Men and Their Altars

Men and their Altars: Gideon 3

Throughout history, in nearly every culture/religion = altars 

=Place for personal/family worship 

I just need this headline & image

Judges 6²² Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” ²³ But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” ²⁴ Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lordand called it, The Lord Is Peace.

• #1 place connected w/worship in Bible (SACRIFICES) 
• Around 400X in Bible 

=stone, brick, earth, wood, or metal.

1^st altar built by Noah after flood (Gen. 8:20), 

Abr. (Gen 12:7–8; 13:4, 18; 22:9), Isaac (Gen 26:26), Jacob (Gen 33:20; 35:1–7)

Moses (Ex. 24:4-6, 20:24-26), Josh (Josh 8:30), Saul (1 Sam 14:35), David (2 Sam 24:25) 

• Often connected w/sacrifices 
• OT Temple -altar center worship point Jesus (presence, priest, sacrifice) 

=Thin places 

Judges 6²⁵ That night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it ²⁶ and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold…

Everyone worships. Human thing not XN thing. 

NOT – Genre music. Place (e.g. church)

1. Who? What?
2. Priority, center of your life
3. Sacrifices made for (time, $, energy, thought, health?) 

=Alcohol. Food. Sex. Money, Power. Pleasure. Reputation. 

Judges 7: 15 As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped.

Internal & External 

Prostrate face down            Dancing         Clapping        Reverence     Bowing

Kneeling         Laying on of hands Lifting hands Playing musical instruments 

Writing new worship songs             Kneeling         Standing        Sitting 

Shouting Amen         Serving with your spiritual gift(s)    Giving tithes and offerings 

Gideon

Chapter 6-7 – worshipping, growing, hearing from God 

Chapter 8 – no worship & he’s bitter, murderous, and adulterous 

=You have to keep worshipping as a man or you start self-destructing

Ideas for building altars for you and your family  (these are on lower thirds)

1. Making sure everyone in your family has an age appropriate Bible to read. 
2. Praying through your home and other places to consecrate them to the Lord. 
3. Using your commute to listen to Scripture, worship, sermons, and pray. 
4. Dedicating your place of work as a place to have routines of prayer and Bible reading. 
5. A place in your home without technology, used for prayer, reading, singing, etc. 
6. A place in creation where you can meet with God outdoors. 
7. Dining room table with family members and an open Bible for dinner discussions. 
8. Kneeling at your bed, in a chair, etc. 
9. If you have a musical family, time together writing, singing, and playing worshipful music. 
10. A home chapel or designated room/space that is for personal and family devotional and prayer time. 
11. A family journal for prayers and answered prayers in the living or dining room. 
12. Spending time in worship and prayer at bedtime with your children to create a calming bedtime routine. 
13. Having a family library with basic Bible resources to help people answer their questions and do personal study. 

Group Discussion Questions:

1. What in the talk did the Holy Spirit highlight for you?
2. When you think of an altar for yourself, do you have one currently, or does something come to mind for you going forward as a new place to meet with God? 
3. How can we pray for you?