DOING IT GOD’S WAY
2 Samuel 6:16-19; Selected Scriptures
By
D.Z. Cofield, Th.M., D. Min.
November 15, 2020
Ecclesiastes 9:11 (ESV) – Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV) – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
How To Stay FAITHFUL Through Your FINISH LINE, Pt. 1
1. You stay faithful by making WORSHIPING God your PRIORITY.
A. Worship God PERSONALLY (INDIVIDUALLY) v.16
B. Worship God PASSIONATELY (INTENSELY) v.16 – leaping and dancing.
C. Worship God PURPOSELY (INTENTIONALLY) v.17
How To Stay FAITHFUL Through Your FINISH LINE, PT. 2
1. You stay faithful by WORSHIPING God WHEREVER you are.
2 Samuel 6:16-17 (NLT2) – But as the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she was filled with contempt for him. 17 They brought the Ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD.
John 4:21-24 (ESV) – Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
A. Jesus changes WHERE we can WORSHIP.
John 4:21 (ESV) – Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
B. Jesus defines HOW we are to WORSHIP.
John 4:23-24 (ESV) – But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
C. Jesus informs us of the REASON for WORSHIP.
John 4:23b (ESV) – But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”
Mark 12:29-30 (ESV) – Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”
Acts 17:28 (NLT2) – For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
How To Stay FAITHFUL Through Your FINISH LINE, Pt. 3
1. You stay faithful by FOCUSING on being a BLESSING to OTHERS.
2 Samuel 6:18-19 (NLT2) – When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 19 Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes.
Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV) – The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Acts 20:35 (ESV) – In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Mark 12:31 (ESV) – “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
John 13:34-35 (ESV) – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
L.I.F.E. Group Questions
1. What was the most elaborate public celebration you’ve ever attended?
2. What Christian worship practices or styles of worship embarrass you or make you uncomfortable?
3. How did David culminate the celebration when the ark reached Jerusalem?
4. What does it mean to you to know that worship is a lifestyle and not an event?
5. How important is it to be a blessing to others? Explain
6. Is it easier for you to love God or to love people? Explain
7. What do you think is a greater witness to the world – you loving God or you loving people? Explain
8. What is the most challenging thing you face when it comes to loving people?
9. How can focusing on blessing others help you to stay faithful in your race?
10. What can you do this week to bless someone?
