Willow Ridge Sermons

Sunday, March 22nd • Beau Bradberry

Listen to a special message from Pastor Beau Bradberry as we look at what it means for us to gather weekly as a church family.

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Host

Beau Bradberry

Senior Pastor

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Well, good morning.

Glad that you guys are here.

I would like to correct something.

Joel thinks he misspoke.

I think he spoke truth.

We are having a bacon breakfast.

I think that might be the most encouraging thing we all heard today.

Would love to have you at Easter for our bacon breakfast.

Hey, if you've got your Bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join us this

morning.

A little change up.

We're going to be in Hebrews chapter 10.

We're actually going to be a little bit of everywhere this morning.

Things, as far as message-wise, are going to look a little bit different for me this morning

as I feel like God's impressed something on my heart that I want to share with you guys.

If you're visiting with us, normally, we've been working through the book of Matthew since

before Christmas.

Normally, that's kind of the rhythm that we get in.

We get into a book of the Bible, and then we work through that book of the Bible.

We're studying the Sermon on the Mount right now.

But occasionally, from time to time, I think this Father's Day, I'll have been the pastor

here for 13 years, and I want to say maybe less than five times, maybe a little bit more

than that, where I feel like that God has got something corporately or individually that

He's doing in my life that corporately that I need to share with you guys.

So today's message is twofold as we're working to glorify God in what we're seeing, what we're

praying, what we're teaching, and all that we do.

But today's message is kind of twofold.

Number one, what I just talked about very specifically, I want to share with you guys a process of what

God's been doing in my heart over about the past year, share some of the details of that

with you guys.

But then also, number two, give some context.

If you've been here for a while, and you've noticed a different change of the flow of the

service and the feel of our worship service, there's a reason for that.

One of the things that healthy churches do is get into good and consistent rhythms in their

worship services.

And so most churches that you go to, for the most part, there'll be parts and pieces that

move and change from week to week, but they get into a good flow.

It helps in worship.

It helps in communication.

So it helps in the congregation knowing what they're expecting over the course of the worship

service.

And if you've noticed that over the last several weeks, maybe a little bit over a month,

the flow of our worship service has changed a little bit.

And that did not happen because I was sitting there in the office and had an idea of like,

well, let's just try this out.

It happened over the course of a little bit over a year.

And it began in my men's group.

God has given me a wonderful group of men, part of our church.

And we gather together Wednesdays to eat lunch at Creekside right down the road.

And we've gone through books of the Bible and we've gone through books together as well.

And one of the books that we've done together is a book called Disciplines of a Godly Man.

We pause real quick.

And if you're a man of our church and you want to come and join us, we'd love to have you join us.

11.30, you can come there.

You can, if you don't know what to order, don't worry.

Mike Vought's order literally every single week.

Mike Vought's one of our elders.

Every single week, Mike Vought orders chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy,

cinnamon apples, and green beans.

Right, Mike?

It's the Mike Vought special.

They're going to have it on the board here in a little while.

For like four years, this is what Mike's been ordering.

And so we were working through this book.

Great book.

Phenomenal book.

If you're a God, let me just tell you, man, like, you need to read this book.

And it's talking through, like, it's just giving a great picture of example of what it means to be a godly man.

Like, sometimes with culture and things divine, what manliness is.

And, man, this guy, Kent Hughes, does a wonderful job.

I believe we even had a nine o'clock group work through this a couple of different times.

And so we're on it.

And he's talking about a lot of different things.

Man, I got so many notes in here.

And he's talking about purity and marriage and fatherhood and friendship.

But then we hit this section where he talked about our soul.

Our soul.

And he's talking to us about the discipline of the mind.

Talks about the discipline of devotion.

The discipline of prayer.

And then the discipline of worship.

Now, I'll be honest with you, leading up to that morning's discussion of the book, I was really curious about our guys, you know, at the table.

I mean, worship, man, like, now we're dealing with some of the artistic stuff and feelings and those kind of things.

And for the most part, like, like, I would not say that overwhelmingly we're the most, like, artistic, in tune with our feelings group of guys sitting at the table.

But, man, it sparked a conversation that we began to have at the table of what it looks like as men to come before the holy God, God of creation, and worship him.

And in that conversation, and in reading of that chapter, God sparked a conversation that he and I have been having.

And it goes beyond, would you stand as we read this?

It goes beyond how many songs are before a message.

It goes beyond how I even preach.

And it resonated by like, but who are you here for?

Who are you here for?

Who are you here for in this world?

And then who are you here for, like, church, right now in this moment?

I want to read a couple of segments to you out of this book.

He says, why do we worship?

Is it for God or man?

The unspoken but increasingly common assumption of today's Christendom is that worship is primarily for us.

To meet our needs.

Worship services driven by this assumption are entertainment focused.

And the worshipers are uncommitted spectators who were silently grading the performance.

From this perspective, preaching becomes a homiletics of consensus.

Preaching to felt needs, man's conscious agenda instead of God's.

Such preaching is topical and never textual.

He continues on, he says, the tail, tail sign of this kind of thinking is the common post-worship question,

what did you think of the service today?

The real question ought to be, what did God think of it and of those who worshipped?

And what did I give to God?

Jump forward.

What about our needs?

When we worship and adore God,

and are singing, prayer, and listening to the Word,

His shalom,

His peace,

will well in our souls,

so that we will leave with a glad sense of personal blessing.

A great lift.

I read this to you today,

not because as I read that,

I thought, man,

the people of Willow Ridge Church really need to hear this.

I read this to you because

on that morning,

when I opened up the book,

and I read that section,

I thought, oh my,

Bo Bradbury really needs this.

What is worship?

And what am I doing?

What am I doing?

And so today,

maybe you're in that journey with me,

and worship becomes something that it's not intended to be.

I began to run through questions every single week.

Did they like what I said?

Was I engaging?

Was I relevant?

Was I capturing their attention within this?

And you and me mainly,

me,

became the object

of who I wanted to delight in

as we do what we do.

Instead of the reminder

of who God has called us to

in worship.

So this morning,

I want us to talk

and to focus

and to pause

about what we do

while we do it

and what God's doing

in my life

and challenging you

to maybe God

is wanting to do

some of these very same things

in yours.

And here's the thing,

up until I read that chapter,

I always said,

I got it.

until God helped take the spiritual blinders off of me

to show who I was

and what I was doing.

A couple misconceptions

that I want us to move past

very early on this morning

about worship.

Number one is this,

worship isn't just the music and singing,

but music and singing

are valuable aspects of worship.

One of the dialogues

that we're working through

and continue trying to remove from this

is we have gathered

for a worship service together.

And from the moment

Pastor Joel

said,

would you stand

as we read God's word?

What we're doing

is we're engaging

in God's word

and worship.

What we're doing

as we pray,

we're engaging

in worship

through prayer.

What we're doing in song

is engaging

in worship

through singing

and music.

And what we're doing now

is we're engaging

in worship

through the preaching

and teaching

of God's word.

What we'll do

is we'll engage

in worship

through response

and we'll engage

in worship

through going.

But all of this

is worship.

Worship is not

the musical performance

and then we put that aside

and then we move

to the intellectual.

Worship

is all of this.

So worship

isn't just the music

and the singing.

But music

and singing

when we'll see this

this morning

are valuable

essential aspects

of worship.

Number two,

worship is both

a daily activity

and lifestyle

but it is also

a place

and a gathering.

It's also a place

and a gathering.

But I have to be

at church to worship.

I worship God

everywhere I go.

Absolutely praise

the Lord.

But all throughout

scripture

we see God

calling his people

not in isolation

but in community

to come together

in a place

and worship him.

So can you

and should you

worship God

Monday through Saturday?

Absolutely.

It's critical.

It's essential

to your walk

with him.

But this is as well.

And he's called

you and I

together

for this.

So I've got

four things

that I believe

that God is teaching

me,

that God is teaching us

and that God

is working on us

as we come

to truly

worship him

in spirit and truth.

In spirit and truth.

So what should it

look like

when we gather

for worship?

Number one.

Number one,

be present.

Be present.

The writer of Hebrews

has been building

on an argument

beginning all the way

much earlier on

but in chapter 10

he declares

about the fullness

and sufficiency

of Christ's sacrifice

for our sin.

So he's saying

listen, listen.

Christ has died

for you.

It's his death.

It's his payment.

This is what it means

for me.

This is what it means

for you.

It's sufficient.

It's full.

It's complete.

Praise God.

And so he says

within this

that number one

we have a confidence

in Christ.

That our confidence

is found

in him

and in him alone.

But then he continues

on and he says

while we have

confidence in Christ

we also have

confession in Christ.

And this confession

is what we make

and here's the thing

as God works

and moves

in the lives

of his people

it's assured.

It's grown

in confidence

through

the fellowship

of the gathering

of believers.

So what God

is doing

for you

and I here

is he's

building

and he's

working

more and more

in our lives

to assure us

to grow

our confidence

in him

who through

only how God

could do it

as we gather

with one another.

You see

I can't grow

the way

that I need

to grow

without you

and you

can't grow

the way

that you need

to grow

in your confidence

and assurance

of the work

of Jesus Christ

without one

another.

It's the draw

and it's the picture

of community

and again

when we look at it

and see

an organic community

right

this isn't the only time

that Christians

and believers

come together

but it is a unique

time

that God

calls us

and desires

for us to be

together.

So Hebrews

chapter 10

verse 25

here's this

not neglecting

to meet

together

get this

very early

on early

church

as is the

habit

of some

but encouraging

one another

in all the more

as you see

the day

drawing near.

You see

the writer

of Hebrews

tells us

that very

early on

in the church

we're already

seeing this

tension

we're already

seeing people

begin to

claim

faith in

Christ

but yet

a disassociation

with the

gathering

of believers

coming together.

And so our

call

is to be

present

to be

present

and you're

but we get

that we're

here

we're here

here's what

I want to

press into

this a little

bit

a few years

ago

I don't know

if Erin

she remembers

this but she

and I were

out on a

date

and I

don't

specifically

remember

what was

on my

mind

at the

time

but I

know

that I

was

distracted

I remember

sitting at

the restaurant

I remember

the food

that we

ordered

I don't

remember

what was

capturing

my thought

life in

that moment

but I

know that

I was

stressed

and a lot

of what

I was

stressed

about

I'd

internalized

and I

had not

shared

with her

and as

a result

of my

distracted

mind

the

conversation

was

struggling

and

just

complete

candidness

with you

guys

the

date

felt more

like an

appointment

than it

did a

romantic

dinner out

with my

wife

after some

time of

awkward

surface level

conversations

I remember

she looked

at me

and these

words came

out of her

mouth

what's

wrong

you're

not

here

with me

you see

I was

there

I was

the same

restaurant

I was

sitting

at the

table

physically

I was

with my

wife

but

emotionally

mentally

and

spiritually

I was

distant

from her

and in

that

gracious

reminder

what she's

doing is

I need

you here

with me

concern

for us

with

worship

is that

we can

check a

box

that I

went

worship

today

but yet

worship

demands

all that

I am

mentally

physically

emotionally

and

spiritually

worship

requires

than just

being

here

worship

requires

that we

are

present

and that

we're

present

before

the

Lord

you see

there's

lots

of ways

that we

can

forsake

something

we can

come

together

and

physically

be here

for the

gathering

but yet

forsake

the

gathering

with our

heart

our mind

our emotions

and our

being

we can

physically

be here

and run

the

gauntlet

worship

but

completely

miss

being

present

before

the

Lord

so what

does it

mean

to be

present

before

him

number

one

that I

here

that I

here

to set

worship

in your

life

and in

mine

as a

priority

to be

here

to commit

when we

set

our

calendars

when we

set

our

schedules

when we

set

the

agendas

of our

life

that

the

gathering

together

that we

hold

sacred

that we

hold

dear

that we

hold

essential

that we

hold

not

as a

recommendation

but a

priority

of our

life

that you

and I

that we

are here

am I

standing

here

communicating

as a

Pharisee

that says

you can

never

away

absolutely

not

and all

throughout

this

message

please let

me tell

you a couple

things

number one

do not

hear me

as a

Pharisee

it's

not

how I'm

getting

this

right

and how

you need

to be

like me

it's

the truth

that we

can see

from God's

word

of God

calling us

into a

deeper

relationship

with one

another

that benefits

as we're

unified

under the

cross

of Jesus

Christ

and so

we set

as a

priority

to be

here

number

two

number

two

not only

am I

here

but I'm

on time

I'm

on time

when we

are on

time

here's what

I believe

that we're

saying

that we

are setting

worship

as valuable

it's

worth it

enough

for me

to make

the other

sacrifices

of my

life

so that

can be

here

so that

I don't

miss

so that

I'm not

excluded

from

so that

I'm

here

and I'm

on time

can I

tell you

one of the

greatest

things

that I

love

about

our

church

the

gathering

as we

come

together

before

start

with

worship

just

today

how

God

has

used

you

life

through

prayer

requests

and

encouragements

and

affirmations

and in

stories

of what

all this

has happened

this morning

of what

God

is doing

and so

he draws

closer

to him

and I

miss

out

on those

if I

come rolling

in at

1022

so that

we're

here

and we

try to

help

with this

Joel

told you

again

nine o'clock

discipleship

we have

the fellowship

that happens

at 950

before worship

happens

these aren't

activities

and programs

that we

created

so we

can prove

to you

the worth

and that

we're

working

really hard

at this

church

and that

we're

doing

this

so that

God

continues

to draw

and bring

together

so that

we value

and make

sure that

we have

things

for kids

for youth

for all

of the

adults

for every

age dynamic

that God

has for us

that I am

here

that I am

on time

but then the

third

and I think

this can be

the greatest

distraction

for me

and for you

as well

is that

not only

am I here

not only

am I on time

but I am

focused

I'm focused

you see

this week

and the weeks

have enough

of the things

where they're

fighting for my

heart

and my soul

that when I

come before

God

to gather

with his

people

to worship

the king

of kings

and lord

of lords

am I

focused

with my

mindset

set on

him

and him

alone

so I would

encourage you

to make

sure that

as you're

coming

that you're

preparing

your heart

for worship

so that

you can

focused

God

and for

the

things

that

God

has

for you

one

thing

for me

and this

is just a

practical

play

and a

practical

piece

of what

God

was

working

and doing

in my

life

at the

time

so I

just want

to share

this

and again

if this

is you

then that's

fine

I'm just

going to

man

this is

what

God

working

with

beginning

to think

through

works

but God

begins

to show

and teach

but I

was listening

not long

after this

I'm sitting

here and I'm

listening to

not listening

I'm rolling

through some

reels

man

it's

brain rot

101

right

and I'm

just scrolling

I'm scrolling

and a

thing popped

and it said

something to

the effect

of why

you should

have a

paper

Bible

now I'm

a big

fan of

paper

Bibles

bring my

paper

Bible

up here

read

paper

Bible

but at

that time

I was a

really big

fan of

technology

Bibles

and if

you're a

technology

Bible

guy or

gal

this isn't

a criticism

of you

this was a

display

of my

heart

earlier on

in that

week

Josh

who does

a wonderful

job every

time he

preaches

and teaches

in God's

word

he's gonna

be preaching

again here

on May

the third

Josh

Nix

our young

adult

minister

and Josh

had been

preaching

earlier

that Sunday

and I was

sitting right

there

right there

where I

always sit

before

sitting right

there

and I'm

reading on

my Bible

actually I was

on my

iPad

I was reading

on my

iPad

following

Josh

along in

God's

word

and a

notification

popped up

shirt oh

gosh

absolutely

it popped

I didn't

hear a

single thing

he said

for the

next 10

minutes

not one

here's what

this guy

said in the

video

that that

convicted me

and that

that pointed

me back

and man

like I

know I

got my

iPad up

here

I'm

teaching

from it

it's

on airplane

mode

I promise

you

come up

and look

at it

here's

what he

said

Bible

has

never

given

notification

that

didn't

come

from

the

Lord

let me

tell you

Bible

has

never

notified

that I

need

change

fantasy

football

team

Bible

has

never

notified

of who

friend

requests

are

Facebook

Bible

has

never

notified

that

someone

has

gone

live

Instagram

Bible

has

never

notified

any

those

things

and

that

moment

it's

okay

Lord

hear

what

you're

trying

get

understand

that

even

the

simple

things

life

can

allow

them

draw

attention

away

here's

what I

want

say

about

technology

that

not

that

important

and

guarantee

you

that

game

isn't

either

but

this

but

this

but

this

the

world

does

enough

distract

please

leave

the

things

that

distract

outside

as we

come

in here

focus

essential

for

what

God

has

for

number

two

number

two

God

working

again

this

hope

that

God's

teaching

you

guys

something

through

this

as well

number

two

thankful

present

thankful

all right

over 400

times in

the Bible

over 400

we're 400

times in the

Bible

the Bible

tells us

of God's

people

singing

to him

over 400

times

if we see

400 examples

of something

it's probably

important

we also see

within the Bible

over 50

times

over 50

times

God

gives

as a

command

to his

people

to sing

400

times

as an

example

times

it's a

command

one of

the early

skills

that we

learn

in studying

the Bible

is that

if God

repeats

himself

pay

extra

attention

times

sing

while

worship

is more

than singing

songs

singing

songs

is an

essential

aspect

of worship

I'm not

going to read

all 50

nor am I

going to read

all 400

but I do

want to read

Psalm 105

verses 1

to 2

oh give

thanks to

the Lord

call upon

his name

make known

his deeds

among the

peoples

sing

to him

sing

praises

to him

tell

of his

wondrous

works

God's

word

says

hey

people

sing

matters

to God

would it

matter

to us

but

I'm not

a singer

well

great

neither

am I

and God

has you

and I

covered

I want to

do another

verse to you

Psalm 95

let us

come

into his

presence

with

thanksgiving

all of us

non-singers

get ready to

say amen

let us

make a

joyful noise

to him

with songs

of praise

I'm just

going to

tell you

if you

are sitting

around me

on a

Sunday

morning

you

are

hearing

joyful

noise

I'm

off key

I know

sometimes

I sing

the wrong

words

I'm

definitely

not on

tempo

and sometimes

I like

to clap

and I get

off beat

with that

as well

at the

church

that I

served

our

worship

leader

his name

was

Mark

Brown

he stood

right here

right where

Berger

stands

and I

stood

right in

front of

him

and I

would stand

there

man

we would

get into

the worship

and I

would stand

up there

and I

would clap

and I was

clapping

I was

clapping

and after

about 12

Sundays

of me

sitting right

there

and clapping

as he

went through

he came

up to me

Mark is a

dear friend

of mine

I love

Mark

he's like

a brother

to me

can I

have a

conversation

with you

real quick

and I

said yeah

man sure

what's up

he's like

so you're

he says

some of

my band

is having

trouble

keeping on

tempo

and buddy

your clapping

is not

helping

alright

but God

says like

make a

joyful noise

come together

that we

should sing

that we

should be

thankful

that it's

the overflow

of our

heart

of what

God

is doing

that we're

singing

praises

and adoration

to him

and so

the reality

is it

doesn't

matter

what's

around

let's

be honest

with each

other

okay

this is

blunt

honesty

of what

we're

doing

within

worship

your worship

should not

be dictated

if you like

the song

or not

they're songs

we do

they're not

my thing

I'm not

listening to

them in my

car

but they're

about God

so it's a

song of

praise

the

performance

of the

team

should not

dictate

my worship

of God

they'll hit

a wrong

note

they'll get

off beat

sometimes

but praise

God

it's not

about their

performance

that draws

me to this

throne of

grace

that God

looks at

his people

and says

sing

he says

sing

he says

sing

why does

God care

why does

God care

if we sing

there are

three reasons

number one

singing unifies

believers

singing unifies

believers

I'm going to tell

you guys

there's something

beautiful that

happens when I

stand right

over here on

these steps

and you guys

are doing the

last chorus

of the song

and I hear

your voices

and in

unison

singing about

the greatness

and the

sufficiency

of the blood

of Christ

and can I

tell you

that as

standing here

I don't hear

a sour note

from you

it's the

beauty of

God's people

and can you

imagine

what it

sounds like

to him

as the

world

looks to

divide us

when we

come together

and sing

we're unified

before the

king of

kings

and lord

of lords

and if you

don't like

singing

if you don't

like singing

then folks

eternity is going

to be difficult

for you

number two

singing

expresses

adoration

singing

expresses

adoration

I don't know

why God

wired us

this way

he just

wired us

this way

that when

we sing

even

secular

songs

what are

they dealing

with

the emotion

and maybe

their perceived

truth

of the

situation

so that

when we

can come

before God

and we

can sing

that God

always was

always has

been

and will

always be

a healer

for our

souls

and that's

found

in him

and in him

alone

there's no

one else

in this world

that deserves

that praise

singing

expresses

adoration

number three

singing

affirms

the word

of God

singing

affirms

the word

of God

Joel Berger

does a lot

a lot

of really

good things

at our

church

one of the

things that

he's been

entrusted

with

that he

guards

tightly

is to

make sure

that the

songs that

we sing

declare the

truth of

God's word

because in

actuality

you and I

have a hard

time

memorizing

dialogue

and epistles

and narratives

and prophecies

but we can

quote lines

from songs

and when we

come together

and we

sing

and we

sing the

truth

of God's

word

it's affirming

to us

the truth

of scripture

but Bo

that's just

not me

it's just

not what

I do

it's not

who I am

and the

truth of

God's word

what it

calls us

is to

get over

ourselves

and to

surrender

before God

I'm gonna

tell you

I remember

the first

time I

worshipped

this is

gonna date

I'm gonna

read some

lyrics to

the song

that was

being sung

I haven't

been saved

long

and I'll

be honest

with you

the concept

even raised

in church

the gathering

of a bunch

of people

when standing

in a room

and singing

songs

was weird

to me

most of

the songs

that we

sang

at the

church

that I

went

knew

the

words

but I

had no

clue

what they

meant

here I

raised my

Ebenezer

like what

in the

world

was that

all my

traditional

people

you just

went there

with me

right

and our

church was

doing a

contemporary

service at

the time

and let me

just say

when it

comes to

worship

I don't

care if

you're

traditional

or you're

contemporary

I don't

care if

you're a

modern

praise and

worship song

or hymn

it does not

matter to me

the truth of

God's word

and the heart

of the one

singing does

but I'm

standing there

and like

I'm

milly

vanilly

in it

all right

for those

of you

who don't

know

what I'm

doing is

I'm

moving my

mouth

but nothing's

coming out

and this

song

started

and this

is in

2002

I didn't

know this

song had

been out

for 10

years

I never

heard this

song

here's the

words

Jesus

savior

lord there

is none

like you

all of

my days

I want

to praise

the wonders

of your

mighty love

my comfort

my shelter

tower

of refuge

and strength

and God

captured

my worship

and with

tears

flowing down

my face

in off

key

surrender

to him

let

every breath

all that

I am

never cease

to worship

you

and in

that

this

freedom

that the

God

who

saved

heard

and

delighted

in me

and as

off

key as

it was

he was

glorified

sing

be thankful

number

three

number

three

be ready

come here

with an

expectation

as we

study

God's

word

folks

this book

different

this book

is good

this is

holy

this is

holy

and we

read this

because it

helps us

understand the

things that

are here

and when

you come

to worship

oh not

another day

I can't

believe we're

going to

talk about

that again

I've heard

this all

before

folks

come ready

because God

speaks

through his

word

God speaks

through his

word

read three

verses

2nd

timothy

through

all

scripture

all

scripture

all of

breathed

out

God

and

profitable

for

teaching

for

reproof

for

correction

and

training

righteousness

that

the

man

God

that

the

woman

God

may

complete

equipped

for

every

good

work

this

word

is not

suggested

by God

this

word

breathed

God

it's

created

God

speaks

and the

heavens

exist

God

speaks

and the

mountains

are

formed

God

speaks

and life

comes

into

Adam

God

speaks

and his

word

formed

Hebrews

for

the

word

God

living

and

active

sharper

than

any

two-edged

sword

piercing

the

division

soul

and

spirit

joints

and

marrow

and

discerning

the

thoughts

and

the

intentions

the

heart

ready

God's

word

does

things

that

you

and

cannot

for

ourselves

for

one

another

exposes

what

hide

exposes

what

think

isn't

there

does

surgical

work

and

task

that

pep

talk

and

encouragement

and

attaboy

can't

provide

cuts

the

very

heart

who

are

that

God

can

remove

from

what

sinful

become

him

Peter

through

knowing

this

first of

all

that

prophecy

scripture

comes

from

someone's

own

interpretation

for

prophecy

was

ever

produced

the

will

man

but

men

spoke

from

God

they

were

carried

along

the

Holy

Spirit

praise

the

Lord

because

thoughts

aren't

deep

enough

that

it's

not

from

it's

not

from

Dave

it's

not

from

Joel

it's

not

from

Josh

that

what

have

our

foundation

the

truth

God's

word

come

here

and be

ready

be ready

for

worship

as we

open up

God's

word

what are

you going to be ready for

number one

be ready to meet the God of the Bible

from Genesis to Revelation

is not the story of you

it is not the story of me

it is the story of God

it's the story of who he is

it's the story of creation

it's

it's his story in the fall

it's his story

in our wandering

it's his story

in redemption

it's his story

in the prophecy

it's his story

in the epistles

it's his story

in the return

when you come here

be ready

to meet

the God

of the Bible

he's

the focus

number two

be ready to learn

from the God

of the Bible

I'm coming here

not for

an intellectual

experience

but for the stirring

of my soul

great

Apostle Paul writes

in Romans 12

we are to be transformed

by the renewal

of our mind

God wants to change

not just what you

and I do

but he wants to change

who we are

he wants to change

the way that we think

so he teaches us

from his word

come here to remember

the God

of the Bible

continually over

and over

and over again

in scripture

God calls us

to remember

to look back

on because as we

know more of who

he was

we know more

of who he is

and we know more

of what he'll do

and surrender

to the God

of the Bible

surrender

because it's not

just about

knowing

it's about

surrendering to

for Jesus

to be

the Lord

and Savior

of our life

so we want you

to be present

we want to

be thankful

we want to

be ready

and in closing

we want to

be willing

we want to

be willing

well what am I

willing for

for whatever

God has

for you

for whatever

God

has for you

and when you

walk in

you might not

know what that

but are you

willing

one of my

favorite passages

of scripture

is found in

Isaiah chapter 6

Isaiah the prophet

of God

as God

calls

Isaiah

into the ministry

that God

would have for him

and starting

in verse 1

Isaiah

speaks to this

interaction

he says

in the year

that King

Isaiah died

I saw

the Lord

sitting upon

the throne

high and

lifted up

and the

train

of his

robe

filled the

temple

above him

stood the

seraphim

each

had six

wings

with two

he covered

his face

with two

he covered

his feet

with two

he flew

and one

called

to another

and said

holy

is the

Lord

of hosts

the whole

earth

is full

of his

glory

and the

foundations

of the

thresholds

shook

at the

voice

of him

who called

and the

house

was filled

with smoke

pause there

this is what

Isaiah sees

it's the

vision that

God gives

him

it's just as

real to him

as I am

standing here

in front of you

today

and look

at Isaiah's

response

and I

said

woe

for I

am lost

for I

am a man

of unclean

lips

and I

dwell in

the midst

of a

people

of unclean

lips

for my

eyes

have seen

the king

the lord

of hosts

you see

Isaiah

comes before

holy

God

and in

that what

he sees

is his

depravity

that he

sees the

holiness of

God

and the

shortcoming

the depravity

the understanding

of who he

and then

verse 6

then one

of the

seraphim

flew to

having in

his hand

a burning

coal

that he

had

taken

with

tongs

from the

altar

and he

touched

mouth

behold

this has

touched

your lips

your guilt

is taken

away

and your

sin

atoned

for

God

comes to

Isaiah

and he

goes

oh man

I say

you're not

that bad

of a

guy

he says

before a

holy

God

here's

who you

are

and only

can

make

you

clean

only

can

atone

for

you

only

can

the

work

and we

see this

happen

for

Isaiah

and he

says

and I

heard

the

voice

the

Lord

saying

whom

shall

send

and

who

will

for

and

then I

said

here

send

here

send

holy

God

demands

our

response

him

Isaiah

encounters

a holy

God

and all

he can

respond

church

would

you

come

willing

would

you

come

ready

would

you

come

in a

heart

thanksgiving

would

you

come

the

heart

expectation

respond

the

God

who

saved

your

soul

would

you

respond

and

confess

maybe

today

you're

sinner

who

needs

saving

and

salvation

found

Christ

alone

and

would

implore

with

your

heart

not

wait

another

day

would

you

respond

the

God

who

offers

you

salvation

through

the

blood

the

son

Jesus

Christ

you

come

today

and

you

need

respond

and

confess

because

you're

sinner

who

has

been

saved

grace

and

you

need

come

before

him

confessing

and

repenting

and turning

from your

way

do you

need to

change

do you

need to

change

I heard in

Joel's prayer

this morning

as he was

praying as we

were preparing

to enter in

into corporate

worship and

singing together

and Joel

said

and God

if there's

anything

in us

change

God

change

God

change

would

you be

willing

change

would

you be

willing

to say

that it's

not

okay

just

remain

who

and

what

but

God

anything

your

word

tells

would

you

cut

and

remove

that

it's

there

and

then

lastly

would

you

come

from

here

and

would

you

would

you

taking

the

message

hope

Jesus

Christ

those

who

need

I'm

asking

our

praise

team

they'll

come

and

get

place

that's

the

prayer

encouragers

they'll

make

their

way

the

side

the

auditorium

thank

you

for

allowing

the

time

over

the

course

the

last

year

what

God

has

been

what

God

doing

and

looking

forward

what

God

going

heart

needed

reminded

wasn't

the

affirmation

God

that

often

time

long

for

but

was

the

affirmation

man

for

that

church

confess

you

and

repent

before

God

because

the

end

the

day

you

and

are

not

the

reason

why

gather

it's

not

about

the

lights

and

the

songs

it's

not

about

the

temperature

the

room

it's

not

about

the

flow

the

service

it's

about

the

holy

God

the

creator

the

heavens

and

earth

just

moment

will

stand

and

will

respond

him

will

respond

his

goodness

and

his

faithfulness

spite

what

deserve

all

that

has

given

would

you

respond

the

king

kings

and

lord

lords

God

thank

you

thank

you

for

your

infinite

love

for

God

sorry

where

have

where

have

missed

where

have

brought

less

than

you

deserve

less

than

you

command

God

could

you

take

the

song

that

sing

would

you

take

the

offering

that

give

would

you

take

the

preaching

your

word

and

may

beautiful

your

sight

may

pleasing

you

our

audience

one

and

it's

Jesus

that

pray

amen

that's

for

this

week's

message

sure

check

back

week

for

new

episode

and

the

meantime

you

can

visit

online

willowridgechurch.org

or by

searching for

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and YouTube

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for listening

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