God deserves wholehearted worship!
Good morning church! As we stand on the threshold of Holy Week, our hearts naturally turn toward the cross and the empty tomb. But before we reach the celebration of Easter, we have to settle a fundamental question of the heart.
This past Sunday, Pastor Larry Elliott brought a word that cuts through the noise of our busy lives: the Great Commission is not a call to “do” more, but a call to worship more deeply. If we want to walk in the resurrection power we celebrate this coming Sunday, we must first master the art of wholehearted worship.
What is the true meaning of Wholehearted Worship?
When Jesus met the eleven disciples on the mountain in Galilee, the atmosphere was thick with both awe and hesitation.
Matthew 28:16-17 tells us: “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.”
Even in the presence of the risen Christ, some struggled. Yet, Jesus didn’t wait for them to be perfect; He waited for them to be present. This is the first key to the “Go” series: Availability. You cannot worship if you aren’t there. You show up and remain faithful because of who Jesus is, regardless of your feelings or the doubts whispering in your ear.
Pastor Larry identified five keys that build on each other:
- Availability,
- Worship,
- Submission,
- Obedience,
- and Power.
You simply cannot bypass the first four and expect to operate in the fifth. Wholehearted worship is the game-changer because real mission always flows from real worship. If God is not truly worshipped in our lives, He cannot be truly served through our lives.
Moving Beyond Ritual to Spirit and Truth
It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking worship is just the singing we do before the sermon starts. However, Jesus redefined worship for the woman at the well, and His words still challenge us today on the South Coast.
John 4:23-24 says: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
This means our worship must be:
- In Spirit: It has to be internal. It isn’t about conforming to outward ceremonies or looking the part in a Sunday service. It is an engagement of your heart with His Spirit by faith.
- In Truth: It must be anchored in the Word of God.
We have to guard ourselves against two extremes.
- The first is “dead orthodoxy” — having all the correct facts and truth but no life or spirit.
- The second is “zealous heterodoxy” — having plenty of emotional “spirit” but no foundation in biblical truth. True worship balances both, creating a single-minded concentration on Jesus Christ as Lord.
The Perspective of the Worshipper
Why does God give us power? It isn’t to make our lives comfortable or to fuel our egos. He empowers us so that we can represent Him. When you are locked into the holiness of God through worship, your perspective shifts. You begin to see your life through a spiritual lens rather than a worldly one.
This shifted perspective is what allows you to withdraw from the “noise” of trauma, loss, or stress and find your footing again. The Apostle Paul understood this better than anyone. Despite his incredible pedigree and qualifications, he was willing to let it all go for one thing.
Philippians 3:10 states: “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death”
Paul even went as far as to say in Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
If we are honest, many of us fill that blank with other things: “For to me, to live is my career,” or “to live is my hobby.” But wholehearted worship demands that Christ becomes our “vital necessity.” When He is the centre, everything else—our families, our work, our daily interactions—finds its proper place.
The Call to “Go” this Holy Week
As we prepare for Good Friday and Easter Sunday, let’s be intentional. If you truly love Jesus, nothing should stop you from sharing Him with others. We are a “doing and going” church.
We have invitation cards ready for our Easter services. Let’s use them. Whether it’s the Good Friday service or the 5:30 AM Sunrise Service at St. Michael’s Beach, let’s bring people into an environment where they can encounter the presence of God. You show God you are serious when you search for Him with your whole heart, not just when you repeat religious phrases.
Cell Leader Discussion Section
- Doubt and Devotion: In Matthew 28:17, it says some worshipped while others doubted. How can we encourage one another to keep worshipping even when we don’t have all the answers?
- The “To Live Is” Test: If someone looked at your life this past week, what would they say your “to live is…” statement is? How can we practically shift our focus back to Christ?
- Spirit vs. Ritual: How do we practically guard against “dead orthodoxy” in our daily devotions? What does “worshipping in spirit” look like for you on a Tuesday morning?
- Purpose of Power: Discuss the idea that power follows worship and obedience. Why does God wait for us to worship before He releases supernatural strength?
A Closing Prayer for Our Community
Lord, we thank You that You are a Father who seeks us out.
We ask that this week, as we remember the sacrifice of the Cross, You would create in us a heart of wholehearted worship. Strip away the rituals and the “churchy” habits that have no life in them. Help us to see Jesus as our vital necessity and our only focus.
We pray for every person we invite to our Easter services. Open their hearts even now. We ask for Your supernatural power to be evident in 3C South Coast as we commit to being available, submissive, and obedient to Your call.
We exult in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in our own strength. Amen.
Next Steps:
Join us for our Holy Week services as we celebrate the miracle of the resurrection together.
- Good Friday: 8:00 & 10:00
- Easter Sunrise (St. Michael’s Beach): 5:30 AM
- Easter Sunday: Celebration services and Water Baptisms.
Find out more about our various ministries or how we are going into our community. If you need prayer, or want to talk about your faith journey, please reach out to us.
Learn how to register for VOLT Fest 2026.
