It's Not About You (2 Cor. 3:18)

Music leader Matt Redman listened as his pastor instructed him to remove any potential hindrances from the church’s worship service. Sensing they were missing the true spirit of worship, the two church leaders concluded that their music was cold and lifeless despite having quality musicians and a great sound system. Pastor Mike called for a drastic course of action. Suspecting that their aids for worship were actually a distraction, he urged Matt to strip away all the “traditional” means of worship in the church.

When the congregation gathered the next Sunday, there were no musicians and no music. They sat in awkward periods of silence at first, but soon sporadic voices of prayers moved across the gathering. The approach was simple according to Pastor Mike: “We weren’t going to lean so hard on those outward things anymore,” he said. “When you come through the doors of the church on Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God? What are you going to sacrifice today?” Soon, the instruments did return, but the people were different. The songs in their hearts caught up with the songs on their lips.

After watching this unfold over a period of several weeks, Matt Redman penned these words:

“When the music fades, all is stripped away,

And I simply come; 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.

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 it’s all about You, all about You, Jesus.

I’m sorry Lord, for the thing I’ve made it,

When it’s all about You, all about You, Jesus.”³

Do you remember Jesus’ words to a Samaritan woman in John 4:23? He said, “An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.” God is seeking people who will worship Him more than anyone or anything else. Are you willing to be that kind of Christian? Is God’s glory more important to you than anything else? 

This is the first in a six-part series of sermons called “Getting Back to the Heart of Worship.” The others in the series will appear in Preaching On-Line during the month of July. Be sure to visit www.preaching.com.

1. Bob Russell, When God Builds a Church (Louisiana: Howard Publishing Co., 2000), 42.

2. Max Lucado, It’s Not About Me (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 131-132.

3. Matt Redman, The Unquenchable Worshipper (California: Regal Books, 2001), 102-104.