WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.439 Okay, we are going to, in a minute or two, pray. 00:00:04.839 --> 00:00:07.200 Each Sunday we take some time to pray. 00:00:07.980 --> 00:00:13.740 And we're going to, like we do most weeks at the moment, pray for our city, for Hong Kong, this great city in which we live. 00:00:14.120 --> 00:00:21.379 But before we do that, I want to just say one or two things about some of the challenges that we as a city are facing and going through. 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:23.620 And I know there's been so much that's been said. 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:28.179 Some of us may be tired of talking about the protests and all the difficulty. 00:00:28.179 --> 00:00:33.820 But I want to just, just three things for us as a church community to think about as we process this. 00:00:34.259 --> 00:00:39.140 The first is, I was chatting to a friend yesterday who was saying, and I fully agree with him, 00:00:39.619 --> 00:00:45.760 the thing that we think the devil wants to do in this time is to divide Christians and families and churches. 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:50.679 And unfortunately, we're really seeing this, that sometimes churches and community groups, 00:00:50.820 --> 00:00:56.000 people don't want to be in the same room as someone who's got a different view to them and can introduce such division. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:01.079 And as a church family, I really want to say, guys, let's not let the devil do that to us. 00:01:01.219 --> 00:01:02.960 Let's not let him divide us. 00:01:03.259 --> 00:01:07.239 Whatever your political views are, man, we are a family in Christ. 00:01:07.620 --> 00:01:11.120 Our primary identity is that we are in Jesus, not of a political view. 00:01:11.480 --> 00:01:15.280 And let's not let the devil have a field there with our church family. 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:20.219 So the first thing is, this unity and division is what the devil's wanting to do. 00:01:20.579 --> 00:01:22.620 Let's fight against that with everything. 00:01:22.620 --> 00:01:29.240 The second thing I want to suggest is, I don't think we must underestimate the spiritual battle that's involved. 00:01:29.600 --> 00:01:32.200 And we're going to start preaching through Revelation next Sunday. 00:01:32.700 --> 00:01:39.400 And as I've been reading through Revelation, you just realize how much spiritual battle and warfare there is in the world. 00:01:40.100 --> 00:01:44.360 And therefore, we must, must, must be a church that's praying. 00:01:44.960 --> 00:01:49.219 And the reality is that very few of us here are going to solve political solutions. 00:01:49.219 --> 00:01:51.019 But we can be people that pray. 00:01:51.700 --> 00:01:57.780 And so I want to encourage us, whatever we do, Watermark, let's be a church that's praying for our city day in and day out. 00:01:58.039 --> 00:01:59.459 Washing our city in prayer. 00:01:59.900 --> 00:02:08.400 And I want to read a quick quote from a guy called Philip Ryken, who years ago he was working at a church in Scotland. 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:10.439 And this is what he has to say. 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:11.360 It's up on the screen. 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:41.340 He says, 00:02:41.360 --> 00:03:04.740 And so just to say that we don't know how things are going to work out in Hong Kong. 00:03:04.740 --> 00:03:10.560 But when the final story of the world is written, who's to say what a praying church, what impact we had. 00:03:11.040 --> 00:03:14.360 As I really want to encourage us to be praying day in and day out for our city. 00:03:14.740 --> 00:03:17.640 I think God wants to do something with us. 00:03:17.700 --> 00:03:19.920 And then the third thing I want to just encourage us is this. 00:03:20.540 --> 00:03:23.000 At our CG on Thursday, we were talking. 00:03:23.540 --> 00:03:27.300 And I was reminded of Esther 4.14, which is Esther's verse. 00:03:27.300 --> 00:03:30.820 And it says this in Esther 4.14. 00:03:30.980 --> 00:03:31.080 It says, 00:03:31.300 --> 00:03:50.360 And so just, I don't know, I'm sure many of us here didn't grow up in Hong Kong. 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:56.060 Many of us have either moved from other countries to Hong Kong or maybe you're born here and studied abroad. 00:03:56.480 --> 00:04:04.280 But for whatever reason, I'm convinced that God has called each one of us to Hong Kong and watermarked as a church to Hong Kong for such a time as this. 00:04:04.760 --> 00:04:06.180 It's no accident that we're here. 00:04:06.740 --> 00:04:12.780 And so I want to encourage us, let's not just bury our heads in the sands and hope for things to pass over so we can get back to our lives. 00:04:13.379 --> 00:04:15.840 God has called us as a church for such a time as this. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:21.680 And let's stand up and speak and point our city to the hope of Jesus, to the one true hope that is Christ. 00:04:21.800 --> 00:04:25.040 Let's point people to the fact that peace and rest is found in Jesus. 00:04:25.819 --> 00:04:30.160 God has called us as a church and as Christians to this city for such a time as this. 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:30.920 Is that okay? 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:40.720 So I want to encourage us to fight for unity, to be a praying church, and to stand up for this time that God has called us to be in Hong Kong for. 00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:42.600 And on that note, let's pray. 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:43.820 Let's pray for our city. 00:04:44.080 --> 00:04:46.020 Will you join me as we pray together? 00:04:47.560 --> 00:05:03.939 Heavenly Father, high and holy, meek and lowly, we come before you this morning both rejoicing in your goodness and your grace and yet carrying a heavy heart because of the brokenness of our own lives and of the world in which we live. 00:05:04.960 --> 00:05:11.700 Father, this morning we are full of hope and celebration and also mourning that so much is not right with our world. 00:05:11.699 --> 00:05:17.079 And we find ourselves longing, God, for the new heavens and the new earth that you promise in your word. 00:05:17.479 --> 00:05:19.199 Where every tear will be wiped away. 00:05:19.699 --> 00:05:20.779 Every sin banished. 00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:23.339 Every evil and wickedness finally dealt with. 00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:26.379 Where anxiety and fears and anger will be removed. 00:05:26.620 --> 00:05:27.759 Come, Lord Jesus, come. 00:05:28.339 --> 00:05:31.019 Come and bring your healing to our world, we pray, God. 00:05:31.019 --> 00:05:36.899 Father, as we pray for our city, we start off acknowledging our own sin. 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:45.019 Father, no matter what anyone else has done in our city, whether we approve of it or not, we acknowledge that first and foremost, we are sinners. 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:47.579 We, too, have transgressed your law. 00:05:47.979 --> 00:05:53.939 We have given ourselves to other gods and idols, to the love of money, to pursuing our own comfort and convenience. 00:05:54.539 --> 00:05:58.099 We haven't loved the poor and the marginalized like you would want us to. 00:05:59.459 --> 00:06:01.000 Heavenly Father, forgive us. 00:06:03.299 --> 00:06:04.279 Forgive us, Father. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:09.339 Father, thank you for your amazing grace, God. 00:06:09.339 --> 00:06:11.799 Thank you for your unending mercy. 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:15.819 God, we pray, don't only forgive us, but change us, God. 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:17.359 Make us more compassionate, God. 00:06:17.419 --> 00:06:20.719 Help us to understand those that we differ with. 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:26.959 Father, thank you that confession of sin always, always leads to life and to healing. 00:06:27.099 --> 00:06:28.279 Come and heal us, we pray. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:30.839 Make us more like you, we pray, God. 00:06:31.339 --> 00:06:32.879 Jesus, we want to have your heart. 00:06:33.419 --> 00:06:35.559 We really do want to see the world like you. 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:37.699 We want to have compassionate hearts like you do. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:40.079 Come make us more like yourself, we pray. 00:06:41.539 --> 00:06:47.279 Father, this morning we acknowledge that you've called us as a church family to Hong Kong for such a time as this. 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:54.439 You've called us to be salt and light to the city, to shine in the midst of the darkness, to point out to our city the hope of Jesus. 00:06:55.620 --> 00:06:57.319 God, come and help us, we pray. 00:06:58.180 --> 00:07:00.379 Jesus, we don't want to hide the light of the gospel. 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:02.459 We don't want to bury it under a bowl. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:04.459 We want to put it on a stand for all to see. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:07.579 We want to point our city to the one true hope, that is Jesus. 00:07:07.699 --> 00:07:11.959 God, give us wisdom to know how to do that. 00:07:13.459 --> 00:07:16.899 Father, where fear has taken over our hearts, come and give us faith. 00:07:17.699 --> 00:07:23.939 Where self-preservation has become first and foremost in our minds, God calls us to love and serve others. 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:29.159 Jesus, where we're tempted to blame and point the finger and find fault with others, 00:07:29.819 --> 00:07:33.240 help us to point our city rather to the lasting hope that is found in you. 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:35.660 Jesus, our city needs you. 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:37.019 We need you. 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:38.800 Come and guide us. 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:40.000 Come and have your way. 00:07:40.519 --> 00:07:44.160 Come and be both Lord of our city and Lord of our own hearts, we pray. 00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:47.360 In your gracious and glorious name, amen. 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:48.319 Amen. 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:52.040 O.T. is going to come and read the scriptures to us this morning. 00:08:03.240 --> 00:08:11.720 The scripture reading comes from Exodus, Psalms, and Ephesians. 00:08:12.040 --> 00:08:15.220 Please follow along in your bulletins or on the screen. 00:08:16.220 --> 00:08:18.560 In Exodus 15, we read, 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:23.980 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, 00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:28.019 I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously. 00:08:28.660 --> 00:08:32.139 The horse and his riders he has thrown into the sea. 00:08:32.820 --> 00:08:37.460 The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:40.759 This is my God, and I will praise him. 00:08:41.379 --> 00:08:43.919 My Father's God, and I will exalt him. 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:46.460 In Psalm 100, we read, 00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:49.320 Make a joyful noise to the Lord. 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:52.580 All the earth, serve the Lord with gladness, 00:08:52.800 --> 00:08:55.480 coming to his presence with singing. 00:08:56.460 --> 00:08:59.040 Know that the Lord, he is God. 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:02.700 It is he who made us, and we are his. 00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:06.320 We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 00:09:07.280 --> 00:09:11.160 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:13.720 Give thanks to him. 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:15.379 Bless his name. 00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:17.240 For the Lord is good. 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:22.500 His steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. 00:09:23.539 --> 00:09:25.559 And in Ephesians 5, we read, 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:32.580 Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:36.600 singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. 00:09:36.600 --> 00:09:43.779 Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:48.100 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 00:09:48.100 --> 00:09:50.340 This is the word of God. 00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:52.279 Okay, great. 00:09:52.420 --> 00:09:53.060 Thanks, Oti. 00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:54.740 Great. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.320 Okay, well, Jeremy, do you want to come up here and join me? 00:09:57.680 --> 00:10:00.340 This morning, we're going to do something a little different. 00:10:00.340 --> 00:10:11.060 And this morning, we're not going to have a sermon as we normally do, which, if you're new here, this is very unusual. 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:16.840 We haven't done that once since I've been part of Watermark, and we probably won't do it again for a long time. 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:23.460 I must confess, as a preacher, a little part of my heart is dying, not preaching today. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:30.040 But we've been part of this sermon series for the last three weeks, or today is the third week, 00:10:30.160 --> 00:10:32.399 called Why Worship or Why We Worship. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:38.080 And we've been talking about why it is that we come to church on Sundays and why we do what we do. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:45.240 If you're not used to church culture, it's quite a strange thing to, you know, people gather and we sing songs 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:48.799 and we listen to Scripture and then we go home. 00:10:49.299 --> 00:10:50.200 Why do we do that? 00:10:50.259 --> 00:10:51.399 What's the point of all this? 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:56.340 And so we've been on this journey exploring why we gather for worship and what our attitude is. 00:10:56.440 --> 00:10:59.879 And so, Jeremy, we're going to have a conversation for 20 minutes or so. 00:11:00.180 --> 00:11:04.180 And then after that, we're going to sing some more. 00:11:04.560 --> 00:11:06.659 And we've actually, it's pretty chilled afterwards. 00:11:06.940 --> 00:11:11.899 Jeremy's got some ideas of where we're going, but we really are trusting that the Holy Spirit's going to lead us, 00:11:12.299 --> 00:11:14.620 even in song, and we're going to see what happens. 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:16.399 So that's the plan for the next little while. 00:11:16.560 --> 00:11:21.860 So, Jeremy, maybe you can just recap for us, for those that haven't been here the last two weeks. 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:23.899 Why do we gather on Sundays? 00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:26.139 Why do we sing specifically? 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:27.139 What's up with that? 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:34.740 Yeah, I think in short, to boil it down to a couple sentences, it's about encountering God. 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:47.419 It's like every week there are forces, there's the enemy, there's idols that are pulling us away and trying to cover us with all these other things that draw our attention away. 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:51.240 And so we have this image of being washed in the gospel. 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:55.820 Every week, week after week, we need to come back and be washed in the gospel again. 00:11:55.820 --> 00:12:09.220 Not that you've become unsaved and then now you're saved again, but you just really need to be reminded of who Jesus is, what he's done for you, and respond to God anew and to tell one another this good news once again. 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:12.000 Okay, and singing in particular? 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:12.139 Is it? 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:14.379 Why do we sing? 00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:17.960 Why can't we just listen to a monologue, be reminded, go home? 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:19.240 Actually, who was here last week? 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:20.279 You guys should know this answer. 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:31.200 But, you know, we looked last week, there's something so unique about singing that even like physiologically, we can remember a tune when it's set to music. 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:32.360 We can remember the lyrics. 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:38.679 So when you are singing truth, it actually somehow embeds it in your own mind. 00:12:38.679 --> 00:13:00.079 And so singing is just an amazing God-given gift for us as a church to remember who he is, what he's done, but also in a congregational setting, as we said this morning, as you're addressing each other in these songs, you're actually serving one another by reminding one another of all these amazing truths. 00:13:00.199 --> 00:13:06.099 And in a way, you're being washed by the gospel, but in some sense, you're also washing one another in the gospel. 00:13:06.099 --> 00:13:08.179 And I think that's just a really beautiful image. 00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:24.919 Yeah, I mean, I just think of how each week, the things that we go through, whether it's in our own hearts, fears and anxiety, whether it's circumstances outside of life, whether it's family dynamics, each week we're tempted to either trust in ourselves or make our own lives work. 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:29.419 And weekly we're coming and being reminded, hey, you're not the center of your world, God is. 00:13:29.559 --> 00:13:30.879 And trust in Him, look to Him. 00:13:31.099 --> 00:13:31.500 Exactly. 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:36.940 And you need to be reminded because by tonight, I'll have forgotten some stuff already. 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:39.899 And just you need to be reminded day after day. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:51.080 Jeremy, I guess some people think, hey, we come to church to be inspired, a prep talk, go and do it, or to be motivated. 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:51.520 Yeah. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:59.220 Additionally, I think one of the things I've noticed over the last few years in church culture, there's this growing kind of consumerism. 00:13:59.420 --> 00:14:03.840 Like, I want to arrive at church, kind of like a service interaction. 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:07.060 I pay my debts and I expect goods and services. 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:10.660 Like, the show better be pretty good. 00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:17.759 And, you know, coming to church, the idea of what's in it for me. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:25.980 Talk to us a bit about that attitude and how do we counter that consumeristic attitude? 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:30.040 And what would it look like for us as a church not to come to church like that? 00:14:30.780 --> 00:14:31.180 But, yeah. 00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:32.300 Yeah, no. 00:14:32.300 --> 00:14:32.920 Does that make any sense? 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:33.240 Totally. 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:34.240 It's really real. 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:35.899 I'm glad you know what I'm saying. 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:36.179 Yeah. 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:42.139 In a sense, like, you kind of come in and in a way, when we get a gathering of this size, there kind of lends a little bit to that. 00:14:42.219 --> 00:14:45.959 Even now, you might be thinking, you know, is this late night show an entertaining one? 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:47.579 You know, will they bring on some other guests? 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:51.219 Or was this worth my entrance fee, whatever I put in the box? 00:14:51.519 --> 00:15:02.799 And I think we can let sort of experiences and models that we've seen outside of the church actually influence how we perceive our gathering here. 00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:05.379 Where it's actually maybe we should flip that around. 00:15:05.379 --> 00:15:11.539 And so, I think just consumerism is just ultimately, it's not the sense we don't want you to be enjoyed. 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:26.019 But if your enjoyment is sort of dictating your experience or, like, how you feel about your church and whether you were entertained or amused or, you know, how many good jokes the preacher told. 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:31.960 If those things are actually shaping your experience more than the gospel, then I think God is prompting us. 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:33.419 Like, something maybe has gone awry. 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:34.639 Something's askew. 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:44.759 And so, I think really a key question that when you come in and to come into this gathering is instead of thinking, am I this or that or am I feeling this? 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:47.240 It's like, is God encountering me? 00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:48.480 Am I encountering God? 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:51.259 Am I hearing His word? 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:53.019 Because God is speaking all the time. 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.799 I think that's crystal clear. 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:57.000 So, the real question is, am I hearing it? 00:15:57.240 --> 00:16:00.219 God is yearning to reveal Himself to us all the time. 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:03.839 The question is, am I yearning to perceive it? 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:04.159 Yeah. 00:16:04.359 --> 00:16:05.399 I think that's so good. 00:16:05.859 --> 00:16:13.719 How many of us, and I've totally done this hundreds of times, walk away from church and say, hey, did you enjoy church today? 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:16.979 And I'm learning that that's the wrong question. 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:19.959 Like, the point isn't did I enjoy it like it is a show. 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:21.679 The point is did I encounter God? 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:22.000 Yeah. 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:29.759 And I mean, even what's quite common for people who are in music is like, hey, they'll be like, hey, the worship was great today or the music was great today. 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:32.399 And, you know, sometimes I'll just be like, oh, thanks. 00:16:32.719 --> 00:16:35.419 Sometimes if I have a chance, I'll ask like, hey, what do you mean by that exactly? 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:40.379 And that's even a good question for me to ask when I go into a church service. 00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:45.879 Was it great just because they played well or I enjoyed the melodies or I enjoyed the songs? 00:16:45.979 --> 00:16:47.639 Again, none of those things are bad. 00:16:47.719 --> 00:16:49.699 It's great to enjoy music that's God-given. 00:16:50.059 --> 00:17:01.379 But if that's actually the dominant sort of thought process in my head after a gathering, then I think that's also a reminder that actually, hey, have I really missed what God has been saying to me? 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:01.820 Yeah. 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:04.559 Great. 00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:07.880 Tell us. 00:17:08.779 --> 00:17:10.119 Good answer. 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:10.179 Good answer. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:29.839 I think in Scripture, whenever we encounter God, both His majesty and His glory, but also His tenderness and His gentleness, it demands a response, right? 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:32.539 We don't just say, okay, that's interesting. 00:17:32.719 --> 00:17:33.599 I think of Isaiah. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:38.279 He sees God and he falls down his knees and he says, woe is me, I'm a man of unclean lips. 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:44.519 And again and again, even in Revelation, John has a vision of God and he falls down. 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:56.519 This glorious, majestic God that we encounter, and He wants us to encounter Him, not just be entertained by Him or just to learn cerebral knowledge. 00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:58.720 What does it look like to respond to Him? 00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:02.099 And how do you think we can and should respond? 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:05.259 What is appropriate response to the majesty of who God is? 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.500 Wow. 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:12.920 Falling your face down, like, you know, woe is me, I'm a man of unclean lips. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:15.000 I guess that comes to mind because you say that. 00:18:16.379 --> 00:18:19.420 I guess there's obviously a heart response, right? 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:25.539 We're always looking, I think, you know, when Kevin, when we're talking about preparing the sermon and whatever, 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:32.220 the goal as we prepare the sermon and the preaching team gathers, it's not, oh, will people enjoy this or will this? 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:38.359 It's like ultimately our goal is, can we speak to people's hearts? 00:18:38.899 --> 00:18:41.019 You know, the things that actually grip you. 00:18:41.659 --> 00:18:44.879 Because we're not trying to just change your mindset or whatever. 00:18:45.159 --> 00:18:47.259 We're not trying to just give you the power of positive thinking. 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:51.519 The narrative of scripture is that something has got a hold of our hearts. 00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:52.619 It's idols. 00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:55.779 It's our own desire to be our own king of our lives. 00:18:56.339 --> 00:19:01.779 And unless we address the things that are really gripping our heart, then that's, you know, you'll feel good. 00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:05.039 You might feel pepped up and energized for a day. 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:08.379 But really, you haven't really addressed the idols of the heart. 00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:18.460 So I think a true response always comes from, man, you know, I just feel something and I know something that I'm not worshiping my creator in the way that I should. 00:19:18.780 --> 00:19:21.840 So I think that's maybe more of a heart level thing. 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:25.540 But that manifests itself in a lot of external and more visible things. 00:19:25.840 --> 00:19:27.240 So is that maybe something you've been... 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.020 Yeah, so I think it's really good. 00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:31.380 We're not just here for a cerebral, intellectual, academic exercise. 00:19:32.260 --> 00:19:37.240 We actually want our lives and the control center of our lives to be reorientated towards God. 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:41.319 And that does manifest itself in certain actions and postures and whatnot. 00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:43.019 Okay, we've got to come in a second. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:43.299 Yeah. 00:19:43.819 --> 00:19:47.380 You spoke about we've got a planning meeting on Wednesdays. 00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:47.579 Yeah. 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:51.120 So on Wednesday afternoons, the preacher, we feedback on last week. 00:19:51.120 --> 00:19:58.099 And then whoever's preaching the coming week presents kind of like his outline of flow and talk through it. 00:19:58.380 --> 00:20:02.160 And then from that, you pick songs generally if you're leading. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.000 Or whoever's leading, yeah. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:08.039 And we've also got quite a specific flow of service. 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:10.019 We actually got it in the outline here in the bulletin. 00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:10.480 Yeah. 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.240 A flow of worship. 00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:15.900 Talk to us about why is there a flow to our worship service? 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:18.279 Why don't we just start off with a sermon or communion? 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:18.880 Yeah. 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:21.140 And then also talk to us about the songs that you pick. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.680 Why do you pick songs that you do? 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.259 Yeah. 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:25.220 I mean, so the flow, it's simple. 00:20:25.339 --> 00:20:26.700 Like we use the word liturgy. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:28.359 You can think about it as a story. 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:30.319 You know, the Bible itself is a story. 00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:34.359 It's not just the whole kind of random haphazard scattering of texts. 00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:38.199 And actually, there is an overall narrative that's really cool. 00:20:38.639 --> 00:20:40.679 So we start with adoration. 00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:42.519 You'll see that actually in your bulletins. 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:43.759 And then we go to renewal. 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.979 And then we go to commitment. 00:20:46.699 --> 00:20:49.959 And so this idea of adoration is everything always starts with God. 00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:53.679 You know, in Genesis, in the beginning, God existed before any of us, anything. 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:58.100 And so we always start with adoring God, who He is, what He's done. 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:01.019 And then from there, we need to be renewed. 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:02.500 We need to be renewed by the gospel. 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:04.640 We need to be renewed by the Holy Spirit. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:07.340 And then that moves into being to commitment. 00:21:07.860 --> 00:21:11.200 So now as we respond to God, as we've been renewed, we're going to be committed. 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:17.820 We're recommitting ourselves to God's mission, not just to each other, but to this amazing city. 00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:19.400 So that's kind of the flow. 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:24.680 And so with the songs, we also actually want the whole service to flow there. 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:30.780 But because we have usually songs in the beginning and towards the end, you'll see that it kind of matches that. 00:21:31.280 --> 00:21:37.140 Songs at the beginning will actually be focused more on God's character, His attributes, His activity. 00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:45.860 And then as you move forward, it's more about or move later in the service, it's actually more about, okay, God's done all this for me. 00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:49.479 I've heard the gospel through the sermon. 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:51.299 How do I respond to that? 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:52.959 How do I confess my sin? 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:53.759 How do I repent? 00:21:54.139 --> 00:21:55.959 And how do I be commissioned out? 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:58.039 So we're quite thoughtful about that. 00:21:58.659 --> 00:22:04.819 And then, and just really, and it's not even just the themes, but actually, if what we said before was true, 00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:09.859 which I believe is true in the sense that songs actually embed themselves deep in your psyche, 00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:19.559 you got to be really careful what you feed yourself and what you listen to because, you know, it'll be even subconsciously forming. 00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:24.240 You know, some people say, and I believe this, you know, songs that you sing over and over again, 00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:30.000 they'll probably shape your theology in the long term far more than actually sermons will, no offense. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:37.640 And so, and so actually, not even just what we sing, what we choose, so we take that very seriously. 00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:41.740 But even, hey, nowadays, you can just pick up your Spotify, your Apple Music, whatnot, 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:45.319 and you load it up with Christian songs or any other songs. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:49.480 Are you being thoughtful and intentional about what you're listening to? 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:53.480 Are you getting the whole spectrum of songs? 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:55.599 I can talk a little bit about that, but, you know. 00:22:56.180 --> 00:22:57.339 You talk about this all day. 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:57.779 I could. 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:59.839 But I think it's such a good point, right? 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:05.579 If we're listening to songs that are telling us God thinks you're just the most wonderful thing in the whole world 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:08.599 and He can't imagine life without you, 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:13.220 that's going to tell us that we are actually the center of the world, not God, right? 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:15.420 And that's a secular version of Christianity. 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:16.799 That's a fake gospel. 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:19.319 It tells us that God exists to make me happy. 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:22.639 And there are a lot of Christian songs that will actually reinforce that idea. 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:24.879 Yeah, and it's just important to get balanced. 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:26.119 Like, obviously, God loves you. 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:27.899 He loves you deeply and passionately. 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:33.000 But if you're listening to a certain type or a certain style or genre over again, 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:37.719 that might shape your theology more than, you know, having songs that are also really about just God's, 00:23:38.159 --> 00:23:41.500 His amazing holiness, His wrath, all these things. 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:43.659 So just really having a balanced diet. 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:46.079 You don't want dessert three meals a day, you know. 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:48.099 Your parents will tell you that'll kill you, right? 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.219 You need your veggies. 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:52.559 They might not be the most sort of enjoyable and pleasurable personally. 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:56.339 I don't know what tickles your boat or whatever that thing. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.940 Tickles your fancy. 00:23:58.339 --> 00:24:00.099 Tickles your fancy or floats your boat. 00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:02.339 But, yeah, you do need a steady diet. 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:07.240 And quick plug, Wednesday we're going to talk a lot about actually analyzing song lyrics. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.700 So come check it out. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:09.319 Great. 00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:16.359 Jeremy, talk to us about our attitude with which we come to church. 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:16.619 Yeah. 00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:19.839 Okay, I know a part of your soul just died when you heard that phrase, 00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:21.579 we don't come to church, we are the church. 00:24:21.739 --> 00:24:22.119 I'm sorry. 00:24:22.739 --> 00:24:24.459 Jeremy's forever correcting me about that. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:24.819 I'm sorry. 00:24:25.159 --> 00:24:31.179 Okay, when we gather as the church, the attitude with which we come is really important, 00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:33.159 firstly, and secondly, our posture. 00:24:33.459 --> 00:24:41.019 Like, there is something different about just like singing like this or actually our body language. 00:24:41.159 --> 00:24:41.379 Yeah. 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:45.419 It communicates something, but actually it also affects the way we encounter God. 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.160 Yeah, it's true. 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:49.380 Like, if you're in an important meeting or someone's pouring their heart out to you 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:50.980 and you're kind of just like, cool. 00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.220 Yeah. 00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:54.700 Or they're just like, or they tell you some amazing news. 00:24:54.820 --> 00:24:57.400 Like, that, you're still sitting. 00:24:57.779 --> 00:25:01.539 You can sit like that or you can be like, yeah, yeah, I hear you. 00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:02.700 Oh, yeah, yeah, you know? 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:04.140 And just stuff like that. 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:08.880 That's a very simple but silly example of even like as you sit, there's different ways to sit. 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:12.779 And even in Scripture, I just love that there's, when you look at the Psalms, 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:16.759 there's all these different postures that you can, that you can, 00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:19.759 and I'm going to just really quickly show you actually a couple of these. 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:22.339 Psalms say, stand. 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:24.259 You who fear the Lord, praise him. 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:27.859 All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him and stand in awe of him. 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:31.039 There's something about standing that communicates something. 00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:33.500 It says, bow, you can bow and kneel. 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:35.319 Come, let us worship and bow down. 00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:37.539 Let us kneel before the Lord, our maker. 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:42.519 So, you know, there might not be a ton of space for you to kneel, but actually you can spread out if you want. 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:46.159 And even if you're not kneeling, actually, you can bow. 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:51.099 Like, there's a posture of bowing as you sit that is much more than just like kind of, okay. 00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:51.639 Yeah. 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:52.659 La, la, la, la, la. 00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:54.319 And clapping, you know? 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:58.700 You see that we're kind of moving towards more and more charismatic in some of your heads, right? 00:25:58.740 --> 00:26:00.599 But it's all in the Psalms. 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.579 Clapping. 00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:03.240 It's actually in Scripture. 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.200 Clap. 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:06.460 You can clap and you can clap to the songs. 00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:07.180 You'll do our best. 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:10.039 And if you throw the musicians off a little bit, that's okay. 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:13.720 Shout to God with loud songs of joy. 00:26:13.840 --> 00:26:14.759 It's not just whispers. 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.440 Lifting hands. 00:26:16.580 --> 00:26:19.039 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. 00:26:19.120 --> 00:26:22.420 There's something about lifting your hands that are actually about honoring God. 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.539 And lastly, you can even dance. 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.220 Who would have thought? 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:28.920 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him. 00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:29.660 Yeah, that's great. 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:34.680 So, I mean, this is just a spectrum of actions and activities and postures that you can take. 00:26:35.320 --> 00:26:37.440 And that's what we want to encourage. 00:26:37.620 --> 00:26:39.740 Obviously, we have certain leanings and that's okay. 00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:41.080 But we do want to encourage that. 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:41.820 And just one thing. 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:45.580 Dancing isn't necessarily like you don't need to learn moves or tango. 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:50.279 Like if you think about like a slow dance, really you're just moving your body kind of left and right. 00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:50.840 You know what I mean? 00:26:50.839 --> 00:27:01.619 There's just something about moving your body, letting your entire being respond to the song that I think is really cool because this is the temple of the Holy Spirit, right? 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:07.559 So, even if I see kind of Kevin or Chris kind of sway and worship, like to me that's dancing. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:12.419 I can see his body responding to the praises of God. 00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:16.220 Claire's getting very excited because I'm the world's worst dancer. 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:19.319 And so, that's dancing in my mind too. 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:21.360 So, I think it doesn't have to be choreographed. 00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:21.620 That's enough love. 00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.759 I'm a dancer. 00:27:23.380 --> 00:27:29.779 But I think just on the posture thing, for me, raising hands, either like this or up high. 00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:31.500 For me, it's a posture of surrender. 00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:34.339 It's like, God, I'm not holding myself back. 00:27:34.380 --> 00:27:35.220 I'm not close to you. 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:35.819 I'm open. 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:37.680 God, come do what you want with me. 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.660 God, I'm here to meet with you. 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:47.980 And so, I think for me, actually, the physical posture of my body is a reflection of my heart and it helps my heart encounter God and engage with God. 00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:55.320 As much as I can say it's about the heart, not our bodies, if I'm standing like this, it's just my heart is more closed towards encountering God. 00:27:55.560 --> 00:27:56.900 Yeah, I think it works both ways. 00:27:57.080 --> 00:28:00.960 Yeah, your posture informs your mentality and your mentality informs your posture. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:13.740 So, sometimes, even if I'm not really feeling it, I'll still kind of, I'll just bow or I'll just raise my hands and just almost let my posture be saying, God, yeah, I'm here for you. 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.019 Okay, last question. 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:23.740 Tell us about your dream for Watermark family worship on a Sunday. 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:26.240 Like, I haven't prepared you for this. 00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:27.059 This is… 00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:27.680 I have a dream. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:27.840 Yeah. 00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:34.140 No, but, like, if you were to say, man, that's what I would love for our church to worship like that. 00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:35.680 I know worship isn't only singing. 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.460 Yeah, yeah. 00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:37.019 Worship is all of life. 00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:41.019 But I would love for Sunday mornings to look like that. 00:28:41.560 --> 00:28:41.820 Yeah. 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:47.600 I mean, I think just hearing you guys sing is the most beautiful thing. 00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:50.340 And you might not be looking at each other. 00:28:51.080 --> 00:28:51.940 Sometimes you guys might. 00:28:51.940 --> 00:29:02.400 But just looking out and seeing people engaged verbally, audibly, physically is the most encouraging thing. 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:05.660 And even so, sometimes I encourage you guys, if you're sitting in the back, look around at the people. 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:07.019 Or even the front, kind of look around. 00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:08.299 Hear the voices. 00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:12.140 See people's physical engagement. 00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:15.560 And there's something that's just encouraging about that. 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:17.620 So, I mean, that's one aspect of the dream. 00:29:18.020 --> 00:29:21.980 And just for people to come in and for us to see those postures. 00:29:22.820 --> 00:29:27.100 Again, not to act it out and not to, like, be fake and say, yeah, yeah, look at me. 00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:27.759 I'm so spiritual. 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:34.099 But actually to say that's, God's given us these postures to worship Him in. 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:42.920 And it would be amazing for us as 100, 150, 200 people to actually be so engaged and passionate about singing to God. 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:45.279 Because that, He loves hearing our songs. 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:51.720 Just when I think of postures, I just thought, not to put anyone on the spot, but Natalie, I just thought of you now. 00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:53.940 I remember a church that led in Cape Town. 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.740 The one night we had a worship evening. 00:29:55.740 --> 00:30:00.059 And like I was saying, like, me and dancing don't really go so well together. 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:02.579 But there was this young lady. 00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:06.099 And she just came and danced for, like, five minutes in the front. 00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:07.940 Just this most incredible dance. 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:10.799 And it was almost like there was something spiritual about it. 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:13.980 It was like a picture of her freedom in Christ. 00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:17.120 Where the whole city is, like, everyone's tense and stuff. 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:19.460 And this lady just dancing extravagantly. 00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:23.839 It was such an incredible, I think, act of worship on her behalf. 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:25.200 But it actually ministered to me. 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:27.620 I was like, man, that's the freedom that Christ has given us. 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:32.120 And so just those postures that we might think that's not what we do in church. 00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:35.880 Man, those are acts of worship to God and can minister to each other. 00:30:35.960 --> 00:30:36.559 And we really need that. 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.460 And just singing loudly. 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:42.080 I mean, some of the most encouraging times is just hearing people sing out of tune. 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:45.279 Because even, like, good musicians sing out of tune. 00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:49.200 Because I know in that moment, they're singing with reckless abandon. 00:30:49.360 --> 00:30:51.460 They don't care about hitting the perfect notes. 00:30:51.460 --> 00:30:56.100 One of the times I felt so most engaged is when I just forgot what I was. 00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:58.819 There was just no register of melody anymore. 00:30:58.920 --> 00:31:01.700 I was just singing and crying out the words. 00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:04.680 And, you know, out of tune, whatever. 00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:07.559 And I think that's something that's just so encouraging. 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.980 People using their voices. 00:31:08.980 --> 00:31:13.200 And you really call out and yell out when you're excited. 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:16.579 When your favorite team wins, you don't care if your voice goes, right? 00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:24.319 So just that kind of passion and that sort of thunderous voice and rapture and sound from the church, I think, is amazing. 00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:35.240 Last thing is just my answer to my own question of my dream is that we as a church come here on Sundays, gather as the body, expectant to encounter God. 00:31:35.419 --> 00:31:38.539 So it's not like, hey, I wanted Jeremy's good today, but expecting. 00:31:38.659 --> 00:31:39.799 Today I want to meet with God. 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:44.119 We really do encounter God in the singing, in the preaching, in the prayers. 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:47.960 And we can encourage and love one another and minister to each other. 00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:49.480 That would be a beautiful thing. 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:57.700 No matter whether the musicians are on key, whether the preacher is any good, if we can encounter God and bless one another, that would be a beautiful gathering to be part of. 00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.120 Amen. 00:31:59.180 --> 00:32:01.059 Jeremy, do you want to lead us in song again? 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.360 So can I invite us? 00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:03.460 Let's stand. 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:09.480 And Jeremy's going to lead us for 10 or 15 minutes or so. 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:15.720 And as you get ready, can I pray for us? 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:27.140 Let's close our eyes and, Holy Spirit, all this stuff we've spoken about, unless you come and minister to us, it's all in vain. 00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:37.039 Spirit of Jesus, we need you to come and open the eyes of our hearts to capture our eyes and our heart's attention again. 00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:40.480 And to help us fall fresh in love with Christ our King. 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:43.339 And so, Holy Spirit, come and have your way. 00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:46.399 Come and lead us and guide us. 00:32:47.619 --> 00:32:50.359 Holy Spirit, come and minister to some of the pain and the hurts. 00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:57.379 God, we need you. 00:32:58.419 --> 00:32:59.399 We need you, God. 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:02.039 Come and wash us freshly in the hope of the gospel. 00:33:05.619 --> 00:33:06.659 Come have your way, Lord. 00:33:06.659 --> 00:33:06.779 Amen.