Sermon for August 12th, 2012 - Revision history

Iraneal: 13 revisions

2013-10-14T01:24:04Z

13 revisions

Iraneal: /* The Heart of Worship */

2012-08-10T07:42:19Z

‎The Heart of Worship

Iraneal at 07:40, 10 August 2012

2012-08-10T07:40:32Z

Iraneal at 07:40, 10 August 2012

2012-08-10T07:40:07Z

Iraneal at 07:36, 10 August 2012

2012-08-10T07:36:39Z

Iraneal at 07:26, 10 August 2012

2012-08-10T07:26:41Z

Iraneal at 06:41, 10 August 2012

2012-08-10T06:41:21Z

Iraneal at 06:34, 10 August 2012

2012-08-10T06:34:17Z

Iraneal at 06:08, 10 August 2012

2012-08-10T06:08:19Z

Iraneal at 05:56, 10 August 2012

2012-08-10T05:56:00Z

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 <poem>
 When the music fades, and all has slipped away, and I simply come.
-Longing just to be something that's of worth that will bless Your heart.
+Longing just to bring something that's of worth that will bless your heart.
-I'll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself is not what You have required.
+I'll bring 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.
+You search much deeper within, through the way things appear, you're looking into my heart.
-I'm coming back to the heart of worship and its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
+I'm coming back to the heart of worship and its all about you, its all about you, Jesus.
-I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it when its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
+I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it when its all about you, its all about you, Jesus.
 King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve.
-Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is Yours, every single breath!
+Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is yours, every single breath!
-I'll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself is not what You have required.
+I'll bring 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.
+You search much deeper within, through the way things appear, you're looking into my heart.
-I'm coming back to the heart of worship and its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
+I'm coming back to the heart of worship and its all about you, its all about you, Jesus.
-I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it when its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
+I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it when its all about you, its all about you, Jesus.
 </poem>

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 So come to worship.  Come to Jesus.  And bring your heart.
-==The Heart of Worship==by Matt Redman
+==The Heart of Worship==
 <poem>
 When the music fades, and all has slipped away, and I simply come.

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 So come to worship.  Come to Jesus.  And bring your heart.
+==The Heart of Worship==by Matt Redman
 <poem>
-When the music fades
+When the music fades, and all has slipped away, and I simply come.
-and all has slipped away
+Longing just to be something that's of worth that will bless Your heart.
 and I simply come.
 Longing just to be
 something that's of worth
 that will bless Your heart.
-I'll bring You more than a song,
+I'll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself is not what You have required.
-for a song in itself
+You search much deeper within, through the way things appear, You're looking into my heart.
 is not what You have required.
 You search much deeper within,
 through the way things appear,
-Your looking into my heart.
-I'm coming back to the heart of worship
+I'm coming back to the heart of worship and its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
-and its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
+I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it when its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
 I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
 when its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
-King of endless worth,
+King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve.
-no one could express
+Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is Yours, every single breath!
 how much you deserve.
 Though I'm weak and poor,
 all I have is Yours,
 every single breath!
-I'll bring You more than a song,
+I'll bring You more than a song, for a song in itself is not what You have required.
-for a song in itself
+You search much deeper within, through the way things appear, You're looking into my heart.
 is not what You have required.
 You search much deeper within,
 through the way things appear,
-Your looking into my heart.
-I'm coming back to the heart of worship
+I'm coming back to the heart of worship and its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
-and its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
+I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it when its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
 I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
 when its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
 </poem>

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Worship is the heart of the church.  It's kind of a big deal. We do lots of things as a church: programs, outreach, fellowship, education, pot luck dinners -- but the local country club or rotary club do those things too.  What sets us apart, as a church, from other organizations is that we gather together every week for the purpose of worshiping God.  Worship is at the heart of the church.
-So what's at the heart of worship?  I'm going to do something a little uncharacteristic for a preacher:  I'm going to cut right to the chase.  Worship is at the heart of the church, and Jesus Christ is at the heart of worship.  Nothing more, nothing less. But how do we get from Jesus Christ...to this [bulletin]?  To understand that connection, we need to go back to the basics, to the very beginning, of the Gospel of John (today's second scripture reading).  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  And the Word became flesh and lived among us.  Jesus Christ is the Word of God.
+So what's at the heart of worship?  I'm going to do something a little uncharacteristic for a preacher:  I'm going to cut right to the chase.  Worship is at the heart of the church, and Jesus Christ is at the heart of worship.  Nothing more, nothing less. But how do we get from Jesus Christ...to this [bulletin]?  To understand that connection, we need to go back to the basics, to the very beginning, of the Gospel of John (today's second scripture reading): "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  And the Word became flesh and lived among us."  Jesus Christ is the Word of God.
 This is an important statement, and it has important ramifications for worship.  When most people hear "The Word of God" they immediately think of the Bible, and they stop there.  But Presbyterians have long taught that there's more to it than this:  The scriptures are the Word of God ''written'' which reflect Christ, the living Word. But there is also preaching, which is the Word of God ''proclaimed'' and which also reflects Christ, the living Word.  The sacraments--Baptism and the Lord's Supper--are the Word of God ''enacted,'' which reflect Christ, the living Word.  So when we, as Presbyterians, say "The Word of God" we don't mean ''just'' the Bible.  When we say "The Word of God" we really, truly, mean Jesus Christ, just as the Gospel of John and today's scripture passage teach.  Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is at the heart of our worship, and before it and after it and throughout it and all around it.
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 In some Presbyterian churches, the first section is actually called "We Gather around God's Word" and the last section is called "We take God's Word into the World," so that the emphasis on the Word is a little more pronounced.  But I would ask you to remember that for us as Christians, the name of God is Jesus Christ, the Word, so that when we gather and go forth in God's name, we are still gathering around the Word, and going forth in the name of the Word as well.  Our Old Testament passage today tells us that "you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes as his habitation to put his name there" and our third reading tells us to "do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." As I hope you can see by now, God's name--or ''who'' we worship--is central to both ''where'' and ''how'' we worship.
-As we move through this sermon series in the weeks to come, we'll stop and spend time on each of these four sections, and we'll talk about what happens in each of them.  That's the ''what'' part. I've already spent a lot of time talking about the ''who'' part, so I'd like to finish out today's message by talking briefly about the ''where and ''how'' parts of worship.  The passage from Deuteronomy speaks most powerfully to ''where'' we worship, so let me read that first part of it again:
+As we move through this sermon series in the weeks to come, we'll stop and spend time on each of these four sections, and we'll talk about what happens in each of them.  That's the ''what'' part. I've already spent a lot of time talking about the ''who'' part, so I'd like to turn now to the ''where and ''how'' parts of worship.  Let me read that first part of our passage from Deuteronomy again:
-"But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes as his habitation to put his name there."  Put the following in the list of things your pastor doesn't want to hear you say:  "Really, since God created everything, and since God is everywhere I can worship God any place I feel like it.  Like on the Golf course Sunday morning, or in my bed.  I worship God while I'm watching TV."
+"But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes as his habitation to put his name there."
 Hmmmm....
-Unless you think your bed is the one place out of all the tribes that God chose as his habitation, and unless God put his name there, somewhere right on that golf course...how 'bout you just come to church instead? God has always set apart special places for his people to worship, from the Tabernacle in the desert to the the Temple in Jerusalem, from the Synagogues Jesus attended to the house churches of the early Christians.  God tells us "you shall seek the place" and "you shall go ''there'', bringing there your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks. And you shall eat ''there'' in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your households together (notice the plural of households--many families).
+Unless you think your bed is the one place out of all the tribes that God chose as his habitation, and unless God put his name there, somewhere right on that golf course...how 'bout you just come to church instead? God has always set apart special places for his people to worship, from the Tabernacle in the desert to the the Temple in Jerusalem, from the Synagogues Jesus attended to the house churches of the early Christians.  God tells us "you shall seek the place" and "you shall go ''there'' . . .  And you shall eat ''there'' in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your households together (notice the plural of households--many families).
 I'm not saying you can't worship individually, privately.  Because you can and you should.  There is a place for personal worship, and 1st Thessalonians tells us to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances." But Hebrews 10:25 tells us "do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together." You can worship God on the Golf course (and I hope you do, loudly and singing hymns at the top of your lungs). But I hope you're also here on Sunday morning, because worship is at the heart of this church, and this is--perhaps not the ''only''--but certainly one of the very ''best'' places you're likely to have an encounter with Jesus Christ, the living word, and the heart of every worship service.
-Now that you know ''where'' to worship, we turn to a different kind of ''wear'' -- Ever wonder what you should wear when you come to worship?  It's right here in our passage from Colossians:  "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."  That's way more important to God than whether or not you wear a jacket, a tie, or a pretty dress.  "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
+Now that you know ''where'' to worship, let's raise a different kind of ''wear'' -- Ever wonder what you should wear when you come to worship?  It's right here in our passage from Colossians:  "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."  That's way more important to God than whether or not you wear a jacket, a tie, or a pretty dress.  "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
-How about what to bring?  In Deuteronomy, God tells the ancient Israelites to bring "your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks." (and you thought ''you'' had a lot to pack in your car this morning!).  What Colossians says to bring is just as important:  peace and wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.  You can bring your complaints, but only if you "forgive as the Lord has forgiven you."
+I like this question of "what do we bring to worship?" I think too often, we come to church the way we come to so many other places in our culture--as consumers.  We come to church asking the question, "What can God do for me today? I need to be filled, recharged; give me something good today, preacher!"  But worship is a verb, and last time I checked, God doesn't come to worship us.  It's the other way around.  Hopefully, we do walk away feeling filled with love, hope, and God's spirit...but primarily worship is about what ''we'' bring to the table, what ''we'' bring to God.
-I like this question of "what do we bring to worship?" I think too often, we come to church the way we come to so many other places in our culture--as consumers.  We come to church asking the question, "What can God do for me today? I need to be filled, recharged, give me something good today, preacher!"  But worship is a verb, and last time I checked, God doesn't come to worship us.  It's the other way around.  Hopefully, we do walk away feeling filled with love, hope, and God's spirit...but primarily worship is about what ''we'' bring to the table, what ''we'' bring to God.
+It may seem like we don't have much to offer, at least not anything of worth.  But the good news is, God values things a little differently than we do.  The money and possessions we spend so much of our time chasing after mean nothing to the creator of the universe.  He looks deeply into our hearts and sees the child of God he created each of us to be. When we bring our hearts to God in worship, I imagine it's a little like when my kids bring me something they have drawn, colored or made.  To someone else it may look like just a scribbled mess...but to me it's the most beautiful thing in the world, not because of what it is, but because of who made it.
-Some days, it feels like we don't have much to offer, at least not anything of worth.  But the good news is, God values things a little differently than we do.  The money and possessions we spend so much of our time chasing after mean nothing to the creator of the universe.  He looks deeply into our hearts and sees the child of God he created each of us to be. When we bring our hearts to God in worship, I imagine it's a little like when my kids bring me something they have drawn, colored or made.  To someone else it may look like just a scribbled mess...but to me it's the most beautiful thing in the world, not because of what it is, but because of who made it.
+So come to worship.  Come to Jesus.  And bring your heart.

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 I'm not saying you can't worship individually, privately.  Because you can and you should.  There is a place for personal worship, and 1st Thessalonians tells us to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances." But Hebrews 10:25 tells us "do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together." You can worship God on the Golf course (and I hope you do, loudly and singing hymns at the top of your lungs). But I hope you're also here on Sunday morning, because worship is at the heart of this church, and this is--perhaps not the ''only''--but certainly one of the very ''best'' places you're likely to have an encounter with Jesus Christ, the living word, and the heart of every worship service.
-Ever wonder what you should wear when you come to worship?  It's right here in our passage from Colossians:  "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."  That's way more important to God than whether or not you wear a jacket, a tie, or a pretty dress.  "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
+Now that you know ''where'' to worship, we turn to a different kind of ''wear'' -- Ever wonder what you should wear when you come to worship?  It's right here in our passage from Colossians:  "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."  That's way more important to God than whether or not you wear a jacket, a tie, or a pretty dress.  "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
-Now we're into the "how" part of worship.  In some cultures, it's considered polite to bring something when you go to someone's house--this holds true when you come to God's house to worship:  In Deuteronomy, God tells the ancient Israelites to bring "your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks." (and you thought ''you'' had a lot to pack in your car this morning!).  What Colossians says to bring is just as important:  peace and wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.  You can bring your complaints, but only if you "forgive as the Lord has forgiven you."
+How about what to bring?  In Deuteronomy, God tells the ancient Israelites to bring "your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks." (and you thought ''you'' had a lot to pack in your car this morning!).  What Colossians says to bring is just as important:  peace and wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.  You can bring your complaints, but only if you "forgive as the Lord has forgiven you."
 <poem>

← Older revision	Revision as of 01:24, 14 October 2013
(No difference)

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:41, 10 August 2012
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	Now we're into the "how" part of worship. In some cultures, it's considered polite to bring something when you go to someone's house--this holds true when you come to God's house to worship: In Deuteronomy, God tells the ancient Israelites to bring "your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks." (and you thought ''you'' had a lot to pack in your car this morning!). What Colossians says to bring is just as important: peace and wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. You can bring your complaints, but only if you "forgive as the Lord has forgiven you."		Now we're into the "how" part of worship. In some cultures, it's considered polite to bring something when you go to someone's house--this holds true when you come to God's house to worship: In Deuteronomy, God tells the ancient Israelites to bring "your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks." (and you thought ''you'' had a lot to pack in your car this morning!). What Colossians says to bring is just as important: peace and wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. You can bring your complaints, but only if you "forgive as the Lord has forgiven you."

−	Both passages, in response to the question ''how'' do we worship, point to gratitude. We worship God joyfully, thankful for the ways we have been blessed, and all of us, in ~~some~~ way ~~or another~~ have ~~been blessed~~.	+	Both passages, in response to the question ''how'' do we worship, point to gratitude. We worship God joyfully, thankful for the ways we have been blessed. All of us have been blessed.
		+
		+	<poem>
		+	When the music fades
		+	and all has slipped away
		+	and I simply come.
		+	Longing just to be
		+	something that's of worth
		+	that will bless Your heart.
		+
		+	I'll bring 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,
		+	Your looking into my heart.
		+
		+	I'm coming back to the heart of worship
		+	and its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
		+	I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
		+	when its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
		+
		+	King of endless worth,
		+	no one could express
		+	how much you deserve.
		+	Though I'm weak and poor,
		+	all I have is Yours,
		+	every single breath!
		+
		+	I'll bring 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,
		+	Your looking into my heart.
		+
		+	I'm coming back to the heart of worship
		+	and its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
		+	I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
		+	when its all about You, its all about You, Jesus.
		+	</poem>

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:34, 10 August 2012
Line 38:		Line 38:
	Unless you think your bed is the one place out of all the tribes that God chose as his habitation, and unless God put his name there, somewhere right on that golf course...how 'bout you just come to church instead? God has always set apart special places for his people to worship, from the Tabernacle in the desert to the the Temple in Jerusalem, from the Synagogues Jesus attended to the house churches of the early Christians. God tells us "you shall seek the place" and "you shall go ''there'', bringing there your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks. And you shall eat ''there'' in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your households together (notice the plural of households--many families).		Unless you think your bed is the one place out of all the tribes that God chose as his habitation, and unless God put his name there, somewhere right on that golf course...how 'bout you just come to church instead? God has always set apart special places for his people to worship, from the Tabernacle in the desert to the the Temple in Jerusalem, from the Synagogues Jesus attended to the house churches of the early Christians. God tells us "you shall seek the place" and "you shall go ''there'', bringing there your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks. And you shall eat ''there'' in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your households together (notice the plural of households--many families).

−	I'm not saying you can't worship individually, privately. Because you can and you should. There is a place for personal worship, and 1st Thessalonians tells us to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances." But Hebrews 10:25 tells us "do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together." You can worship God on the Golf course (and I hope you do, loudly and singing hymns at the top of your lungs) ~~but~~ I hope you're also here on Sunday morning, because worship is at the heart of this church, and this is--perhaps not the ''only'' but certainly one of the very ''best'' places you're likely to have an encounter with Jesus Christ, the living word, and the heart of every worship service.	+	I'm not saying you can't worship individually, privately. Because you can and you should. There is a place for personal worship, and 1st Thessalonians tells us to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances." But Hebrews 10:25 tells us "do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together." You can worship God on the Golf course (and I hope you do, loudly and singing hymns at the top of your lungs). But I hope you're also here on Sunday morning, because worship is at the heart of this church, and this is--perhaps not the ''only''--but certainly one of the very ''best'' places you're likely to have an encounter with Jesus Christ, the living word, and the heart of every worship service.
		+
		+	Ever wonder what you should wear when you come to worship? It's right here in our passage from Colossians: "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience." That's way more important to God than whether or not you wear a jacket, a tie, or a pretty dress. "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
		+
		+	Now we're into the "how" part of worship. In some cultures, it's considered polite to bring something when you go to someone's house--this holds true when you come to God's house to worship: In Deuteronomy, God tells the ancient Israelites to bring "your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks." (and you thought ''you'' had a lot to pack in your car this morning!). What Colossians says to bring is just as important: peace and wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. You can bring your complaints, but only if you "forgive as the Lord has forgiven you."
		+
		+	Both passages, in response to the question ''how'' do we worship, point to gratitude. We worship God joyfully, thankful for the ways we have been blessed, and all of us, in some way or another have been blessed.

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:08, 10 August 2012
Line 38:		Line 38:
	Unless you think your bed is the one place out of all the tribes that God chose as his habitation, and unless God put his name there, somewhere right on that golf course...how 'bout you just come to church instead? God has always set apart special places for his people to worship, from the Tabernacle in the desert to the the Temple in Jerusalem, from the Synagogues Jesus attended to the house churches of the early Christians. God tells us "you shall seek the place" and "you shall go ''there'', bringing there your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks. And you shall eat ''there'' in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your households together (notice the plural of households--many families).		Unless you think your bed is the one place out of all the tribes that God chose as his habitation, and unless God put his name there, somewhere right on that golf course...how 'bout you just come to church instead? God has always set apart special places for his people to worship, from the Tabernacle in the desert to the the Temple in Jerusalem, from the Synagogues Jesus attended to the house churches of the early Christians. God tells us "you shall seek the place" and "you shall go ''there'', bringing there your burnt-offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks. And you shall eat ''there'' in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your households together (notice the plural of households--many families).

−	I'm not saying you can't worship individually, privately. Because you can and you should.	+	I'm not saying you can't worship individually, privately. Because you can and you should. There is a place for personal worship, and 1st Thessalonians tells us to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances." But Hebrews 10:25 tells us "do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together." You can worship God on the Golf course (and I hope you do, loudly and singing hymns at the top of your lungs) but I hope you're also here on Sunday morning, because worship is at the heart of this church, and this is--perhaps not the ''only'' but certainly one of the very ''best'' places you're likely to have an encounter with Jesus Christ, the living word, and the heart of every worship service.

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 #We Go Forth In God's Name
-In some Presbyterian churches, the first section is actually called "We Gather around God's Word" and the last section is called "We take God's Word into the World," so that the emphasis on the Word is a little more pronounced.  But I would ask you to remember that for us as Christians, the name of God is Jesus Christ, the Word, so that when we gather and go forth in God's name, we are still gathering around the Word, and going forth in the name of the Word as well.  Our Old Testament passage today tells us that "you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes as his habitation to put his name there" and our third reading tells us to "do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." God's name--Jesus, the Word--is central to both where and how we worship.
+In some Presbyterian churches, the first section is actually called "We Gather around God's Word" and the last section is called "We take God's Word into the World," so that the emphasis on the Word is a little more pronounced.  But I would ask you to remember that for us as Christians, the name of God is Jesus Christ, the Word, so that when we gather and go forth in God's name, we are still gathering around the Word, and going forth in the name of the Word as well.  Our Old Testament passage today tells us that "you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes as his habitation to put his name there" and our third reading tells us to "do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." As I hope you can see by now, God's name--or ''who'' we worship--is central to both ''where'' and ''how'' we worship.
-As we move through this sermon series, we'll stop and spend time on each of these four sections, and we'll talk about what happens in each of them.
+As we move through this sermon series in the weeks to come, we'll stop and spend time on each of these four sections, and we'll talk about what happens in each of them.  That's the ''what'' part. I've already spent a lot of time talking about the ''who'' part, so I'd like to finish out today's message by talking briefly about the ''where and ''how'' parts of worship.  The passage from Deuteronomy speaks most powerfully to ''where'' we worship, so let me read that first part of it again: