God Likes This More Than You Think | Bobby Schuller | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

God Likes This More Than You Think

Shepherd's Grove • Mar 7, 2026 • 40 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Bobby Schuller reminds believers that the primary purpose of gathering for church is to minister directly to the Lord rather than consume entertainment. Worship is meant to be an acceptable, reverent offering brought before a holy God who desires our heartfelt praise, physical devotion, and contrite spirits. When we shift our focus from our own preferences to loving God the way He wants to be loved, His tangible presence fills our lives and our gatherings.

Themes

Worship as Ministering to GodReverence and HolinessExpressive PraisePriesthood of BelieversContrition and Repentance

Key Points

1.
Corporate worship is an acceptable offering brought before God rather than entertainment tailored to human preferences.
2.
God is holy and a consuming fire, deserving our deepest reverence, awe, and sincere worship rather than casual indifference (Hebrews 12:28-29).
3.
As a royal priesthood, believers are called primarily to minister directly to the Lord and invite His presence before seeking to minister to the world.
4.
The tangible glory of God's presence filled Solomon's temple when the priests, singers, and musicians united in praise and thanksgiving (2 Chronicles 5:11-14).
5.
Jesus deeply values a humble, contrite heart that expresses deep love and repentance over rigid religious decorum (Luke 7:36-50).
6.
God delights in exuberant and joyful praise from His people, including music, clapping, and shouting to celebrate His victory (Psalm 47:1-5).
7.
Lifting our hands in prayer and worship serves as a personal physical sacrifice pleasing to the Lord (Psalm 141:2, Psalm 134:2).
8.
True worship shifts our focus away from self-centered consumerism and onto loving God in the specific ways He desires to be loved.

Sermon Moments

“Everything we're doing here is a prodigal, wasteful pouring out of an alabaster jar all for one person.”

“You can't reach the world if you haven't reached the throne of the Lord, and you can't give away what you haven't received.”

“The Bible says God is love twice, but it says God is holy 400 times.”

“We don't need to create a church that's relevant to people; we have to create a church that's relevant to the Lord.”

“The tragic mistake of the modern church is turning priests into consumers who ask 'What did I get out of this?' instead of 'Did I bring an acceptable offering?'”

“Do we love God the way we want to be loved, or do we love God the way He wants to be loved?”

“God loves a humble, contrite heart that bleeds for Him in worship—He loves tears and sincere repentance.”

“When we lift our hands in worship, it serves as a physical sacrifice set before God like incense.”

This Week

Shift your mindset before corporate worship from asking what you will get out of the service to asking what acceptable offering you can bring to the Lord.

Set aside time in your personal devotion to minister directly to God through praise and thanksgiving, focusing entirely on His character rather than your requests.

Reflect on the depth of God's forgiveness in your life, letting heartfelt gratitude drive your expression of love and worship.

Practice physical expressions of devotion in prayer and worship, such as lifting your hands or kneeling, to honor God as a physical offering.

Fill your home or daily routine with worship music and singing as a daily sacrifice of praise to the Lord.

Approach God with an open, tender, and contrite heart, allowing yourself to express genuine emotional vulnerability before Him.

Participate whole-heartedly in church worship without worrying about decorum or the opinions of those around you, focusing solely on pleasing God.

Remember This

Corporate worship is not about satisfying consumer preferences, but about bringing a holy, acceptable, and wholehearted offering of love directly to the Lord.

A Challenge for You

Just give the Lord what He wants. Do it even a little bit and watch how it touches your heart, because God loves a humble and tender heart, not a prideful or religious one.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.