2. Saying “Yes” to God in the Difficult Places of Life
Becoming a Worshiping Community

3. Becoming a Worshiping Community
Exodus / 12-17
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
Becoming a Worshiping Community

4. Becoming a Worshiping Community
Exodus / 12-17
3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” 4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.
Becoming a Worshiping Community

5. Becoming a Worshiping Community
Exodus / 12-17
5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’ ”6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb…
Becoming a Worshiping Community

6. Becoming a Worshiping Community
Exodus / 12-17
12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.
Becoming a Worshiping Community

7. Becoming a Worshiping Community
Exodus / 12-17
Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?
Becoming a Worshiping Community

8. Becoming a Worshiping Community
Exodus / 12-17
What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”  17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
Becoming a Worshiping Community

9. Becoming a Worshiping Community
Exodus / 12-17 t
God offered them everything they desired, except God was not going with them
Choose to have God over everything else God offered
Becoming a Worshiping Community
How does somebody become whole again?
• they can become whole through a meeting with the Holy God

10. Becoming a Worshiping Community
Exodus / 12-17
Becoming a Worshiping Community
When was the last time you told God that above all else in the world you desire His presence?

11. Becoming a Worshiping Community
Obstacles getting in the way of living in God’s presence 1 2 3
Roman
You feel like you are just “going through the motions”
Becoming a Worshiping Community
“Mindlessness” / the ability to just not pay attention

12. Becoming a Worshiping Community
Obstacles getting in the way of living in God’s presence 4 5
“Mindlessness” is a sin, and we do not need to give in to one more moment of it
Becoming a Worshiping Community
Genesis Jacob’s experience

13. Becoming a Worshiping Community
How we deal with mindlessness in corporate worship
When we come together 1 2 3
Prepare your heart beforehand
Ask God to be mighty in this place
Becoming a Worshiping Community
Do not be a spectator — but ask God to help you keep your mind focused

14. Becoming a Worshiping Community
How we deal with mindlessness in corporate worship
When we come together 4 5
Know that music is to help you encounter God — there is power in songs — Ephesians 5 —we are filled by songs and psalms
Becoming a Worshiping Community
We express ourselves physically —we can worship God with our bodies, yet we do not ever draw attention to ourselves

15. Becoming a Worshiping Community
How we deal with mindlessness in corporate worship
When we come together 6 7 8
It is about God
Affirm the goodness of God —  we do this through our tithes and offerings
Becoming a Worshiping Community
We learn together — great worshipers are great leaders
• EXODUS 34

16. Becoming a Worshiping Community
How we deal with mindlessness in corporate worship
When we come together
What is at stake…
Encountering God and being in His presence
Becoming a Worshiping Community

17. Saying “Yes” to God in the Difficult Places of Life
Becoming a Worshiping Community

18. Saying “Yes” to God in the Difficult Places of Life
Becoming a Worshiping Community