Rev Bill

I have finished and posted my sermon for tomorrow. It’s based on Isaiah 6:1-8 — and entitiled “The Thrd Great End: Worship.”

Here’s a portion of it:

Mike Pilavachi is the pastor of a contemporary church in England that has seen some incredible worship leaders (or musicians) in the past several years. Many of their worship leaders have written some of the greatest contemporary Christian music out there today.

Well, Mike noticed that a tendency had developed among the congregation to focus too much on the performance of the music. He noticed that the focus of the services became about the music, and not about Jesus. He said the church needed to be brought back to the place where each one is bringing their own contribution to the worship, not just watching the band and grading their performance. So he made a drastic move. He “banned the band” and said, “We’re not doing any music for a while—we’re going to take some time to get re-focused on who it is we’re here to worship.” They had several services with no performed music, and this became a time of renewal for their church. Eventually they began doing music again with a band leading the worship songs—but it was with a new focus.
Out of this experience, one of the musicians — Matt Redman — wrote one his best known songs. It goes…

When the music fades, and all is stripped away
And I simply come, Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart

I’ll give you more than a song
For a song in itself is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear You’re looking into my heart
I’m coming back to heart of worship
And it’s all about you, All about you Jesus.
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I made it
When it’s all about you, it’s all about you, Jesus.(The Heart of Worship © Kingsway 1999 Thank You Music)

You can read the sermon here.

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