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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
so
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
like
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
in
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
my
concern
is
for us
with
worship
is that
we can
check a
box
that I
went
to
worship
today
but yet
worship
demands
all that
I am
mentally
physically
emotionally
and
spiritually
worship
requires
more
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
of
worship
but
completely
miss
on
being
present
before
the
Lord
so what
does it
mean
to be
present
before
him
number
one
that I
am
here
that I
am
here
to set
worship
in your
life
and in
mine
as a
priority
to be
here
to commit
to
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
as
sacred
that we
hold
it
as
dear
that we
hold
it
as
essential
that we
hold
it
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
be
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
I
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
is
the
gathering
as we
come
together
before
we
start
with
worship
just
today
how
God
has
used
you
in
my
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
me
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
as
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
us
and bring
us
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
previous
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
be
focused
on
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
share
man
this is
what
God
is
working
with
me
is
beginning
to think
through
works
but God
begins
to show
me
and teach
me
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
up
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
up
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
my
Bible
has
never
given
me
a
notification
that
didn't
come
from
the
Lord
let me
tell you
my
Bible
has
never
notified
me
that I
need
to
change
my
fantasy
football
team
my
Bible
has
never
notified
me
of who
my
friend
requests
are
on
Facebook
my
Bible
has
never
notified
me
that
someone
has
gone
live
on
Instagram
my
Bible
has
never
notified
me
of
any
of
those
things
and
in
that
moment
it's
like
okay
Lord
like
I
hear
like
what
you're
trying
to
get
me
to
do
is
to
understand
that
even
in
the
simple
things
of
life
I
can
allow
them
to
draw
my
attention
away
here's
what I
do
want
to
say
about
technology
that
email
is
not
that
important
and
I
guarantee
you
that
game
isn't
either
but
this
is
but
this
is
but
this
is
the
world
does
enough
to
distract
it
please
leave
the
things
that
distract
outside
as we
come
in here
to
focus
to
focus
on
essential
for
what
God
has
for
us
number
two
number
two
God
working
again
this
is
me
this
is
me
hope
that
God's
teaching
you
guys
something
through
this
as well
number
two
be
thankful
be
present
be
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
50
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
close
attention
50
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
it
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
2
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
a
joyful
noise
I'm
off key
I know
it
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
previous
church
that I
served
at
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
so
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
us
let's
be honest
with each
other
okay
like
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
of
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
to
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
me
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
to
I
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
my
Jesus
my
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
me
heard
me
and
delighted
in me
and as
off
key as
it was
he was
glorified
in
sing
be thankful
number
three
number
three
be ready
come here
with an
expectation
as we
study
God's
word
folks
this book
is
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
3
16
through
17
all
scripture
all
scripture
all of
it
breathed
out
by
God
and
profitable
for
teaching
for
reproof
for
correction
and
training
in
righteousness
that
the
man
of
God
that
the
woman
of
God
may
be
complete
equipped
for
every
good
work
oh
this
word
is not
suggested
by God
this
word
is
breathed
by
God
it's
created
by
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
is
formed
Hebrews
4
12
for
the
word
of
God
is
living
and
active
sharper
than
any
two-edged
sword
piercing
to
the
division
of
soul
and
of
spirit
of
joints
and
of
marrow
and
discerning
the
thoughts
and
the
intentions
of
the
heart
oh
be
ready
God's
word
does
things
that
you
and
I
cannot
do
for
ourselves
or
for
one
another
it
exposes
what
we
hide
it
exposes
what
we
think
isn't
there
it
does
a
surgical
work
and
task
that
a
pep
talk
and
encouragement
and
attaboy
can't
provide
it
cuts
to
the
very
heart
of
who
we
are
so
that
God
can
remove
from
us
what
is
sinful
so
we
become
more
like
him
2
Peter
1
20
through
21
knowing
this
first of
all
that
no
prophecy
of
scripture
comes
from
someone's
own
interpretation
for
no
prophecy
was
ever
produced
by
the
will
of
man
but
men
spoke
from
God
as
they
were
carried
along
by
the
Holy
Spirit
praise
the
Lord
because
my
thoughts
aren't
deep
enough
that
it's
not
from
us
it's
not
from
Dave
it's
not
from
Joel
it's
not
from
Josh
that
what
we
have
as
our
foundation
is
the
truth
of
God's
word
so
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
2
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
is
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
is
me
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
is
and then
verse 6
then one
of the
seraphim
flew to
me
having in
his hand
a burning
coal
that he
had
taken
with
tongs
from the
altar
and he
touched
my
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
no
before a
holy
God
here's
who you
are
and only
I
can
make
you
clean
only
I
can
atone
for
you
only
I
can
do
the
work
and we
see this
happen
for
Isaiah
and he
says
and I
heard
the
voice
of
the
Lord
saying
whom
shall
I
send
and
who
will
go
for
us
and
then I
said
here
I
am
send
me
here
I
am
send
me
a
holy
God
demands
our
response
to
him
Isaiah
encounters
a holy
God
and all
he can
do
is
respond
church
would
you
come
willing
would
you
come
ready
would
you
come
in a
heart
of
thanksgiving
would
you
come
in
the
heart
of
expectation
to
respond
to
the
God
who
saved
your
soul
would
you
respond
and
confess
maybe
today
you're
a
sinner
who
needs
saving
and
salvation
is
found
in
Christ
in
Christ
alone
and
I
would
implore
with
your
heart
to
not
wait
another
day
would
you
respond
to
the
God
who
offers
you
salvation
through
the
blood
of
the
son
Jesus
Christ
or
do
you
come
today
and
you
need
to
respond
and
confess
because
you're
a
sinner
who
has
been
saved
by
grace
and
you
need
to
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
to
change
God
change
us
God
change
us
change
us
would
you be
willing
to
change
would
you be
willing
to say
that it's
not
okay
to
just
remain
who
I
am
and
what
I
am
but
God
anything
as
your
word
tells
us
would
you
cut
and
remove
that
it's
there
and
then
lastly
would
you
come
from
here
and
would
you
go
would
you
go
taking
the
message
of
hope
of
Jesus
Christ
to
those
who
need
it
I'm
asking
our
praise
team
if
they'll
come
up
and
get
in
place
that's
the
prayer
encouragers
if
they'll
make
their
way
to
the
side
of
the
auditorium
thank
you
for
allowing
me
the
time
to
share
over
the
course
of
the
last
year
what
God
has
been
what
God
is
doing
and
looking
forward
to
what
God
is
going
to
do
in
my
heart
I
needed
to
be
reminded
of
it
wasn't
the
affirmation
of
God
that
I
often
time
long
for
but
it
was
the
affirmation
of
man
for
that
church
I
confess
to
you
and
I
repent
before
God
because
at
the
end
of
the
day
you
and
I
are
not
the
reason
why
we
gather
it's
not
about
the
lights
and
the
songs
it's
not
about
the
temperature
of
the
room
it's
not
about
the
flow
of
the
service
it's
about
the
holy
God
the
creator
of
the
heavens
and
earth
in
just
a
moment
we
will
stand
and
we
will
respond
to
him
we
will
respond
to
his
goodness
and
his
faithfulness
in
spite
of
what
we
deserve
of
all
that
he
has
given
to
us
would
you
respond
to
the
king
of
kings
and
lord
of
lords
God
I
thank
you
I
thank
you
for
your
infinite
love
for
us
God
I
am
sorry
where
I
have
where
we
have
missed
where
we
have
brought
less
than
you
deserve
less
than
you
command
God
could
you
take
the
song
that
we
sing
would
you
take
the
offering
that
we
give
would
you
take
the
preaching
of
your
word
and
may
it
be
beautiful
in
your
sight
may
it
be
pleasing
to
you
our
audience
of
one
and
it's
in
Jesus
that
we
pray
amen
that's
it
for
this
week's
message
be
sure
to
check
back
next
week
for
a
new
episode
and
in
the
meantime
you
can
visit
us
online
at
willowridgechurch.org
or by
searching for
Willow Ridge Church
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and YouTube
thanks again
for listening
and YouTube