Through the Bible - Genesis 6-10, Matthew 3-4
Good morning,
In preparing for upcoming "VOTD's" in Matthew I've been reading some sermons in Matthew from John Piper. In a sermon on Matthew 4:8-10 I found the following statement:
"The goal (of worship) is to meet God together. Every part of the service is designed either to channel God's reality to you or to channel your affections to God. There are, of course, a lot of spontaneous things that you could do that would derail this locomotive of worship. But there are also some that would not derail us but would in fact stoke the engine.
For example, there is nothing in our concept of worship to hinder a hearty "Amen!" when your heart beats with what is said or sung. Why must I go down to preach at Bethesda Baptist in order to hear a chorus of amens? I can tell by your faces often when it's on the tip of your tongue. Let it out! Be expressive. Who knows what might get pulled out of this preacher or this choir! Visitors need to know whether anyone here really agrees with and loves what this preacher is saying and the choir is singing. Your nods and ummhmms and Amens and your posture of attention bear witness that this is a shared message, not just a one man stand.
I dream of the day when the doctrines of sovereign grace and the spirit of worship are so deeply prized and so deeply shared by the family of God in this place that we will feel, as though with one mind and one heart, the moment for utter silence and the exact moment for shouts of acclamation."
For today's verse we'll go to the Psalms as we often do for the weekend, in preparation for worship.
Ps 96:8 Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
9 Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth. NKJV
As I read John Piper's statement I couldn't help but think how closely his feelings matched those of Pastor Bob, who has often encouraged our congregation to say "Amen" or even to clap in response to something that was sung or spoken that moved our hearts to praise God. Why not do it out loud, a public display of acclamation?
Most of you know our son Jeff who suffered a TBI (traumatic brain injury) several years ago. For the first couple of years after the accident he did not speak. We didn't know how much he knew or understood of what was going on around him. Praise God, after two years his speach began to return. As it did, he became more responsive in church saying "Amen" during our pastor's sermons. Jeff's responses may not always have seemed appropriate to those around him, but they come from a "heart of worship".
Personally, Pastor Bob's public affirmation of Jeff's responses was one of the first things that really made us feel "at home" at St. Marks.
But what matters is not about us, or Jeff, or anyone else, worship is all about Jesus Christ.
The Heart of Worship
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart
Bridge
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
Chorus
I'm coming back to the heart of worhip
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
As you read the Psalm 96 below, try to see how many praise and worship songs you can think of that draw upon these words. As you go to worship this weekend, if a word of praise is on the tip of your tongue, let it out!
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Ps 96:1-97:1
A Song of Praise to God Coming in Judgment(1 Chron 16:23-33)
96 Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.
4 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
7 Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Give to the Lord glory and strength. 8 Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. 9 Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations,"The Lord reigns; The world also is firmly established,I t shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously."
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; 12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. 13 For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.
NKJV
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