The Role of Emotion. Recently, there has been a push toward more emotional and less traditional assembly What is the role of emotion in our service.

The Role of Emotion

The Role of Emotion

Recently, there has been a push toward more emotional and less traditional assembly

What is the role of emotion in our service to God?

Emotion in the Assembly

Stirring up emotion can make an assembly more interesting or exciting

Where does the desire for a more interesting or exciting assembly come from? More pleasing to God? More pleasing to others? More pleasing to ME?!?

Why Do We Assemble?

Is the assembly to make me feel good? Is the assembly to make others feel

good? Is it to worship? Primarily, I am here to render to God

the service and honor that is due Him alone Additionally, I am here to edify others Additionally, I am here to be edified

Edification or Worship?

To ask this question is almost to answer it! Consider the purpose of edification…

The center of our assembly isn’t me or you The center isn’t even the sum of all of us

Edification is clearly important, and is key to the assembly 1 Cor. 14:26 Eph. 4:11-13

However, Christ is the center (Col. 1:15-18)

Emotion in Worship

A feeling based approach to worship is a dangerous thing!

Worship is NOT to be catered to human preferences

God’s preferences are the only ones that matter!

Can we restructure worship around our desires and feelings and then offer that to God and expect Him to accept it?

Emotion and good feelings are NOT a purpose for the assembly

Does Emotional = Spiritual? Is emotion proof of God’s presence in

our worship? Matt. 18:20… “In my name” When we are gathered by His

authority and in order to honor Him, He is present!

His presence isn’t to be “felt”, it is to be known and understood!

More Rational Than Emotional Notice some passages that teach the

importance of rational thought and logic in our service to God John 6:45 John 8:31-32 1 Thes. 5:21 1 John 4:1

More Rational Than Emotional We must resist the temptation to use the

transcendence of God as an excuse to worship Him however we feel His ways are above our ways As such, He expects us to set aside our own

desires and follow Him Many today have replaced a rational

assessment of one’s lost state with a desire for an emotional experience to produce salvation This is foreign to Scripture! (Acts 17:2,11; 24:25;

26:25)

What Is Spiritual Worship? True spirituality is simply knowledge of

and obedience to the Holy Scriptures This is true because the Holy Spirit authored the

Scriptures (1 Cor. 2:13-15) External, physical changes do not increase

the spirituality of worship Rearranging chairs Beach side “devotionals” Retreats or camps

Additions, such as hand-clapping/waving, solos, chiors, instrumental music, etc. are less spiritual!

Is Our Assembly Spiritual? Simply because our assembly seems

quiet or formal, that does NOT indicate that it is not spiritual!

It is spiritual if… We conform to the Spirit’s words We posses compliant rather than selfish

spirits We possess reverent hearts

What Is the Role of Emotion? Our worship must be in “spirit and in

truth,” John 4:24 We must fear God (Eccl. 12:13; Phili.

2:12) Joy follows salvation and repentance!

(Acts 8:26-39; 16:34)