Exodus 20:24–26 (NLT) — 24 “Build for me an altar made of earth, and offer your sacrifices to me—your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats, and your cattle. Build my altar wherever I cause my name to be remembered, and I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you use stones to build my altar, use only natural, uncut stones. Do not shape the stones with a tool, for that would make the altar unfit for holy use. 26 And do not approach my altar by going up steps. If you do, someone might look up under your clothing and see your nakedness.”
5 Moments to Worship
1. Moments of transition - When God brings you into a new place
Biblical example
- Noah - a whole new world
- Abraham - out of his father’s house
- Joshua - through the Jordan River
- Solomon - into the new temple
Life Application
- When God brings you into a marriage
- When God gives you kids
- When He provides a new job
- When you go to a new school
- When you arrive in a new city
2. Moments of triumph - When God causes you to be victorious
Biblical example
- Moses at the victory of Rephidim
- Exodus 17:14–15 (NLT) —14 “After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, ‘Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.’15 Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-nissi (which means ‘the Lord is my banner’).”
Life Application
- When God delivers you from bondage
- When God heals your marriage
- When God provides your needs miraculously
3. Moments of tragedy
Biblical example
- Job at the death of his household
- Job 1:20–21 (NLT) — 20 “Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said, ‘I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!’”
Life application
- The death of a loved one
- The loss of a job
4. Moments of trial
Biblical example
- Paul and Silas in prison
- Acts 16:24–25 (NLT) — 24 “So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. 25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.”
5. Moments of thanksgiving
- Hebrews 13:15 (NASB95) — 15 “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”