Transactional Worship Vs Listening Worship | Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 | Sam Jones

About this episode

This sermon explores the difference between transactional worship and listening worship as outlined in Ecclesiastes 5:1-7.

This sermon begins with a searching question: how do you view God? That question shapes how we worship, how we see ourselves, and how we respond when our own plans fall apart. In Ecclesiastes 5:1–7, Solomon warns that worship becomes distorted when we rush into God’s presence, full of words, vows, and self-made agendas, rather than coming humbly to listen. The central burden of the message is simple: treat God like a transaction, and worship goes crooked. What Ecclesiastes 5 Exposes Guard your steps: God’s presence is not casual, and worship should be marked by reverence. Listen before speaking: Solomon says drawing near to listen is better than offering the sacrifice of fools. Beware of bargains: Vows can become attempts to manage God instead of trust Him. Fear God: Many words, self-driven dreams, and religious performance only add to the vanity of life under the sun. From Transaction to Awe The sermon ultimately moves to the gospel. Our worship problem is a belief problem, and the answer is not better performance but the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ. Jesus welcomes us near so we no longer need to bargain for access to God. Jesus has done what we could not do and opens…

People in this episode

Host: Sam Jones

Topics covered

• worship
• God
• Ecclesiastes
• grace
• transactional worship
• listening worship
• awe

Keywords

• worship
• Ecclesiastes
• God
• grace
• Jesus
• awe
• listening
• transactional

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Redemption Life Fellowship

Books & works: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

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