Key points
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1We are invited boldly into God's presence because of Jesus' blood, not our own effort — the curtain has been torn.
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2Corporate worship motivates us to love and good works and should not be neglected.
A story from life
Sean's story of growing up in Cincinnati, coming to faith as a child, sensing God's call to music ministry, and eventually joining Rock Point after dating his wife long distance
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3Public worship is for God's glory and our good — treating it as only one or the other distorts its true purpose.
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4In corporate worship, we are all performers and God is the audience — the role of leaders is to be tour guides pointing people to Jesus.
“it is a show, and that's why we try to bring our best, but it's for him”
Illustration
A worship pastor's Israel trip where a passionate tour guide made the sights come alive — used to illustrate the role of worship leaders and preachers as pointers to Jesus
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5God commands singing praise over 50 times in Scripture, and the book of Psalms exists so His people can remember and recall His worthiness in every circumstance.
“Our aim is to do things so well that we fade into the background, that Jesus is just seen at the forefront so we can all just engage in his presence”
Illustration
The ABC song and advertising jingles (Kit Kat, Farmers Insurance, Lerner and Rowe) used to illustrate how music helps people memorize and retain information
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6The depth of our engagement in worship is directly linked to the depth of our relationship with — and understanding of the sacrifice of — Jesus.
“The depth of my engagement in a birthday party is directly linked to the depth of my relationship with the person that the party's for”
Illustration
Birthday party analogy — the depth of engagement at a party reflects the depth of relationship with the person being honored, applied to corporate worship
Illustration
Veterans Day illustration — imagining a party for a commanding officer who lost his legs saving your life, to press home the cost of Christ's sacrifice
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7Communion calls us to reflect on the gap between us and God, remember what Jesus did to fill it, and respond not out of obligation but out of love.
“Jesus didn't just give us his legs to save us. He gave us his life”
“when you see the love, you will be a worshiper”
“worship was actually about the people around me as much as it was about with me. It's about God, but there's an element that when we come together, that when we show up here, the reason we should be committed, the reason we should be here, the reason we should engage, is not just for God, not just for us, but for what the Bible calls the testimony we are to those around us”
A story from life
Preacher's high school story of goofing off during Sunday evening church and being rebuked by an older woman in the congregation
Application
The sermon calls each person to stop treating corporate worship as either a ritual to appease God or a personal preference checklist, and instead to see it for what it truly is: an invitation into the presence of God made possible only by Jesus' sacrifice. As you reflect — especially at the communion table — ask yourself honestly: do I experience worship as something I have to do, or something I get to do? The deeper your grasp of how much Jesus gave for you, the more naturally praise will overflow. Show up consistently. Engage fully. Sing loudly. Not out of guilt, but because when you truly see the love behind the cross, you won't need to be told to go all in for the One whose party this is.
