Worship Isn't About You: What God Really Wants | Bobby Schuller | Podcast Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Worship Isn't About You: What God Really Wants

Shepherd's Grove • Aug 8, 2026 • 40 min

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

Summary

When believers gather for corporate worship, the primary goal is to minister to the Lord rather than cater to human consumer preferences. Because God is holy and a consuming fire, His holy priesthood is called to bring acceptable worship marked by reverence, contrition, and extravagant praise. By offering joyful music, contrite weeping, kneeling, shouting, and lifting hands in the sanctuary, believers invite God's glorious presence to dwell in their midst.

Themes

Worship as Ministering to the LordAcceptable Worship and Holy ReverenceThe Holy PriesthoodBiblical Expressions of PraiseSurrender and Contrition

Key Points

1.
The primary purpose of gathering as the church is to minister to the Lord as a holy priesthood, focusing on what is relevant to Him rather than catering to human consumer preferences.
2.
Because God is deeply holy and a consuming fire, believers are called to offer acceptable worship marked by reverence and holy fear rather than treating His presence casually.
3.
In the Old Testament temple, God's glorious presence manifested when the musicians, singers, and trumpeters united as one in joyful praise and thanksgiving.
4.
True worship flows from a contrite, repentant heart that expresses extravagant devotion and gratitude to Jesus for His forgiveness, as seen in the woman with the alabaster jar.
5.
Scripture explicitly instructs believers to give joyful, exuberant praise to God through clapping, shouting, and instrumental music because He is the awesome King over all the earth.
6.
Lifting hands in the sanctuary is a biblically ordained act of worship and surrender that God receives like sweet incense and an evening sacrifice.
7.
Kneeling before the Lord honors His majesty and aligns with the primary biblical word for worship (proskuneo), demonstrating humility over self-interest.

Sermon Moments

“"We have to create a church that's relevant to the Lord. We're a priesthood."”

“"Let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."”

“"The critique of the modern church is that it turned priests into consumers."”

“"The presence of God didn't come when the temple was built; it came with praise and music."”

“"God loves a humble, contrite heart that bleeds for Him in worship."”

“"God does not consider the alabaster jar a waste; He desires a priesthood devoted to Him."”

“"May the lifting of my hands be like the evening sacrifice."”

“"God loves a humble heart, not a prideful heart. He wants a tender heart, not a religious heart."”

This Week

Shift your mindset during Sunday gatherings from asking "Did I get fed?" to asking "Was our worship acceptable and relevant to the Lord?"

Approach corporate worship gatherings with holy reverence and awe, remembering that God is a consuming fire who is deeply holy.

Engage actively in congregational singing and praise, using music to help invite God's dwelling presence into the sanctuary.

Bring a contrite, humble heart to worship services, unashamedly expressing heartfelt love and gratitude for Christ's forgiveness.

Participate in biblical expressions of praise during church gatherings by clapping your hands and shouting joyful praise to God as King.

Practice physical surrender during corporate worship by lifting your hands in the sanctuary as an offering unto the Lord.

Humble yourself in corporate worship by kneeling or bowing before God when called, prioritizing His desires over personal dignity or comfort.

Remember This

Worship is not about satisfying human consumer preferences, but about ministering to the Lord as a holy priesthood with reverence, contrition, and biblical praise.

A Challenge for You

Give the Lord what He wants. Do it a little bit and watch how it touches your heart. God loves a humble heart, not a prideful heart; He wants a tender heart, not a religious heart.

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