We're talking about worship this week, but let me begin today by asking you a question

that might seem to have more to do with idolatry than it does with the worship of God.

I wonder if you've ever flown on a private jet.

It's the way to beat the crowds lining up at check-in, it's a breeze through security,

and it's unbelievable just to walk out onto the tarmac and to be greeted by the pilot,

and fantastic to be on a small jet with a few friends.

I know, because it once happened to me in another country, far away, what an experience.

The only thing is, flying economy never seems to be the same again.

Now, you might think I'm telling you this to try to make your jealous, but my motive

is actually more spiritual than that.

It's to make this point, sometimes in life we have experiences so wonderful that our

normal experience seems pretty poor by comparison, but we really only see the normal experience

in its true light when we've had the wonderful experience.

And you know, in many ways, the same is true of our worship of God.

I think we'd be surprised to discover how content we can be as worshipers, with what

actually may be profoundly impoverished worship.

But then we experience something different, the presence of God.

We find ourselves bowed down before Him in worship and in silence at the end of the service.

And then we realize we've really been in a service of worship.

Sadly, at least in my experience, what people are often talking about when they assess

worship is really only whether the singing was enthusiastic or if there was a choir, whether

the anthem was good or we liked it, whether the organist was capable or the band was good

...