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Worship: A Study guide for Matthew 4:10 & Luke 4:8


Matthew 4:10

Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.' "

Luke 4:8

Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.' "

[Both passages quote Deuteronomy 6:13: "You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name."]
 


Worship, as defined by the Bible, is more than just the physical motions of bowing down to something. The focus of your heart has more significance than does the position of your body. Anything you are devoted to can become an object of worship. Ask yourself: Who, or what, are you most devoted to? Is it God, or is it something else? (It could be a false god, another person, an activity you are devoted to, money, yourself, or anything else that is a part of creation - anything which you are more devoted to, than to God.)

Worship does not mean "participation in religious activities." It involves love and devotion, and it influences all the activities of life - even those not directly related to the object of worship. It will influence one's values and the types of activities he will be willing to participate in.


Questions:

[If you are unfamiliar with the concept of worship, some of the questions may be a little difficult to answer. Do what you can. You may find it helpful to explore the context of these verses, or other passages in the Bible.]

What does it mean to worship something? How do you do it? What does it mean to serve something? How do you do it?

Think of various things or activities in your life. If you were worshiping or serving them, how would you know it? Are you worshiping or serving any of them? Are you worshiping or serving yourself?

Do you worship and serve God on Sunday? How? Do you worship and serve God the rest of the week? How? How much of your time do you spend not worshiping or serving him? What things compete for your worship or service? What do you do about it (or, how do you deal with the competition)?

Do you consider any area of your life "exempt" from this command? (Is there any area in life, in which you have a right to ignore this command?) Explain. Does Scripture support your answer? (If so, show how.) If your answer (about areas in your life being "exempt") was "NO," how is your lifestyle different from someone who gives the answer "YES"?

Romans 1:25

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 


VALUES CHART:

Classify the contrasting values and principles that you learned in this study. [Note: Be careful! All four "value categories" are present, by implication, although only one is specifically stated in the Matthew and Luke passages.]

Back to the "Values Series" Bible studies

Dennis Hinks © 1996
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.