalm 150:3, 5

SMALL GROUP SHARING

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Are you excited to come WORSHIP the LORD this weekend? What did you learn from this lesson and how will you put it into practice? (NOTES Borrowed from Lamb and Lion Ministries)

DAVIDs Tabernacle
David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem rather than returning it to the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle of Moses at Gibeon this is amazing! David pitched a tent in Jerusalem, placed the Ark inside, and instituted a whole new concept of PRAISE and WORSHIP. Instruments of worship were introduced. Special psalms of praise were written and sung. And, incredibly, special priests were appointed to minister music before the ark continually (see 1 Chronicles 16:6,37) -- whereas only the High Priest had been allowed to minister before the Ark once a year in the Tabernacle of Moses. In fact, the Scriptures indicate that there was such great intimacy with the Lord, that David would actually lounge before the Ark (1 Chronicles 17:16). It is probably during these times of intimacy that he wrote new songs to the Lord (Psalm 40:3).

David's revolution in worship was very radical. There was no singing or

celebration at the Tabernacle of Moses. The worship there was one of solemn ritual focused on sacrifices. The only joy that had ever been evidenced in the worship of the Israelites had occurred spontaneously, as when Miriam danced with a tambourine and rejoiced over the destruction of Pharaoh and his army (Exodus 15). The Psalms make it clear that the praise worship inaugurated by David was a worship of great joy that was characterized by hand clapping (Psalm 47:1), shouting (Psalm 47:1), singing (Psalm 47:6-7), dancing (Psalm 149:3), hand waving (Psalm 134:2), and the display of banners (Psalm 20:5). The worshipers were encouraged to praise God with every form of musical instrument, from the gentle lyre to the "loud crashing cymbals" (Psalm 150:3,5).

The Davidic Revolution. But why? Why did David so radically change the
worship of Israel? We are told in 2 Chronicles 29:25 that he did so in response to commands of God given to him through the prophets Nathan and Gad. But why didn't the Lord simply tell David to put the Ark back in the Holy of Holies in Gibeon? Why did God tell him to revolutionize the worship of Israel? The Bible does not tell us why. We can only guess. My guess is that God wanted to give David a prophetic glimpse of the glorious Church Age to come when animal sacrifices would cease, worshipers would have direct access to God, and worshipers would come before the Lord in rejoicing with a sacrifice of praise. I think there was also another reason. I believe the Lord wanted to give the Church a model for Spirit-filled worship.

3. Plan a Family Conference to discuss ways to give. Ask your family members to be thinking of ideas in advance. Be sure to involve your children, no matter how young they are. This is a great opportunity to teach giving and faith. 4. At your Family Conference, read the following Bible promises and instructions and make a list of what you learn:

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Proverbs 3:9-10; Proverbs 11:24-25; Luke 6:38; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-12; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12; Matthew 6:19-20.

5. In your family conference, ask yourselves aloud these questions:

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Regarding our CASH gift: How much cash could we gather by December 16 - Sunday? Is there anything we could sell or convert to CASH? Do we have any assets or tangible items we could GIVE?

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Regarding a FUTURE Pledge: (this is PAYABLE in 12 monthly installments OVER and ABOVE your Tithes and Offerings at church) Are there ways we could decrease our expenses in order to make a larger commitment? Are there ways we could increase our income in order to make a larger commitment?

6. Decide as a family the TOTAL AMOUNT >>> CASH + PLEDGE youll give, hold hands and have a prayer of commitment similar to this:

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Father, this is a BIG STEP for us. Were asking you to strengthen our faith and help us grow spiritually through giving. We thank you for all you have given us. We know we wouldnt have anything if it werent for you. We want to be cheerful givers. Were claiming the promises youve said in your Word that youll take care of our needs if we trust you. Thank you for this opportunity to grow. Thank you for the many church plants and workers in the future. Help us to reach our goal and bring our GIFT for THANKS 2007. In Jesus name, Amen!

It is THANKSGiving at HLM
A Simple GUIDE in Discerning Gods Will in Deciding Your Giving Commitment for Thanksgiving 2007
The most important decision you or your family will make during "THANKSGIVING" will be the decision about your own giving commitment. This article gives suggestions on how to decide what your commitment will be. As you begin praying about your commitment, keep in mind that our theme is EQUAL SACRIFICE, NOT EQUAL GIFTS. Obviously, God has not given everyone the ability to give the same amount in pesos. However, God does call us to make the same quality of commitment.

Each of us has a CHOICE to make:

1. I can give based on REASON. This means I look at what I have, figure out what is reasonable, and commit that amount. It takes no faith to give by reason. Reason simply asks, What can I afford? 2. I can give based on REVELATION. This means I determine my gift by praying, Lord, what do you want to give through me? This requires faith. When you make giving a matter of prayer, your decision becomes an act of worship. Revelation giving is asking How much am I willing to trust God? Paul said of the Macedonians, They gave not only what they could afford, they gave even more than they could afford! 2 Corinthians 7:3

SUGGESTED STEPS FOR DETERMINING GODS WILL

1. Begin by Praying Every Day, Lord, I want to give sacrificially. Now please show me how to give a gift that will stretch my faith. If youre married, pray together with your spouse. 2. Give Yourself Time! Dont rush your decision. Youll find that the longer you genuinely pray Show me how, the more ways God will show you, and youll be able to give more than the first amount that popped into your head.

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GIVING that PLEASES God

AND CAUSES ME TO GROW
Thanksgiving Celebrations at His Life are great spiritual tests that God uses to make us grow as GENEROUS GIVERS! It will be always a test of our faith ...our hope ...and our love towards Him and His Agenda. Many have asked How do I decide what God wants me to give?

6 Questions To Ask Myself

1. Will I give based on REASON or by REVELATION? Is my gift just what I think I can afford or is it what God wants to give through me? 2. Does this amount really stretch my faith? "God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more so that there will not only be enough for your own needs but plenty left over to give joyfully to others." 2 Corinthians 9:8 (LB) 3. Does it show I value my hope of eternal reward more than material things on earth? Use your money to do good... always being ready...By doing this you will be storing up real treasure for yourself in heaven--it is the only safe investment for eternity! And youll live a fruitful Christian life down here as well." 1 Timothy 6:19 (LB) 4. Will this amount demonstrate how much I love Christ and his church family? "...be a leader in the spirit of cheerful giving.... This is one way to prove that your love is real, that it goes beyond mere words." 2 Corinthians 8:8 (LB) 5. Does this amount represent a genuine sacrifice? I will not sacrifice to my God an offering that costs me nothing!" 2 Samuel 24:24 6. Does this amount express the level of thanksgiving I have for how our Church Family at His Life has blessed my life & family? "With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord. Psalm 54:6 (RSV)
If youll sincerely ask these questions, youll be able to arrive at a specific amount to give. The amount will almost always be larger than the first number that popped into your mind since it will be a step of faith.