John Lloyd - Passionate Worship: Respond In Worship

Passionate Worship:  Responding to God in Worship

Psalm 66

September 16, 2018

Pastor John Lloyd


We pray that an army of people would be raised up in the bay area to be, as John Piper says, “white hot worshipers” of Jesus!  We want to teach our children how to passionately worship God both through praise and in their lives. God builds His kingdom within all generations through meaningful worship.  He speaks through the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit; our response should be praise and worship. Pastor John


Psalm 66:1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!  3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!  So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.  4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah 5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.  6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, 7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations—  let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah     8 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, 9 who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.  16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. 17 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!


Big Idea:  Worship is the response God looks for from His followers.

Respond to God by worshiping Him.  Take us deeper in worship!


Passionate Welcome,  Worship, Word, Witness, Way of Life  

We are a neighborhood, intergenerational church worshipping God together!   This response to God is what brings amazing unity.


1. Worship flows from a heart surrendered to His greatness.


Psalm 66:1-3, Psalm 147:5


Ps. 48:1 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God!


“If you wish to deepen the worship of the people of God, above all deepen their grasp of his ineffable majesty and in all his works.”  D.A. Carson Worship by the Book


Psalm 48:10 As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.

My response to God’s greatness is worship!


2. Worship flows in recognition God as our Creator.


Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!


Psalm 66:4 “All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.”


Psalm 139:13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Ps.100:1-3


“We are a singing people because it is how God has created us.  It’s what we do. And when we do, we’re simply joining in with what the rest of creation is doing.”  Keith and Krystin Getty


Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”  (Psalm 98:4-9 an example of creation praising God)


“Your voice may not be of professional standard, but it is of confessional standard.  Our singing is not like prayer—it is prayer.” Keith & Krystyn Getty


Westminister Shorter Catechism- “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  


My response to my Creator is worship!


3. Worship is the response God has commanded.


I Chronicles 16:28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.


Psalm 66:5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. (Psalm 145:3 &6 Intergenerational)


Psalm 66:16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.  John 8:31-32


“Worship comes as a response to revelation. Praise is prompted by-compelled by-the revelation of something glorious.“


Matthew 4:10  “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Matthew 22:37


“But God sent His only begotten Son. He was born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, and rose the third day from the dead. And He sits at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens in order that He might restore us again to worship.  It restores us not only in our relationship to God but also our purpose for living.” Tozer

Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Revelation 5:9


Biblically oriented worship is orientated to the end.  Even the Lord’s supper is until he comes and thus an expectation of that coming, a renewal of vows in light of that coming.  D.A. Carson


Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  


We worship passionately when we know/believe in what we have received.

Our aim is to praise God who saves us by grace!  Timothy Keller


My response to all God has done for me is Worship!


Spiritual Growth Questions for September 16th


Icebreaker:   How has singing played a role in your spiritual development?  Can you recall an example of a memorable occasion where you enjoyed singing in church?  What about that event made an impact on you?


  1. Read Psalm 66.  Summarize in your own words what you hear the psalmist saying.  Write down one verse that is speaking to you and why you chose it.

  2. Read Psalm 66:1-4.  What reasons does God give us to praise Him?  Draw some applications from the psalmist to your own life.  What are your reasons for praising God? How are they similar or different?

  3. Read Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19-20.  What do the verses teach us about the content of what we should be singing to God?  What is the link between thankfulness and singing? What are some things that might help you cultivate singing with intentional thankfulness?

  4. Read Psalm 40:2-3.  What revelation is the psalmist seeing?  What is his response? Think of similar revelation that Jesus has done for you?  Describe it and what is your response?

  5. Read Exodus 15:1-7.  What revelation is Moses seeing?  What is his response? Think of a similar revelation that Jesus has done for you?  What song would you consider to be your personal testimony song?

  6. Read Acts 16:25, Romans 8:38-39.  What revelation do you think Paul is singing about?  How can his example help you in difficult situations?  

  7. Share a song that has connected with you in such a way that you believe it may become a milestone hymn for the future?


Memory verses:  Psalm 66:4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah

Psalm 139:14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.