Ignite Worship Night

Two weeks ago, over a hundred from the high school group, college group, and career group showed up Friday night for our second Ignite Worship Night at the church.

The overall purpose of "Ignite" is for the edification of the believers at VBC. It is not evangelistic in nature but rather it is a place and a time for the next generation of men and women of the church to gather, serve, fellowship, sing praise, hear the Word of God, and worship the Lord together. The overall structure of the night permits for the centrality of the proclamation of the Word, thus promoting the worship in song and fellowship in relationships to be Word-filled as well. 

What I love about Ignite is the fact that everything from refreshments, to the tear-down and set-up crew, to the band practicing, to the sound team, to the end of the night is done mostly by those who are younger than I am. I stood in the middle of the auditorium looking around at all that was happening that night before we started and I just had to take a moment to praise God for His faithfulness to the young adults of Valley; for their sensitivity to the things of the Lord; for their willingness to serve Him and others; for their spirit of unity; and for their kingdom-mindedness. Isn't God good and so worthy to be served and worshiped!

The message was from Revelation 4 and 5. I began by "trimming the fat off" of what worship is not (not for unbelievers, not a place, not emotion-driven, and not about self), and then we moved to our text to allow our minds to marinate on what true worship is--heavenly worship that pleases the Holy God before His throne.

Revelation 4:8, 11 say, 

"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, 

who was and is and is to come! 

Worthy are you, our Lord and God, 

to receive glory and honor and power, 

for you created all things, 

and by your will they existed and were created." 

Revelation 5:9, 10, 12, 13 say, 

"And they sang a new song, saying, 

'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, 

for you were slain, 

and by your blood you ransomed people for God 

from every tribe and language and people and nation, 

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, 

and they shall reign on the earth...

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, 

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and 

might and honor and glory and blessing! 

To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb 

be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!' "