Why Rituals?

Dennis McCallum

Hebrews 9:1-12

The Old Testament rituals within the sanctuary were regulated for the people to be able to worship God. All of the elements of Old Testament ritual represented the distinctiveness between God and fallen humans, and our utter rejection of His Law, provision and authority. The Old Testament rituals were a form of teaching to symbolize what Christ would ultimately fulfill. Now, these rituals are obsolete because of Jesus, giving Christians bold access to worship God under radical grace.

Community & Commitment

Gary DeLashmutt

Romans 12:1

Radical commitment to Christ is the substance that attracts people to Him and grows people into maturity. To cultivate commitment in a group it takes creating environments for people to spiritually thrive. The most important element to cultivate commitment is maintaining passionate commitment to Christ in your own life. This is a process that at times calls for challenging conversations and radical dedication to the simplicity of devotion to Christ.

The New Worship & Spiritual Leaders

Gary DeLashmutt

Hebrews 13:7

The next piece of the new worship reminds believers to consider their leaders. Three ways to do this are to: 1) choose them carefully (test them against Scripture), 2) imitate their faith (and their commitment to others), and 3) obey and submit to them (in biblical matters, respecting the authority they have been entrusted with). These ultimately come from the mutual desire to succeed as a church!

The New Worship & Gratitude

Gary DeLashmutt

Hebrews 13:15

God doesn't need our gratitude as validation for Himself, so why does it matter? Firstly, our level of gratitude reveals our spiritual health. Gratitude is a natural response to grace, so if we are understanding grace, we should be expressing gratitude. Gratitude is also a medicine that promotes spiritual health. This means we should be practicing gratitude actively. Several helpful ways to do this are to utilize spiritual songs, ask God to sensitize you to grumbling (and give others the green light to say something to you about it), keep a journal, reflect, thank others, and spend time with other grateful people.

The New Worship & Our Money

Gary DeLashmutt

Hebrews 13:5-6

The new worship involves having a new perspective on money. Believers need to reject materialism's empty promises that lead to disastrous decisions. Believers also need to embrace and pursue God's purpose for life and cultivate enjoyment of the good things God gives, whether physical, intellectual, aesthetic, or relational. Finally, believers need to practice consistent and spontaneous generosity, which protects us and gives us excitement for eternity.

The New Worship & Loving People

Gary DeLashmutt

Hebrews 13:1-3

The new worship involves loving people with our lives. There are three distinct groups that people fall into, and how we can love each of them varies. The first group, other followers of Christ, are people we should love as family. These are people we should be deeply invested in. The second group, strangers, are people we should show hospitality to and not neglect. These are people we should be seeking out and moving towards. The last group, those in prison or who are ill-treated, are people we should allow God to open our hearts to love. These are people we should have a burden for.

The New Worship

Gary DeLashmutt

Hebrews 12:28-13:16

The author of Hebrews describes a new and better way to worship God, as compared to the rituals of the old covenant. Several differences include new worship: 1) is wherever you are, 2) is continuous, 3) is equally achievable by all believers, and 4) is a lifestyle of thanks to God and loving service to others. It is important to note how ritual worship services can hinder believers from having a full life with God.

The New Covenant

Gary DeLashmutt

Hebrews 10:1-18

Now that the author of Hebrews has clarified that the new covenant is better than the old covenant, he gives three examples of how. 1) People now have the power to follow God. 2) People now have personal intimacy with God. 3) People now have complete forgiveness by God. While not as extreme as the old sacrificial system, it is still important to watch for ways that people can revert to relating to God through rituals.

The Tabernacle: Salvation in Symbols

Gary DeLashmutt

Hebrews 9:1-12

The Old Testament foreshadows the salvation brought by the Messiah through the tabernacle. The author of Hebrews reminds his audience what this tabernacle represented: God dwelling among His people; the necessity to be "clean"' before Him; the barriers between Him and man; His provision and protection; and, most importantly, how Christ is the perfect fulfillment of a complete sacrifice. Ultimately, Christ's relationship to the tabernacle demonstrates that ritualistic worship is obsolete!