Going after God’s heart Responding to God’s call The Christian job description The importance of community You are not your own! Worship: It’s not about you…

Sing to the Lord a new song…

Psalm 96 1 Sing to the L ORD a new song; sing to the L ORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the L ORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples. 4 For great is the L ORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the L ORD made the heavens. 6 Splendour and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the L ORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the L ORD glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the L ORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the L ORD in the splendour of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations, “The L ORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. 12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

13 Let all creation rejoice before the L ORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

It’s God’s amazing story… We were made for more than our personal happiness. We were made for God. It all begins and ends with him.

Our response is one of worship. Sing to the L ORD a new song; sing to the L ORD, all the earth. Sing to the L ORD, praise his name.

The earth is the L ORD ’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Ps 24:1 This is where we begin. We ascribe greatness. We join in with creation. Proclaim v2 Declare v3 Ascribe v7 & 8

Why? Because he’s worthy. Joining in with a cause. Connecting to something and someone who is bigger than us. This stirs our heart at a deep level.

Aligning with the will of God. Sing; declare; proclaim speaks to our will not our feelings.

What if God’s command is contrary to our feelings? When I’m afraid, I put my trust in you. Ps 56:3

Bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness. v So we’ve lifted God high. We’ve come in praise and adoration. Then what?

Ps 24: 3-4 Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who can stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart… So we’ve lifted God high. We’ve come in praise and adoration. Then what?

We bring nothing to God. We approach God because of Jesus. God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son… John 3:16

Facedown: Matt Redman Our posture is one of surrender and submission. But also of expectation.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Heb 10:22

This brings us to a place of intimacy. God draws us close to him. We hear his heart beat…

Worship is a meeting with God. An encounter. We tremble before him v9 Making a connection.

Why? So that the King of glory may come in. Ps 24:7 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in… Rev 3:20 Come near to God, and he will come near to you… Jam 4:8a

…day after day v2 A lifestyle – authentic and transformational. It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship… John 4: 23 – 24 (msg)

Who is he, this King of glory? The L ORD Almighty - he is the King of glory. Ps 24 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.