Bible Study Recap — October 22
Theme: “Worship from the Heart”
📖 Scripture Focus: Isaiah 29:13
“The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’”
Icebreaker: Writing Our Own Acrostic
We began the study with a creative and reflective icebreaker! Everyone was invited to write their own acrostic using the word GRACE. Each letter represented a personal expression of faith or a quality of God’s character.
After sharing some of our acrostics, Pastor Marvel explained that several Psalms in the Bible were written in acrostic form — where each verse or section begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This poetic style was a way to express completeness and devotion — praising God from A to Z.
Some examples of acrostic Psalms include:
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🕮 Psalm 25 — a prayer for forgiveness and guidance.
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🕮 Psalm 34 — a song of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance.
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🕮 Psalm 37 — wisdom about trusting the Lord and doing good.
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🕮 Psalm 111 & 112 — twin psalms celebrating God’s works and the blessings of the faithful.
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🕮 Psalm 119 — the longest and most famous acrostic, celebrating God’s Word with 22 sections (one for each Hebrew letter).
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🕮 Psalm 145 — a hymn of praise to God’s greatness and compassion.
This exercise reminded us that worship can be both creative and intentional — a way to engage our hearts fully in expressing love to God.
Summary
Our study focused on authentic worship — worship that flows from the heart rather than empty routine. Isaiah’s message challenges us to examine whether our expressions of faith truly come from within.
Pastor Marvel reminded us that worship is not just something we do; it’s a reflection of who we are in relationship with God. Real worship comes from gratitude, not obligation — it’s about connection, not performance.
The Image of the Four Creatures
Pastor Marvel also shared an image of four symbolic creatures — a man, a lion, a bull, and an eagle — each representing one of the four Gospels:
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🧍♂️ Man (Matthew) — Jesus as the Son of Man, emphasizing His humanity.
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🦁 Lion (Mark) — Jesus as the Son of David, the King with power and authority.
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🐂 Bull (Luke) — Jesus as the Priest, who offers Himself in sacrifice for all.
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🦅 Eagle (John) — Jesus as the Son of God, the divine Word who came from heaven.
These images remind us that Jesus’ life and ministry reveal the fullness of God’s glory — human and divine — and that our worship should reflect this wholeness.
Main Insights
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God desires heartfelt worship, not empty ritual.
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Worship is a relationship built on love and gratitude.
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True worship can happen anywhere — alone or in community.
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The four Gospel symbols remind us that Christ is complete — fully human, fully divine, King, Priest, and Savior.
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Worship should engage both mind and heart.
Reflection Questions
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What helps you move from routine worship to genuine connection with God?
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Which Gospel image (Man, Lion, Bull, Eagle) speaks most to your heart today?
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How can you make your daily life an act of worship?
Conclusion
This week’s study reminded us that worship is not something we do once a week — it’s the way we live in God’s presence every day. When our worship flows from love, gratitude, and authenticity, it transforms not only our hearts but the world around us.
Let us strive to be people who honor God not just with our lips, but with lives that reflect His grace, mercy, and truth.
📖 Final Bible Study of the Year – The Gospel of Matthew
Friends,
Join us for our last Bible Study on the Gospel of Matthew before we take a short break for the holidays. It’s been a beautiful journey exploring the life and teachings of Jesus together, and we’ll gather one more time to reflect, share, and celebrate all that we’ve learned.
🗓 Date: Wednesday, October 29
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Jason Lee Memorial UMC — Disciple Room
After this session, our Bible Study will pause until January, when we’ll begin a new series to start the year refreshed and renewed in God’s Word.
Come ready to learn, share, and give thanks for this season of study together!
✝️ “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105
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