WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.219 Good morning everyone and welcome to St Paul's this morning. My name's Steve, I've never met you before. 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:15.140 Last week I kicked off our series with a little bit of vulnerability and I thought I'd do the same this morning. 00:00:16.080 --> 00:00:18.719 On the screen is a picture of me when I was 21. 00:00:21.240 --> 00:00:22.900 And yes, thank you. 00:00:22.899 --> 00:00:37.200 And what is there, that's the back page of what is called a certificate of competency as a powder man, which I got when I was 21. 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:40.859 It's an explosive license if you're not sure what that is. 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:50.719 My brain had not fully developed and I was hardly even competent in life, but I was competent to blow things up apparently. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:55.700 And for me, it was a very useful skill to have. 00:00:56.879 --> 00:00:59.939 You never know when you might need to blow things up. 00:01:00.460 --> 00:01:08.480 And for me it was more to do with, that was not timed or planned in any way whatsoever I might add. 00:01:08.659 --> 00:01:10.579 That is just pure God moment there. 00:01:10.579 --> 00:01:23.019 For me, as it is out there, the competency as a powder man blowing things up was mainly for entertainment purposes. 00:01:23.579 --> 00:01:26.879 Very dangerous entertainment and I've got lots of stories to tell. 00:01:27.219 --> 00:01:37.000 But one of the things that I learnt through the course, four weeks by the way, about four and a half hours is all it took. 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:40.400 I think it's changed since then. 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:48.460 But one of the things I learnt was that for the maximum impact, you never just got explosives as you do see in the movies. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:51.420 You just attach it to something and it's going to blow the whole building down. 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:55.500 You don't just get explosives, attach it to a pillar and boom, it's all going to go. 00:01:56.240 --> 00:02:02.400 What I learnt was for maximum effect for an explosive, and you only need to use a little bit of explosive for this, 00:02:02.780 --> 00:02:04.980 is you actually need to go down deep into something. 00:02:04.980 --> 00:02:13.159 If you want to blow a tree and send it to the moon, you need to dig down under the tree, you don't just attach explosives to it. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:23.939 If you want to explode a massive boulder, you need to drill into the boulder and put explosives inside for it to go boom from the inside out. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:28.480 That's one thing that I really picked up in the course. 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:37.139 That is that the deepest impact really happens from the inside out. 00:02:38.399 --> 00:02:44.479 One accusation that's often levelled at Christians is that they... 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:46.099 Take this. 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:47.359 I'm done with that now. 00:02:49.299 --> 00:02:50.459 And please don't. 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:52.219 I hope no one's ever taken a photo of that. 00:02:52.859 --> 00:02:53.839 It's only online. 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:55.080 It's only online already. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:02:56.360 Facebook update. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:04.039 One of the things that's levelled at Christians is that we're often no different than anyone else in society. 00:03:04.699 --> 00:03:05.819 We're just as miserable. 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:06.879 We're just as angry. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:08.960 We're just as impatient. 00:03:09.400 --> 00:03:10.180 Just as unforgiving. 00:03:10.699 --> 00:03:13.960 Just as inconsistent as everyone else. 00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:17.340 And there is certainly truth to that. 00:03:17.640 --> 00:03:20.120 You know, I don't want to ignore that at all. 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:43.280 But the main reason for that is that for too many, the Christian faith hasn't transferred from ideas in the mind to down into the driving core of their beings in such a way that it transforms them from the inside out in their actions, their courage, and their priorities. 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:52.980 That is for too many, particularly, I would say, in the Western world, is about an intellectual ascent to certain things. 00:03:52.979 --> 00:04:15.179 So what we're doing in this term, as we kick off 2025, is we're exploring and implementing rhythms of grace that really put us on the path, as we follow Jesus, on the path where God can bring about real transformation in our lives from the inside out. 00:04:15.180 --> 00:04:25.060 And the place where to start, and it's the very first of the rhythms, and I would say it's the foundational rhythm, and that is worship. 00:04:26.139 --> 00:04:29.360 That is weekly corporate worship. 00:04:30.139 --> 00:04:32.980 So three points on the screen in front of you. 00:04:33.060 --> 00:04:33.960 So what is worship? 00:04:34.139 --> 00:04:35.259 That's what we're going to kick off with. 00:04:35.340 --> 00:04:41.579 Psalm 95, I think, is one of the best places in the Bible to understand worship. 00:04:41.579 --> 00:04:57.500 In Latin, this psalm is known as Venite Exotimus Dominio, which is essentially a call for people to come together and to celebrate God, to rejoice in God. 00:04:57.939 --> 00:05:02.680 In the English language, the word worship has changed. 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:09.420 It's got many different aspects to it, but it's changed in its meaning significantly over the centuries. 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:14.420 From the 10th century on, the word worship was connected to God. 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:23.439 But from the 13th century, it was also connected with anything to ascribe honour, such as knights who did really well in a battle. 00:05:24.060 --> 00:05:25.319 We worship you. 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:37.980 And by the 16th century, we have the words of the groom saying to his bride-to-be, with my body, I worship thee in the marriage service. 00:05:38.860 --> 00:05:44.000 That doesn't, of course, make her a deity, even if she thinks she is, or he thinks he is. 00:05:44.339 --> 00:05:46.399 It doesn't make her a deity. 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:48.240 It's ascribing honour. 00:05:48.240 --> 00:06:01.780 Worship in the Bible is the proper and delightful response of moral and rational beings to the self-revelation of their creator God, 00:06:01.960 --> 00:06:05.939 precisely because he is worthy to receive it. 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:10.920 If you are following, just to pause every moment, if you are following the notes, the handout, 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:15.879 you will discover that they're not all in sync this morning. 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:24.379 That's the consequence of having a good night's sleep and waking up early and having inspiration. 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:28.139 But it's basically all there. 00:06:28.519 --> 00:06:28.579 Okay? 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:29.420 It's basically all there. 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:37.519 Christian worship is empowered by the Spirit to be Christ-centred as we bring honour to God. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:45.439 And its key impulse, its key delight, its impulse for delight, if you like, is the gospel. 00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:47.240 Of Jesus Christ. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:57.259 So Christian worship, as John has just prayed in his prayers, it manifests itself in all of life in both adoration and action. 00:06:58.620 --> 00:07:08.339 This adoration and action is expressed both corporately, like this, and also individually, privately. 00:07:09.719 --> 00:07:13.019 Christian worship is a way of life. 00:07:13.019 --> 00:07:27.579 We worship God by ascribing to him the worth due to him as we gather corporately and as we worship God by offering ourselves entirely to him in all of life 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:34.899 and therefore reflecting his worth, his value to the world. 00:07:34.899 --> 00:07:41.579 So worship is both up and out at the same time. 00:07:42.579 --> 00:07:46.679 And the key is that God is the focus. 00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:51.500 There is a little word that appears twice in Psalm 95. 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:53.839 It's the key to understanding worship. 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:55.099 Verse 2. 00:07:55.579 --> 00:08:05.279 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song for the Lord is the great God. 00:08:05.719 --> 00:08:06.939 And again in verse 6. 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:08.979 Come, let us bow down in worship. 00:08:09.219 --> 00:08:09.599 Kneel. 00:08:09.979 --> 00:08:20.399 Let us kneel before the Lord, our maker, for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:30.199 So the trigger for Christian worship is a God who is great and almighty and a God who is a tender, merciful, gracious shepherd. 00:08:30.979 --> 00:08:39.500 The God who is revealed here in the scriptures, in the gospel, is a God who is both almighty and merciful. 00:08:41.139 --> 00:08:46.819 Not just a king sitting on a throne, but a king who is gracious. 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:50.160 A God who is all-powerful and merciful. 00:08:50.860 --> 00:08:58.980 And so what the psalmist is doing here in 95 is he's thinking, he's pondering, he's considering the excellencies of this God. 00:08:59.260 --> 00:09:05.820 He is treasuring the excellence of God until it overflows with joy and his life changes. 00:09:07.400 --> 00:09:12.180 Until it drives him out into all of life worship of God. 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:14.680 That's what biblical worship is. 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:24.340 What's interesting in the Bible is that there isn't a possibility to not worship. 00:09:26.460 --> 00:09:29.040 That category does not exist. 00:09:31.420 --> 00:09:37.640 All of humanity are worshipping beings because they were created to be worshipping beings. 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:46.539 And so we are either worshipping the excellence of the God who has revealed himself, our creator, or we're worshipping something else. 00:09:47.059 --> 00:09:52.659 That is, every single person ascribes value to something. 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:54.319 Ultimate value to something. 00:09:56.379 --> 00:09:59.259 That thing is what they give their heart to. 00:09:59.259 --> 00:10:02.840 It's what they set their hopes and their dreams on. 00:10:03.220 --> 00:10:06.179 And it's the thing that builds their lives around. 00:10:06.179 --> 00:10:16.559 And we will all see what that ultimate thing is in the rhythms of our daily life. 00:10:18.439 --> 00:10:20.199 How we live day by day. 00:10:20.319 --> 00:10:20.899 Our patterns. 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:27.759 Everyone has to live for something and find their meaning in something. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:36.699 And if we achieve it, we have it, then we will feel valuable, we will feel worthy, we will feel loved, and so we worship it. 00:10:36.700 --> 00:10:43.640 So in Psalm 95, verses 1 to 2, we are commanded to worship God joyfully. 00:10:44.780 --> 00:10:46.259 To shout and sing. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:52.080 So the biblical view of worship involves the emotions. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:56.740 Then in verses 6 and 7, we are commanded to worship submissively. 00:10:57.780 --> 00:10:58.820 There is a bowing. 00:10:58.900 --> 00:10:59.540 There's a kneeling. 00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:00.660 There's a confessing. 00:11:01.400 --> 00:11:03.800 There's a submission to God's will and obedience. 00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:10.179 And from verse 7 onwards, we are told to listen to the voice of God. 00:11:10.919 --> 00:11:13.439 There's an emphasis on the understanding and the mind. 00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:22.019 And so what we have here in the biblical worship is the mind, the will, and the emotions are all involved. 00:11:24.219 --> 00:11:33.079 And so if we ascribe to Christian truth, if we intellectually assent to orthodox Christian truth, 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:37.060 but never feel it, that's not worship. 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:44.060 If we have lots of emotions and praise God in worship, 00:11:44.060 --> 00:11:49.720 but don't submit to his will and obedience to him through his word, 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:53.259 and we don't acknowledge our failures, 00:11:54.259 --> 00:11:55.520 that's not worship. 00:11:55.519 --> 00:12:05.279 If mind, will, and emotions are not all together, it's not worship. 00:12:05.699 --> 00:12:09.679 You see, biblical worship captures all of life. 00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:11.899 All of life. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:16.019 So, secondly, why do we need worship? 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:16.100 Worship. 00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:17.879 It's interesting. 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:24.919 The word worship in the English language and in the biblical Hebrew and Greek 00:12:24.919 --> 00:12:29.740 has all kinds of different sort of connotations to it and connections, 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:31.220 and they've shifted over time. 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:38.840 But one of the key aspects of worship in the ancient English language 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:46.060 flowing out of biblical language is the phrase worth shape. 00:12:47.580 --> 00:12:52.080 That is, the ancient idea of worship, or part of it, 00:12:52.180 --> 00:12:54.980 is to be shaped by the worth of something. 00:12:56.300 --> 00:12:59.759 And everyone is being shaped by what we worship. 00:13:00.920 --> 00:13:04.060 Everyone has got something that they think is their greatest treasure 00:13:04.060 --> 00:13:05.740 and their life is shaped by it. 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:09.560 Worship is an all-of-life activity. 00:13:09.659 --> 00:13:12.460 As I said, whatever we think is of ultimate value in our life, 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:16.740 all of our actions and our priorities and our plans and our rhythms 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:19.299 will focus on whatever that ultimate thing is. 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:25.100 I remember hearing this story years ago now, many years ago, 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:27.279 of a man who was out on his, you know, 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:28.799 it was a walk Saturday morning. 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:30.019 This is in America. 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:31.360 He's on a walk Saturday morning. 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:33.759 He wanders past on his Urutine. 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:34.860 There's a garage sale. 00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:37.519 And as he's at the garage sale, he thought, 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:39.340 oh, I'll stop and have a look, you know, kind of thing. 00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:44.320 And he was a bit of an art enthusiast, not a professional, 00:13:44.800 --> 00:13:45.680 a bit of an art enthusiast. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:49.840 He noticed this painting for sale in the garage had a sticker on it for $20. 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:52.960 He asked the owner about the painting, what's the deal with the painting. 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:55.580 He said, that's just some old thing that my, you know, 00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:58.259 my dad or my grandfather had, you know, passed it down. 00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.320 I've stuck it up in the attic. 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.220 I don't like it. 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:03.840 And I just finally decided to clear out all the junk, get rid of it and sell it. 00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:05.680 So he put it there. 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:10.240 The guy who was a bit of an artist who was out for his walk looked and went, 00:14:10.820 --> 00:14:12.639 it looks familiar to me. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:14.779 And so he bought it. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:18.720 And then he started, he didn't continue his work. 00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.740 He took it straight home. 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:24.299 And then he got on, he started searching and searching and searching and ringing around 00:14:24.299 --> 00:14:28.259 and looking and looking and looking, getting information, what he could about this thing. 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:33.500 And eventually he found an expert art valuer, took it to the art valuer and said, 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:35.779 I think this is valuable. 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:37.019 Tell me that it's valuable. 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:41.059 He took it on a plane to visit this. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:43.139 He spent money to pursue it. 00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:45.360 The guy said, yes, it is valuable. 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:47.279 It's an original Rembrandt painting. 00:14:47.819 --> 00:14:50.620 Value rests approximately between $10 and $20 million. 00:14:50.620 --> 00:15:00.120 So one person is in the presence of something of incredible value and says, 00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:03.980 get rid of it. 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:10.919 Had it in their presence, in their attic, passed down from generation to generation. 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:14.700 Not a single member has been transformed by the value of that thing. 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:17.720 Not a single life transformed by it. 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:21.279 Even though it was in their possession. 00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:27.580 The other person casually walked past, see something of infinite value, or they thought was, 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:32.200 grabbed hold of it, did everything they could to explore it, to confirm it, 00:15:32.420 --> 00:15:34.720 didn't even finish their walk. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:37.040 And everything changed. 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:44.960 And for too many people who claim to believe in an infinite God of infinite value, 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:50.320 too many people who claim to be Christian, God is like that valuable item in their life. 00:15:52.820 --> 00:16:01.019 Where it's there, but no real sense of the true value and worth of his excellencies at all. 00:16:02.180 --> 00:16:05.700 That is, God has never been taken out of the attic, so to speak, 00:16:05.700 --> 00:16:09.259 and put in the driving centre of their life. 00:16:10.640 --> 00:16:11.960 On full display. 00:16:13.140 --> 00:16:17.879 In such a way that there's real change and evidence in their life. 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:24.300 They rarely or inconsistently pursue the value of what they have received in Jesus. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:30.080 There is often a disconnect between the big truths of the faith 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:35.240 and the practicality of living out those big truths of the faith. 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:42.280 A disconnect between belief and the character and the priorities that belief ought to produce. 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:49.040 We can believe that God is almighty and that he's good, 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:56.699 but we are irregular in ascribing that worship to him corporately. 00:16:57.639 --> 00:17:03.819 We can believe that the Bible is God's authoritative word in all of life and faith, 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:07.920 and yet never open it privately. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:12.159 We can trust in the generous forgiveness of God, 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:16.920 but are inconsistent in our own giving and generosity. 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:22.539 If we just believe it, 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:28.240 then we will be at best inconsistent and immature, 00:17:29.360 --> 00:17:32.380 and at worst, a hypocrite. 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:36.460 There is a disconnect 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:43.500 between corporate worshipper and the individual worshipper in the rest of life. 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:50.440 Now, I would suggest that the reason people are not regular or committed or engaged in worship corporately 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:54.039 is because they aren't worshipping during the rest of their life. 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:58.559 We are still, like I said last week, one foot in both worlds, 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:03.299 trying to gain the whole world and make a name for myself still, 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:08.299 but with Jesus in my back pocket helping me to pursue my goal in life. 00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:13.480 And this is where the rhythms of grace or spiritual disciplines, 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:16.119 if that's more familiar with you in terms of your language, 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.359 this is where they fit. 00:18:18.619 --> 00:18:25.680 This is why we need the rhythm of corporate worship as the foundational rhythm of our life. 00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:34.620 We need the value of Jesus to be consistently put before us week in and week out. 00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:42.600 Theologian John Calvin had his comprehensive sense of worship in mind 00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:47.320 when he ascribed the worship of God as the very beginning 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:52.279 and the foundation of a life of righteousness. 00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:55.480 That's where it begins, he said. 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:57.679 It's the very foundation. 00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:04.639 None of us is just the brain. 00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:08.039 We are mind, emotions, body and soul. 00:19:08.379 --> 00:19:15.159 And real change only comes when beliefs in the mind are driven into the rest of our lives. 00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:19.320 Our will, our actions, our emotions, 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:25.040 through intentional practice that engages the whole person. 00:19:26.040 --> 00:19:28.980 Rhythms of grace, spiritual disciplines, 00:19:29.800 --> 00:19:35.660 Christian practices are the bridge that take what we believe about God 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:39.019 and it pushes it down into our character. 00:19:40.340 --> 00:19:42.340 And the foundation of all of that is worship. 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:53.300 Ascribing to God his ultimate value as part of a community of believers 00:19:53.300 --> 00:19:58.180 who are walking in faith and life with each other, 00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:04.240 speaking the truth about each other's lives graciously to each other 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:08.779 as we pursue obedience to all that God has called us to. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.500 So how do we do that? 00:20:12.800 --> 00:20:13.380 How do we worship? 00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:18.340 Worship is something that all people participate in. 00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:19.900 It shapes our character. 00:20:20.040 --> 00:20:23.020 It shapes our priorities and routines in life. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:24.820 So how do we worship God well? 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:26.620 On your notes, you've got three. 00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:28.320 I've had further reflection. 00:20:28.440 --> 00:20:29.020 It's now four. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.980 But I'll do it quick. 00:20:31.800 --> 00:20:32.560 Four things. 00:20:32.860 --> 00:20:36.180 We worship God relationally, rhythmically, routinely and restfully. 00:20:36.540 --> 00:20:36.940 Three R's. 00:20:37.020 --> 00:20:37.520 Four R's. 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.240 Sorry, four R's. 00:20:38.800 --> 00:20:39.240 Relationally. 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:44.079 All of Psalm 95 is in plural language. 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:47.019 Come, let us worship. 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:49.059 It is not come, let me worship. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:50.859 It is let us worship. 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:54.960 In the individualistic culture of our Western church, 00:20:55.079 --> 00:21:00.339 we tend to minimise the importance of the corporate nature of the Christian life. 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:04.599 The attitude seems to be that if I've got God, 00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:08.039 then the church really is an optional extra. 00:21:08.199 --> 00:21:10.819 If I know big things of God and my theology is right, 00:21:11.199 --> 00:21:13.459 I've got that sorted, 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:18.220 I can go online and I can study the Bible by myself, 00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:21.500 and that's all really that I need. 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:24.480 If I know God, then I don't need the rest of stuff. 00:21:24.620 --> 00:21:26.059 It's almost like it's unnecessary. 00:21:27.620 --> 00:21:32.680 And yet the connection that I'm making here is that if that is your view of church, 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:35.900 you are not worshipping him when you are doing your study by yourself. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:38.799 You're not knowing God by yourself at all. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:44.899 There is both a personal and corporate nature to the rhythms of grace as we walk together. 00:21:45.379 --> 00:21:50.099 We cannot know God or grow to be like him without a community. 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:52.019 I've mentioned it before, 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:54.259 and I'm probably going to say it several times throughout this series. 00:21:55.480 --> 00:21:57.359 C.S. Lewis' book, Four Loves, 00:21:57.819 --> 00:22:00.639 and I'd encourage you to get it if you haven't got it. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:04.619 Lewis was one of three best friends. 00:22:04.879 --> 00:22:06.799 They were three of the best friends. 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:09.379 B-B-B-B-F or something, I don't know what that is. 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:14.559 Anyway, Lewis, there was Lewis, there was Ronald, and there was Charles. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.599 Charles died. 00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:20.779 And as grieved as C.S. Lewis was about the death of Charles, 00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:24.019 he assumed that that would mean that he would get closer to Ronald 00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:26.059 and that he still got Ronald. 00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:29.339 And as the weeks and the months and the years passed, 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:32.419 he came to discover that that was not the case. 00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:35.980 He discovered that when it was just him and Ronald, 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:37.339 he actually got less of Ronald. 00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:41.460 He realised that there was a side to Ronald 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:44.279 that he himself couldn't bring out. 00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:48.720 He made the point that we get more of a person, 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:50.539 not less of a person, 00:22:50.940 --> 00:22:54.680 when the number and diversity of people with whom we share them 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:56.220 actually increases. 00:22:56.220 --> 00:23:01.759 We cannot truly know a person one-on-one 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:05.059 because we only bring out one part of the person. 00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:09.579 We will only bring out one part of the person. 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:14.660 It takes a whole community to really know a person 00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:21.299 because no individual is enough to draw the whole person out. 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:23.819 People are too complex and too deep. 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:26.619 And that's exactly the same with God. 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:32.079 We cannot fully know or worship God without others. 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:38.839 And unless we are willing to read, walk, pray, talk, 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.879 worship together, 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:45.059 then our view of God and our view of ourselves 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:50.179 and our relationship with God will be entirely distorted. 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:55.399 That's why we keep putting this on week in and week out. 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:57.779 Nine o'clock, 10.30, in case you're unfamiliar with the times. 00:23:59.379 --> 00:24:00.740 Week in and week out. 00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:03.579 That's why people are serving out there right now 00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:06.399 because it is so crucial what we're doing right now. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:09.259 Secondly, rhythmically. 00:24:09.560 --> 00:24:10.800 Notice in Psalm 95, 00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:13.340 there is praise for the first five verses, 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:16.120 confession and submission in verses six and seven, 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.980 and listening to God's word 00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:20.259 and a call to respond at the end. 00:24:20.800 --> 00:24:23.700 Praise, confession, hearing of God's word and response. 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:28.840 This psalm has had an enormous impact 00:24:28.840 --> 00:24:33.400 on what the church does when it gathers throughout history. 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:36.780 If worship is all praise and singing and dancing, 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.660 it's not worship. 00:24:38.560 --> 00:24:41.440 Or if worship is all about me and looking at myself 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:44.600 and my problems and 10 steps on how I need to improve my life, 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:45.960 then it's not worship. 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:49.960 Or if worship is all about academics 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:52.019 and just sermons and Bible knowledge 00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:54.600 and theological information, it's not worship. 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:58.920 Worship is the rhythm of seeing God's excellencies, 00:24:59.100 --> 00:25:02.100 his greatness and purity and praising him for it. 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:05.480 It's also seeing our smallness, our frailty, 00:25:05.699 --> 00:25:08.159 our failure and acknowledging that. 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:11.439 It's also hearing a word of grace from him 00:25:11.439 --> 00:25:14.539 to bring encouragement and hope and perspective 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:18.879 and responding to it all with our next steps, 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:20.619 St Paul's language, not biblical language, 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:24.839 to push him deeper and deeper down in our lives 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:26.759 as the controlling centre of our life. 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:31.759 Every single part of a corporate service like this 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:37.000 is essential from the very start to the very end. 00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:45.500 Now, I understand that we all have our challenges. 00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:49.319 Some of them are ones that we're aware of 00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:53.099 and some of them that spring upon us on a particular Sunday. 00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:57.519 And so I understand that sometimes we arrive late 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:59.519 and we must leave early. 00:26:00.419 --> 00:26:01.559 But it shouldn't be a habit. 00:26:03.219 --> 00:26:06.819 You need to know from me, as your pastor, 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:09.359 I'm not keeping a scorecard on that. 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:12.000 I'm not, you know, mental note. 00:26:12.199 --> 00:26:12.959 Oh, okay. 00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:16.779 That's not what's happening with me, 00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:20.679 mainly because I'll forget within half an hour anyway. 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:22.640 Anyway, it's a memory thing. 00:26:25.080 --> 00:26:27.920 But I want to say that it should never be a habit. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.120 It should never be a habit. 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:33.220 If we are habitually late 00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:36.700 and we are habitually leaving early 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:39.460 and rushing off to the very next thing, 00:26:40.820 --> 00:26:44.380 then the real issue is a lack of understanding of worship 00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:49.140 in connection with your scheduling issues. 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:55.420 It's a question of what is of ultimate worth. 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:59.840 If you're getting agitated 00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:04.720 that the service is running 10 or 15 minutes later 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:06.259 than what you'd want it to, 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:09.940 then it's an understanding of worship 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.840 and what's happening. 00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:18.459 It's the engagement of the whole rhythm of worship 00:27:18.459 --> 00:27:20.679 that puts us on the path of change, 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:23.919 not just the information of a sermon, 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:25.539 and so the whole thing is crucial. 00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:28.919 Thirdly, routinely. 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.919 I'll say this really quick. 00:27:31.179 --> 00:27:33.039 Under the finished work of Jesus, 00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:34.659 the apostles taught Christians 00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:37.019 to worship on the first day of the week, 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:38.740 which was the day, the resurrection day, 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:43.259 the day of resurrection, in Acts 20, verse 7, Revelation 110. 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:45.819 In other words, the routine for Christian corporate worship 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.500 is weekly. 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:50.259 Fourthly, restfully. 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:54.039 In verse 8, 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:56.680 Do not harden your hearts as you did in Meribah, 00:27:56.779 --> 00:28:00.059 as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:01.639 where your ancestors tested me, 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.339 they tried me, 00:28:02.639 --> 00:28:04.759 that they had seen what I did for 40 years. 00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:06.159 I was angry with that generation. 00:28:06.299 --> 00:28:06.519 I said, 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:09.759 They are a people whose hearts go astray 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:12.200 and they have not known my ways. 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:14.759 And so I declared on oath in my anger 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:16.420 that they shall never enter my rest. 00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:19.000 Verse 8 there and onwards 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:21.539 is referring to an incident in Israel's history. 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:24.299 Israel were a nomadic people in the wilderness. 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.960 They were constantly on the move. 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:27.920 They packed up their stuff each day. 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.099 They lumbered on their backs 00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:29.980 and they journeyed 00:28:29.980 --> 00:28:31.940 and they went around and around 00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:33.980 and around in circles for 40 years. 00:28:35.639 --> 00:28:39.159 They were wanting to cross into the promised land, 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.740 which God had said they could. 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.440 They wanted to settle down 00:28:42.440 --> 00:28:44.359 and they wanted the place of rest, 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:45.759 which is what the promised land was. 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.680 And instead, 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:48.539 they were wandering and burdened 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:52.220 because they did not listen to God's word 00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:53.680 at a particular point. 00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:58.940 And so the journey into the place of rest was delayed. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:01.259 In Hebrews chapter 4, 00:29:01.399 --> 00:29:03.680 Ash is going to unpack this for us in a couple of weeks. 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.779 I'm not going to steal his thunder. 00:29:04.879 --> 00:29:05.720 Well, not too much of it anyway. 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.240 Acts chapter, 00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:07.639 sorry, 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:09.200 Hebrews chapter 4 looks at this 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:12.900 and says that the problem of Israel 00:29:12.900 --> 00:29:17.660 being burdened and not finding rest 00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:21.360 is actually representative of a much bigger problem. 00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:24.660 And the basic message is 00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:27.600 that all of humanity has this problem. 00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:29.319 We are still burdened 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:32.420 because we are still trying to save ourselves 00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.880 by gaining the whole world. 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:37.380 Most of our rhythms in life 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:40.500 are attached to gaining the whole world. 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:44.340 And the more that we pursue them 00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:45.500 with our rhythms in life, 00:29:45.580 --> 00:29:47.720 the more that becomes a burden on our life. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:49.160 And we are restless. 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:51.320 And we will always be restless. 00:29:53.820 --> 00:29:55.680 Until we hear and receive 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:57.360 the good news of Jesus Christ 00:29:57.360 --> 00:29:58.700 and what he's achieved for us. 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:02.240 And then we enter that ultimate rest. 00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:05.000 Every single one of us 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:06.380 looks to things like relationships, 00:30:06.600 --> 00:30:08.040 career, possessions, affirmations, 00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:10.180 experiences, morality, 00:30:10.360 --> 00:30:11.060 whatever it is, 00:30:11.100 --> 00:30:12.760 to see if I have those things 00:30:12.760 --> 00:30:14.200 then I will feel very valuable. 00:30:14.560 --> 00:30:15.500 And when we do, 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:17.580 we will constantly be pursuing them. 00:30:18.320 --> 00:30:19.420 Burdened with a sense 00:30:19.420 --> 00:30:20.540 that it's never enough. 00:30:20.620 --> 00:30:21.660 It's never enough. 00:30:24.020 --> 00:30:25.460 And the word of grace, 00:30:26.080 --> 00:30:29.420 the word of grace for all of humanity 00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:30.500 is the gospel, 00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:32.340 the central message 00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:34.339 of the Christian faith. 00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:35.819 Jesus Christ, 00:30:36.199 --> 00:30:37.319 the creator God, 00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:39.379 came into this world, 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.119 his world, 00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:41.220 that has rejected him, 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.039 that is burdened, 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.720 that is restless. 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:44.959 And he died as a substitute 00:30:44.959 --> 00:30:46.899 for our sin on a cross. 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:48.419 And for all of eternity, 00:30:48.419 --> 00:30:50.559 this God was at rest 00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:52.220 and peace and joy himself. 00:30:52.659 --> 00:30:54.939 And he left it to one side. 00:30:55.179 --> 00:30:56.899 He came into the wilderness 00:30:56.899 --> 00:30:58.599 of our restlessness. 00:30:58.599 --> 00:31:00.619 And he took our burden 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:02.059 for rejecting him 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:03.019 and pursuing, 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:04.599 gaining the whole world 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.299 for ourselves. 00:31:05.819 --> 00:31:07.079 And he did that 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:09.019 at infinite cost to himself. 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.659 He lost everything 00:31:11.659 --> 00:31:14.319 so that we might gain everything 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:15.199 and be at rest. 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:17.419 Why? 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.779 Why? 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:19.879 Why? 00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:25.760 Isaiah 53, 00:31:27.360 --> 00:31:29.860 describing the suffering of Jesus, 00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:32.960 says this in verse 11, 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:36.220 after he has suffered, 00:31:37.060 --> 00:31:39.100 he will see the light of life 00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:40.620 and be satisfied. 00:31:42.280 --> 00:31:43.360 In other words, 00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:44.060 he will die, 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:44.920 he will suffer, 00:31:45.580 --> 00:31:47.240 he will come back to life 00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:48.180 and when he comes back 00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.299 to life and resurrection, 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:50.220 he will go, 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.339 oh, 00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:54.400 that's good. 00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:56.539 That's good. 00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:59.539 Another way of putting that, 00:31:59.640 --> 00:32:00.799 he will see the fruit 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.720 of his suffering 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.940 and he will be satisfied. 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:04.859 You see, 00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.559 Jesus looks 00:32:06.559 --> 00:32:07.900 at everything 00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:08.880 that he surrendered, 00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:10.400 everything that he gave, 00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:12.500 his place of rest 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.400 and became restless 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:14.599 as a wanderer himself, 00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:15.740 no place to lay his head 00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:16.359 in this world. 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:19.059 And he looks 00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:20.079 at all of that 00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:23.240 and it says 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:23.880 he will say 00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:24.620 that the result 00:32:24.620 --> 00:32:25.400 of all of that 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:27.039 is so valuable to me. 00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:29.400 It is so precious to me. 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:30.880 Jesus, 00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:31.599 the one 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.859 of ultimate value, 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:33.799 was moved 00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:34.960 by the worth 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:36.079 of something 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:38.160 to give everything 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:39.859 in order to have it. 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.359 What was it? 00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:46.419 What's the only thing 00:32:46.419 --> 00:32:48.319 that an infinite 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.639 creator, 00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.279 God, 00:32:51.379 --> 00:32:51.839 existing 00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:52.699 in joy, 00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.279 happiness, 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.459 peace and serenity 00:32:54.459 --> 00:32:55.779 for all of life, 00:32:56.359 --> 00:32:57.299 what's the only thing 00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:58.159 he doesn't have? 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.539 You and me. 00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:04.559 Humanity. 00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:08.940 He's wandering 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.879 restless people 00:33:09.879 --> 00:33:10.960 walking away from him 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:11.619 is the only thing 00:33:11.619 --> 00:33:12.339 he didn't have. 00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:14.700 His suffering 00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:15.519 got us back. 00:33:16.379 --> 00:33:17.259 We are his people. 00:33:17.379 --> 00:33:18.299 1 Peter 2 00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:19.519 puts it like this, 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.819 you are a chosen people, 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.619 a royal priest 00:33:21.619 --> 00:33:22.559 of the holy nation, 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:24.039 God's special 00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:24.559 possession. 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.319 possession. 00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:27.720 So when we see him 00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:29.079 treasuring us, 00:33:29.379 --> 00:33:30.419 valuing us 00:33:30.419 --> 00:33:31.720 at infinite cost 00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:32.399 to himself, 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:34.639 then ultimately 00:33:34.639 --> 00:33:35.519 he becomes 00:33:35.519 --> 00:33:36.599 our greatest treasure, 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:37.500 our greatest, 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.899 our ultimate worth. 00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:41.059 And corporate worship 00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:43.279 is the first rhythm, 00:33:43.879 --> 00:33:45.200 a weekly rhythm 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:46.779 that drives 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:48.099 Jesus Christ 00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:49.139 and the gospel 00:33:49.139 --> 00:33:50.559 and God 00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:52.720 and his ultimate value 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:54.139 deep into our hearts 00:33:54.140 --> 00:33:54.740 to bring about 00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:55.320 transformation 00:33:55.320 --> 00:33:56.700 in such of our lives 00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:57.680 so that when we 00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:58.720 leave here 00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:00.400 we display 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.400 his ultimate value 00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:02.040 to the world. 00:34:03.300 --> 00:34:04.500 That's what it does. 00:34:05.140 --> 00:34:05.960 That's the rhythm. 00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:08.680 I've heard 00:34:08.680 --> 00:34:10.039 that 80% 00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:11.640 of American Christians 00:34:11.640 --> 00:34:12.160 believe 00:34:12.160 --> 00:34:13.559 you can be a good Christian 00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:14.660 and not go to church. 00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:16.700 Not entirely sure 00:34:16.700 --> 00:34:17.240 what they mean 00:34:17.240 --> 00:34:17.940 by the definition 00:34:17.940 --> 00:34:18.500 of good 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.460 in that statement 00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.800 but we'll leave it there. 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:21.900 Sure. 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:24.700 going to church 00:34:24.700 --> 00:34:25.539 doesn't make you 00:34:25.539 --> 00:34:27.019 a Christian 00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:27.800 any more than 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:28.660 parking a car 00:34:28.660 --> 00:34:29.200 in a stable 00:34:29.200 --> 00:34:30.139 makes it a horse. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.240 The two are not 00:34:32.240 --> 00:34:33.240 connected in that way 00:34:33.240 --> 00:34:35.559 but I can certainly say 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.340 that it is 00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:37.980 absolutely impossible 00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:38.900 to grow 00:34:38.900 --> 00:34:39.840 and change 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:40.500 and display 00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.680 the worth of God 00:34:41.680 --> 00:34:43.720 without deep investment 00:34:43.720 --> 00:34:44.480 in God 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.440 and his people 00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.460 in corporate worship 00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.420 like we're doing now. 00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:51.539 worship shapes 00:34:51.539 --> 00:34:52.519 what we ultimately 00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:55.159 value 00:34:55.159 --> 00:34:57.139 and what we 00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:58.220 ultimately value 00:34:58.220 --> 00:34:59.159 shapes us. 00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:02.420 So take your next step 00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:04.840 in finding 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:05.760 real joy 00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:06.440 and hope 00:35:06.440 --> 00:35:07.019 and freedom 00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:07.619 in Jesus 00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:09.619 by weekly gathering 00:35:09.619 --> 00:35:10.680 for corporate worship. 00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:13.659 so having heard 00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:14.819 a word of grace 00:35:14.819 --> 00:35:15.859 that the suffering 00:35:15.859 --> 00:35:16.779 of Christ 00:35:16.779 --> 00:35:18.219 gives us 00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:19.000 the affirmation 00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:19.500 the value 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.219 and the security 00:35:20.219 --> 00:35:20.819 that we all 00:35:20.819 --> 00:35:21.699 are striving for 00:35:21.699 --> 00:35:22.259 in life 00:35:22.259 --> 00:35:23.500 his word of grace 00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:25.460 to us 00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:26.859 as his wandering people 00:35:26.859 --> 00:35:28.519 what we're going 00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.019 to do now 00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:29.399 is we're going 00:35:29.399 --> 00:35:29.919 to experience 00:35:29.919 --> 00:35:30.539 that physically 00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.219 in the Lord's Supper 00:35:31.219 --> 00:35:31.579 so I'm going 00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:31.919 to invite 00:35:31.919 --> 00:35:32.399 whoever's 00:35:32.399 --> 00:35:33.199 distributing 00:35:33.199 --> 00:35:33.819 this morning 00:35:33.819 --> 00:35:34.960 to come down 00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:35.879 and start distributing. 00:35:35.880 --> 00:35:37.340 전