Notes - 26th February 06

Bible passages:
John 4:4-30
Matthew 11:25-30

'Pleasure'. Often we seem to associate the word with activities that are vaguely seedy or illicit. 'Pleasure-seeking' is a phrase used most often to describe people looking for thrills or experiences without thought of the consequences. The character we will look at in our study exemplifies this to some extent. But we shall also find that true pleasure, in a way that honours God, is a reality that God wants his children to know, for God, 'richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.' (1 Tim 6:17).

Does pleasure seem a shallow, trivial experience to seek in life?
Think of some of the small things, however trivial they may seem, that bring you pleasure: how would your life be impaired by their absence?
Now think of some of the important things in life that bring you pleasure: how would your life be impaired by their absence?

What are your reactions to this statement by Rick Warren about God's capacity for pleasure? 'We often forget that God has emotions too. He feels things very deeply. The Bible tells us that God grieves, gets jealous and angry, and feels compassion, pity, sorrow and sympathy as well as happiness, gladness and satisfaction. God loves, delights, gets pleasure, rejoices, enjoys and even laughs!'(p64)

What do you think brings pleasure to God? (Read Ps 149:4; Ps 147:10-11). How much does what brings pleasure to God, reflect what brings pleasure to you?

This is the start of a look at the theme of 'worship' in Warren's book, which is the primary purpose of our lives as His creation. 'Worship' literally means, 'worth ship', that to which we attribute value or devotion. How do you respond to the statement: 'Worship is a universal urge, hard-wired by God into the very fibre of our being - an inbuilt need to connect with God. Worship is as natural as eating or breathing. If we fail to worship God, we always find a substitute even if it ends up being ourselves.'(p64)

We worship God by enjoying him. God wants our worship to be motivated by love, thanksgiving and delight, not duty.
'Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship.'

Do you find pleasure in the worship that we share in Church on a Sunday? How? What elements bring you pleasure?
Is your lifestyle throughout the week equally an act of worship to God that brings pleasure to him?
(Read Isaiah 29:13, quoted by Jesus) How does this warn against superficial worship, that doesn't touch our lifestyle?
'Worship is not a part of your life, it is your life'. Doing everything with an awareness of His presence and to please God.
Rick Warren says, 'Worship is not for your benefit'. It's not primarily about our satisfaction, but about glorifying God.

(Read John 4:4-26, why not get someone to read the parts of Jesus and the woman with a narrator for the link words?)
Build up a profile of key elements of this woman's life: her background, what she seemed to be looking for, what she had been through, what she valued, how she related to others.
What does the fact that she came to the well at noon suggest? What was Jesus attitude towards her?
What did Jesus offer her? (v13 - 14) How should we interpret the meaning of 'living water' today? And the 'water' that does not satisfy our thirst?
Why do you think the woman introduced the talk on 'worship'? How does Jesus respond to her statements? What do you think Jesus means by v24? The meeting was life-changing for the woman: she leaves her jar (v28), testifies about Jesus (v29) and prompts many to believe in him (v39). Why was she so profoundly affected by this encounter and talk about worship? Rick Warren ends this section with the statement: 'This is what real worship is all about - falling in love with Jesus ' Do you sense that's what happened for this woman. Is that how we perceive worship, a falling in love with Jesus? How is that reflected in all we do on a Sunday at church and in our lives through the week?

(Read Matthew 11:25-30) Is this simple, close love relationship with Jesus what worship is all about?