This sermon emphasizes the importance of true worship that goes beyond mere knowledge of the Bible. It highlights how worship, when combined with scripture, leads to a powerful and transformative experience with God. The speaker contrasts the danger of dead formalism with the vitality of heartfelt worship that involves repentance, humility, and brokenness, challenging listeners to engage in genuine worship that touches the heart and transforms lives.

I just met with a man this week, and it really surprised me because he said he doesn't have a lifestyle of worship. He reads this a lot. He's got this down, but his faith is faltering. Wait a minute, that doesn't make sense. You have to remember something. This kills. What? Paul said the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. And this is coming from somebody who loves this, cherishes this, reads this, studies this, teaches this. But this, apart from the Spirit of God, is death. The Pharisees had it. Jesus said, you search the scriptures. You memorize the Torah. You have all the festivals down. You search all this in them, you think you have eternal life. But Jesus said, they point to me. See, this isn't meant to be worshiped. It's meant to be read. It isn't meant to be worshiped. It's meant to give instruction and to draw us closer to God. This without worship turns into dead formalism. You've heard me say that term a lot, right? Modern day Pharisee. That's what a modern day Pharisee is. They can quote this, but they have no love of Christ in them. They love to just quote scriptures, hit their kids, but they don't want to hold them. They love to rule their house with a rod of iron, but they know nothing about the compassion of Christ. Why? Because they're absent of worship. When you combine this with worship, that's powerful. Because they're meant to complement each other, not compete. And I found, and this man admitted it, this is easier. Right? A little cup of coffee. Oh, isn't that wonderful? Let me do a Greek study on that word. Oh, this is great. Wow, this is wonderful. Hey, wife, I've read through the whole New Testament this summer, aren't I special? Look at this. Wow, this is just easy. Worship is hard. Because worship involves repentance, humility, brokenness. I could have never sang that song 15 years ago. Oh, how I love him. What is this corny stuff? I'm a man. I drink beer and lift weights and beat up people. No, seriously, that's what guys do. Oh, oh, how I love him. Golly, where do you guys come up with these lyrics? And I would poke fun until the Spirit of God does business in your heart. And then I have to sing that song. I went on YouTube the other day and I found the old version of Amazing Grace. No instruments, just Amazing Grace. And just afterwards, just trying to rewind that song. It takes a good three or four or five times rewinding it. Then I'm in my chair. And then by then I'm just on my knees in my chair saying, Lord, would you speak to me, Lord? Would you move in these areas of my life? Lord, I need you. I love you. You've saved me. You've redeemed me. You watch over my kids and my family. You keep everything together. The only reason we don't say words like that is because of pride and tough guy syndrome. American men have tough guy syndrome. We're raised on John Wayne and you don't cry and you do this and you talk Mr. Macho. The fact is we're dying inside. You just don't want to admit it. We're dying inside. Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I was blind, but now I see. And you're not going to let that penetrate your heart. Bless the Lord. Oh, my soul. Bless the Lord. Just rewind and rewind. So I don't understand when somebody says they don't worship. I can't understand that because I can't not worship. When I don't worship, I become very critical and upset. Oh, sure. I'm reading the Bible. I can quote scripture to you. But it's that worship that breaks the heart. Oh, how my soul cries out to the one true and living God as a deer pants after the brook. So my soul pants after you. How many of you can say that? Not many people. Why? Because there's a boundary there. That's emotionalism. Good. You need some emotionalism. We need to see some tears. We need to see people turned around in their chairs because that's when you go home different. That's when you love your wife instead of hit her. You hold her instead of yell at her. When worship takes place. Because a prideful, arrogant man cannot sit and worship God very long. They get distracted. They don't want to worship God. So anytime I'm talking with men, I'll save you some counseling appointments right now. Worship God. Not for five minutes. Try an hour. Worship God. Oh, I can't do that. Then something's wrong with your heart. Because our heart should cry out, Abba, Father. Not get away from me, Father. So something is wrong there.