Francis Chan: Church, Why Do We Go?

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message is a reminder that as believers, our worship should be centered on God, not ourselves. We must approach Him with reverence and respect, honoring His name and treating Him like the Master He is. Just as in Malachi chapter one, God rebukes the Israelites for their casual and routine worship, we too can fall into this trap of giving God leftovers from our lives, rather than our best. This sermon encourages us to re-examine our priorities and ensure that our worship is genuine and not just a mere formality.

Key Scripture References

• Malachi 1:6 - In this passage, God rebukes the priests for their contemptuous attitude towards Him. He says, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" This verse highlights the importance of honoring God as our Father and Master.
• Malachi 1:7-10 - God continues to rebuke the priests for their actions, saying that they bring blind animals for sacrifice, which is an abomination in His sight. He asks if they would offer such sacrifices to their governor, and says that He will not accept them either.
• Malachi 1:11-14 - God warns the priests that they will suffer if they do not change their ways. He says that He is not pleased with their offerings, which are mere leftovers from their lives.
• Luke 6:46 - Jesus says, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" This verse emphasizes the importance of living out our faith in action, rather than just calling God "Lord" in vain.
• Malachi 1:13-14 - God compares the priests' offerings to those they would offer to their governor. He says that He will not accept their leftovers and asks if their governor would even take them.

Main Points

• We must approach God with reverence and respect, honoring His name as our Father and Master.
• Giving God leftovers from our lives is not acceptable; we should offer Him our best.
• Our worship should be genuine and not just a mere formality.
• We must live out our faith in action, rather than just calling God "Lord" in vain.

Application

This message challenges us to re-examine our priorities and ensure that our worship is centered on God. We should ask ourselves:

* Are we giving God our best, or are we offering Him leftovers from our lives?

* Do our actions match our words when it comes to calling God "Lord"?

* How can we live out our faith in action, rather than just talking about it?

By reflecting on these questions and seeking to honor God with our lives, we can deepen our relationship with Him and ensure that our worship is genuine and meaningful.