Shut Up and WorshipShut Up and WorshipEcclesiastes 5:1-7Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

What do you What do you expectexpect when you come to church? when you come to church?

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 22 Do not be quick with your mouth, Do not be quick with your mouth,do not be hasty in your heartdo not be hasty in your heartto utter anything before God.to utter anything before God.God is in heavenGod is in heavenand you are on earth,and you are on earth,so let your words be few. so let your words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7Ecclesiastes 5:1-733 As a dream comes when there are many cares, As a dream comes when there are many cares,so the speech of a fool when there are many words. so the speech of a fool when there are many words. 44 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. vow. 55 It is better not to vow than to make a vow It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. and not fulfill it. 66 Do not let your mouth lead you Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. into sin.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

And do not protest to the [temple] messenger, "My And do not protest to the [temple] messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 77 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.”Therefore stand in awe of God.”

The Sacrifice of FoolsThe Sacrifice of Fools

• They don’t give They don’t give their besttheir best to God. to God.

• They They ramble onramble on with with empty wordsempty words..

““It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

Lisa Simpson.

The Sacrifice of FoolsThe Sacrifice of Fools

• They don’t give They don’t give their besttheir best to God. to God.

• They They ramble onramble on with with empty wordsempty words..

• They don’t They don’t fulfill their vowsfulfill their vows to God. to God.

““Visit a church on Sunday morning–almost any will Visit a church on Sunday morning–almost any will do–and you will likely find a congregation do–and you will likely find a congregation comfortably relating to a deity who fits nicely comfortably relating to a deity who fits nicely within the precise doctrinal positions, or who lends within the precise doctrinal positions, or who lends almighty support to social crusades, or who almighty support to social crusades, or who conforms to individual spiritual experiences. conforms to individual spiritual experiences.

But you will not like find much awe or sense of But you will not like find much awe or sense of mystery. The only sweaty palms will be those of the mystery. The only sweaty palms will be those of the preacher unsure whether the sermon will go over; preacher unsure whether the sermon will go over; the only shaking knees will be those of the soloist the only shaking knees will be those of the soloist about to sing the offertory.” about to sing the offertory.”

Donald McCullough, The Trivialization of God

The Sacrifice of Fools?The Sacrifice of Fools?

• Do we give Do we give our bestour best to God? to God?

• Do we Do we ramble onramble on with with empty wordsempty words??

• Do we Do we fulfill our vowsfulfill our vows to God? to God?

Watch Your StepWatch Your Step

• God’s natureGod’s nature demands reverent awe. demands reverent awe.

““Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5

““Why do people in churches seem like cheerful, Why do people in churches seem like cheerful, brainless tourists on a packaged tour of the brainless tourists on a packaged tour of the Absolute? Does anyone have the foggiest idea Absolute? Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? The what sort of power we so blithely invoke? The churches are children playing on the floor with their churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies’ straw Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews.” our pews.”

Teaching a Stone to Talk, Annie Dillard, 40-41.

Watch Your StepWatch Your Step

• God’s natureGod’s nature demands reverent awe. demands reverent awe.

• Worship is primarily Worship is primarily listening to Godlistening to God..

• Leave room for Leave room for God to speakGod to speak..

Watch Your StepWatch Your Step

• The Good News: The Good News: God welcomes usGod welcomes us..

““Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus ... enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus ... 2222 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” assurance of faith” Hebrews 10:19,22 Hebrews 10:19,22

““worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."” our "God is a consuming fire."” Hebrews 12:28-29 Hebrews 12:28-29

Watch Your StepWatch Your Step

• The Good News: The Good News: God welcomes usGod welcomes us..

• Speak Speak cautiouslycautiously from the from the heartheart..

• Our actions need to Our actions need to match our wordsmatch our words. .