Worship as Surrender

This is our Sunday teaching by our Senior Pastor, Tom Thompson. Recorded live at our Sunday Service in Harris Academy Purley, Croydon on Sunday 19th July, 2026. 

Talk Summary - Worship as Surrender

When Solomon completed the temple, he gathered Israel’s leaders, priests and musicians to dedicate it to God. The Ark of the Covenant was carried into the Most Holy Place, sacrifices were offered beyond counting, and 120 trumpeters joined the singers in declaring:

“He is good; his faithful love endures forever.”

Then something extraordinary happened. A thick cloud filled the temple—the glorious presence of God—and the priests could no longer continue their work.

This moment shows us that worship is more than singing songs. Worship is surrender to the better One.

Although Solomon was Israel’s king, the temple proclaimed that there was a greater King. God, not Solomon, belonged at the centre of the nation. The people surrendered their decisions, their finances, their creativity, their history and their future to him.

Our worship does the same. Each week, we take ourselves off the throne and place Jesus back at the centre of our lives. We bring him our families, relationships, work, money and plans and say, “You are wiser than I am. You are better than I am. I give control to you.”

That surrender is difficult because we naturally want to remain in control. Yet when God’s presence filled the temple, the priests could no longer carry on as before. God took over.

Solomon’s later life offers a sobering warning. Although he publicly honoured God as King, he gradually reclaimed control. He trusted wealth, military power and political alliances rather than God. His refusal to surrender eventually brought painful consequences for both himself and those who followed him.

Worship therefore becomes a weekly battle against the illusion of control. It is where we surrender our life’s most precious work—our parenting, marriage, calling, career or future—and invite God to lead us.

We can surrender because we live beneath the canopy of God’s care. He created all things. Through Jesus, he is redeeming all things. One day, he will complete his work and make all things right.

So let us come to worship expecting God’s presence. Let us place ourselves, our loved ones and our futures beneath his care and pray:

“Jesus, you be enthroned. I give control to you.”