Worship: A Lifestyle of Surrender and Community

1. "For me, I feel like there's a recalibration that happens in my life where I am centered and I'm focused on God. And that, in a way, sets that tone for me for the day. And then there are worship nights, which we've been having regularly even in our church. And those moments when we get to stay a little longer, when the music keeps going, when the dancing and the prayers just flow freely, those moments have a way of just lifting my spirit and just giving me joy like nothing else. It's in those extended times of just worship where I honestly feel like heaven just feels a little closer." [02:40] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "You can have a relationship with God apart from community, but you cannot grow. In your relationship with God over time without community. And this is why even in the life of our church, we emphasize on life groups. You know, here at our church, if you are new, you've been here and you haven't even gone through the rooted experience, you know, you're watching this. We would love to have you being plugged in our community one way or the other. You know, our desire is that as many of us as possible to not only establish a lifestyle with these rhythms, but also to do it in community. So don't be, you know, isolated. Come and be a part of us." [04:07] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "The disciples, we find them waiting in Jerusalem. And soon enough, this promise was fulfilled in a way that would forever change history. The Holy Spirit came upon them in this dramatic, unmistakable way. You know, suddenly these ordinary men were filled with extraordinary power, with courage, with wisdom. This power did not just remain as a personal experience for them, it launched them into the mission that Jesus had left them with, to spread his message even to the world. You know, what happened next was nothing short of remarkable. You know, almost immediately we see an explosion of growth. The movement of Jesus' followers were once this small and satin group began to grow exponentially. And what had started with a few became thousands and then tens of thousands. It wasn't just about the numbers, their lives were being transformed." [05:18] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "You see, when you read the scriptures, you understand that worship is more than singing songs. Worship is a lifestyle that is fully surrendered to God and for his service. When you read the words of John 4, Jesus Christ, talking to the Samaritan woman, he says this, verse 23, Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must worship him in the spirit and in truth. This is worship, and listen to me, this is worship that is empowered by God and shaped by the revelation of who he is revealed through Jesus Christ, the one who is the true." [10:45] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "True worship flows from lives that are transformed by the truth of God. Whether we worship in, with hymns, or contemporary songs, with a full band or a single instrument, the heart of worship remains the same. It must be rooted in an encounter with God's truth. And the words we sing should carefully reflect his character so that our response is thoughtful, it's sincere, and it's full of praise. Worship is not about the music we use. zehn about the hearts we bring. It's about the posture of our hearts. True worship is not defined by the songs we sing, but by the sincerity, the humility, the devotion that we bring before God. It's about offering ourselves fully to Him, our thoughts, our emotions, and intentions, you know, acknowledging His greatness, and we are placing Him right at the center of our lives." [13:35] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6. "Worship shifts our focus from ourselves to God, putting Him at the center of our lives and leading to a transformed God-centered life. It's all about you. Worship realigns our priorities, you know, reminding us that life is not just about us, but about God's purpose and glory. When you read the screw tape letters by C.S. Lewis, there's a powerful passage where a screw tape, a senior demon instructs his nephew, Wormwood, on how to manipulate human thoughts during worship. And screw tape suggests distracting Christians from the true purpose of worship. This is what he says. He says, They're attending to the enemy himself, referring to God. We are defeated. But there are ways of preventing them from doing so. The simplest is to turn their gaze away from him towards themselves. Keep them watching their own minds and trying to produce feelings there by the action of their own wills. Guys, the enemy recognizes in worship he is defeated. And one of his tactics, is that you focus on self and not God." [15:20] (74 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7. "The early apostles understood that worship was not just a response to good times. It was a priority and an anchor for their souls. They knew that worshiping God in all circumstances served as a powerful reminder to keep him at the center of their lives, no matter what they were facing. For example, when you read Acts chapter 16, Paul and Silas were told they're in prison, and we're told that they were praying and singing hymns in prison. In everything they did, whether in moments of victory or during the darkest trials, they committed themselves to God fully, to give God the glory." [17:45] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8. "Worship draws us closer to God. Worship deepens our intimacy with God, opening our hearts to hear his voice and sense his guidance. And isn't that like the best thing ever, where you're closer to God? Psalm 73 says, but as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge. Worship cultivates gratitude. I mean, and we can go on and on listing the very things that worship does. It's reminding us of God's goodness and faithfulness in every season. When you read 1 Thessalonians 5, it talks about rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." [22:14] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


9. "When we worship as one, we remind ourselves that we are not alone in the challenges of life. We see that others are facing struggles too, and together we experience God's presence in a deeper way. We gain a holistic view of who God is, and we are not limited to just our own experience. But now we are exposed to others, that of others, and that is fantastic for me. In community, we sustain each other, helping one another stay spiritually aloft as we keep moving forward in our journey with God. The early church did not just meet on Sundays. Their joy was not only in formal worship gatherings. It spilled into their everyday lives. They shared meals and moments of gladness. They recognized God's presence in their community and homes. Homes were places of ministry. They were places of worship." [23:35] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


10. "The radicalness of Sunday worship lies in the fact that it reorients us from the chaos and the destruction of everyday life to a higher purpose. It reminds us that we are not alone and that we belong to a community of believers and that God is sovereign over all circumstances. And this community becomes a reset for our souls, enabling us to step into the week with a renewed sense of purpose, anchored in God's truth. It's a time to be refueled spiritually, to find encouragement and accountability, and to be reminded of our mission as followers of Christ. How I pray that our gatherings week by week will bring this out in us. In that gathering, there's an unseen power, a sacred exchange where hearts are transformed, burdens are lifted, and lives are recalibrated towards God." [26:33] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)