A New Song

Recently, I've been talking more than usual about discipline. Not like disciplining your kids or church discipline or something of that nature, but rather, personal discipline.

Maybe that's because I'm feeling a little personally undisciplined, of late. Or maybe not. But regardless, it has seemed to be on my heart more than normal.

Maybe that's why I felt compelled to spend some time talking about the Psalms.

I think the Psalms tend to get swept under the rug more than they should.

As contemporary Christians, we tend to focus on the New Testament - that is, the parts of the Bible written after the birth of Jesus - and I think we tend to think we're maybe a bit too, uhm, cosmopolitan for the Psalms.

But, that is SO not true.

I think it's no coincidence that the Psalms are nestled right in the middle of our modern Bible, because they are the very heart of God's people, poured out onto the floor of the temple. They're the cry of our heart, as we reach out to God.

They're beautiful and tragic and challenging and cathartic.

So, we're going to spend a little time there.

In fact, I think we're going to land there now, and maybe return there for a bit next Spring, as well.

Join us as we drink in these beautiful, ancient heartsongs.

you are the choir

Some churches have identified choirs. But when Quest gathers to worship, the Quest congregation is the choir.

Choirs tend to perform for audiences. The Quest choir/congregation is no different.

The only difference is that some choirs understand their audience to be the gathered congregation; the Quest choir's audience is God.

When we gather to worship on Sundays, we are all performing for an audience of One. It's as though we - congregation/choir and worship team - are all on a stage and God is in the audience. In fact, God is not in the audience, rather God is the audience.

So sing out! God is our audience! Make a joyful noise!

- Brian McMillan

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Why worship?

When you hear the word “worship,” what immediately comes to mind?

There might be a number of things, but if you’re the average, modern Jesus person, the first thing that probably popped into your head was the music part of church. Nowadays, the terms “worship leader” and “song leader” are basically synonymous. Not that that’s terrible or anything, but conflating “worship” and “music” probably does a disservice to both.

When you worship something, you’re ascribing it worth; you’re saying, “This thing is worth something.” Or in a religious context, you’re saying, “This thing is worth more than anything else.”

So, worship is not music. In fact, it’s not necessarily any particular thing we do on Sunday. But rather, worship is any time we put something first in our lives. And, hopefully, when we come together on Sundays, we’re worshiping God, and that’s good. That’s us recognizing who God is and acknowledging his identity through our actions. And one of those actions is singing songs of praise.

But this means that whenever we put something else first, we’re worshiping that thing instead of God. And there’s a word for that. Idolatry. And idolatry is not cool. In fact, it’s such a big deal that TWO of the Ten Commandments address it.

However, worshiping idols - idolatry - doesn’t necessarily mean erecting a stone altar and sacrificing a goat. It’s any time you put something ahead of God. You worship football, or food, or money, or musicians, whenever you elevate them above God. 

It’s even possible to elevate good, religious, Jesus-y things to the level of worship, but that’s still idolatry. If we’re not careful, we’ll end up worshiping music or preachers or doctrine or even the Bible. But none of those things are worthy. Only God deserves our worship.

Join us Sunday as we try to navigate our worship life and learn to live4worship and die2idols.

Blessings!

Pastor Ed

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Series Title: DYING2LIVE

Message Title: live4worship | die2idols

Main Passages: John 4, Acts 17:24-25, Amos 5:21-24

Some questions for reflection or group study (or please comment on them, below):

• When do you find it easiest to connect with God? (e.g., church, in nature, first thing in the morning, on long drives, etc.)
• What really moves you to worship - to feel inspired by or connected to God?
• Do you think worship is more about connection or awe? Why?
• With what parts of “worship” do you encounter the most personal struggle? (e.g., singing, giving, serving, prayer, etc.)