From Ritual to Restoration pt. 2

In the final session of Heartbeat Sydney's church camp, Pastor Josh closes the “From Ritual to Restoration” series with a passionate call to rediscover the purpose and power of Sunday worship. With humor, conviction, and honesty, he challenges the church not to let routine replace restoration—and reminds us that every Sunday is a divine opportunity to be renewed.

Worship Is More Than a Habit

Pastor Josh opens by reminding us that it’s easy for our gatherings to become predictable, even empty, if we forget the why behind them. While we often associate “ritual” with dead religion, he makes a key distinction: “You will not understand Jesus if we didn’t have the sacrificial system… Ritual has meaning when it leads to the reality.”

But that meaning can get lost. “We’ve made Christian services way too casual and way too consumer-driven,” he says, challenging us to reflect on whether we’ve come to spectate or to meet God. He recounts the frustration of relying on PowerPoint slides for lyrics and confesses, “At the end, I just gave up singing… because I really wanted to capture the lyrics.” Why? Because the heart matters more than the presentation.

And he makes it plain: “You can’t advance the kingdom if you don’t abide in the King. But you’re not abiding if you refuse to obey his command to advance.”

An Invitation to Draw Near

Quoting Hebrews 10, Pastor Josh reminds us that through Jesus’ blood, the way to God is open. “You don’t need a priest to pray over you. You can talk to God right now.” But the real question is: “Do you actually draw near?”

Sunday isn’t just a checkbox for Christians—it’s a spiritual rhythm of restoration. “Why would you walk out of church with the same shame you walked in with?” he asks. “You have the opportunity every week to bring your guilt, your burdens, and experience God’s cleansing.”

He warns that we’re dangerously prone to routine:

“Nobody wakes up one day and decides to rebel against God. It’s a habit… a slow accumulation of repeated inaction.”

So what’s the solution? “Come anyway,” even if you feel fake, tired, or distant. Over time, new habits form—and God restores.

Church is a Confession of Hope

At the heart of the message is this command: “Hold fast the confession of our hope.” This isn’t blind optimism—it’s a future reality that transforms how we live now.

Using a playful illustration, Pastor Josh imagines being a secret billionaire whose kids will one day inherit it all. “They don’t have the money now, but they know it’s coming. That assurance changes how they live.”

In the same way, “We have a rich God. We live differently because we have a living hope.”

He presses the church not to let Sunday become a place of silent defeat: “You should not let your friends walk out of church with the same darkness they walked in with.” Instead, speak hope. Confess hope. Stir each other to believe again.

Stirring One Another to Life

The Bible doesn’t say “let the pastor stir everyone up.” It says “let us consider how to stir up one another.” Pastor Josh takes this seriously—and literally.

He has the entire room repeat aloud:

“I give you permission to encourage me when I’m discouraged… to rebuke me when I sin… to draw me closer to God when I fall away.”

This is the church’s calling: to be a community that doesn’t sit passively but stirs up love and good deeds in one another.

He tells the congregation: “No one should leave Sunday untouched. Undisturbed. You’re either comforted, confronted, or convicted.” If you come to church and nothing moves you, something’s wrong.

Expressive, Intentional Worship

Pastor Josh challenges the culture of disengaged worship:

“When I see you just standing there with your arms crossed while the music plays, that discourages me. But when I see you lift your hands, that encourages me.”

Why lift your hands in worship? “Because it’s surrender. It says, ‘I’m not in control.’”

And why do we shout, sing, and even dance? “Because Psalm 100 says shout for joy to the Lord—all the earth. Worship with gladness!”

He points out the contrast between camp worship and Sunday services: “Why do we only dance at camp? Why not on Sundays? What are we afraid of—hitting the ceiling fan?”

But this isn’t about hype. It’s about intentional obedience:

“Be intentional to be obedient to the word of God, not just your personality.”

A Church Grounded in Word and Spirit

Wrapping up, Pastor Josh describes the identity of Heartbeat Church:

“We are a biblical church. We are a Spirit-led church. We are both.”

He warns against two extremes: treating the Bible as the only voice of God (and ignoring the Spirit), or treating personal feelings as divine truth (and disregarding Scripture). “The Bible is not the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit never contradicts the Bible.”

He humorously recalls how some conferences practically replace the Holy Spirit with Scripture: “God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy… Bible?” That’s not what we believe.

Instead, Heartbeat strives to be what some call “reformed charismatic”—biblically grounded, but open to the Spirit’s work. This means prayer that isn’t just correct but heartfelt. Preaching that’s not just sound, but Spirit-filled. Worship that’s not just musical, but surrendered.