But it’s also something we do together.
In other words, our responses of worship to God are both personal and corporate. And each kind of response is intertwined with the other.
That’s why we say:
Worship is …
our response,
both personal and corporate,
to God—
for who He is!
and what He has done!
expressed in and by the things we say
and the way we live.
Christianity is not an individual sport so much as it is a family deal. Through Christ we’ve been reconnected to God, and in Him we’re linked to each other. We’re His body. His people. His family.
Each one of us plays a unique role. We fit with the body in a necessary way.
THE HUGE IDEA:
UNIFIED VOICES MAKE THE LOUDEST SONG.
We aren’t designed to
operate on a weekly
worship cycle …
I’m not talking about joining organized religion, but the organism called the church. If you’re a believer in God, He has made you a part of His body, His people. It’s really not your call, but His. He has already made you a member. And a part of your worship is to make a connection with other believers around you.
The primary purpose of the church (the people of God) is worship. At its core, the church exists to glorify God. And, without your life and voice, the body’s expression is incomplete.
But even in the corporate setting, worship doesn’t begin with a group activity. It begins with our individual responses to what God has revealed to us about Himself. Those responses don’t just happen once a week … they happen day by day.
We aren’t designed to operate on a weekly worship cycle, but on a moment-by-moment connection of personal worship that’s as much a part of our lives as the air we breathe. It’s how we’re wired.
… but on a moment-by-moment connection of
personal worship that’s as much a part of our lives
as the air we breathe.
As we come together with other believers in worship, we can bring that same sense of focus we’ve had in our daily journey. We bring that same determined devotion.
Most of my life, I thought that you went to church to worship. But now I see that the better approach is to go worshiping to church.
Trust me, church is a lot better when our gatherings are filled with people who have been pursuing God for six days before they get there. Church as a “refill” or a “tank-up” is a disaster. Corporate worship works best when we arrive with something to offer God. As opposed to only coming to get something for ourselves from God.
Church is supposed to be a celebration of our personal journeys with God since we were last together.
Imagine what would happen if each person in the congregation was seeking the face of God throughout the week. Some would encounter sorrow, others major happiness. But all would have a story to tell of God’s faithfulness in good times and bad.
Most of my life, I thought that you
went to church to worship.…
What would happen if we came worshiping to church, filled with an awareness of His presence before we even reached the door? Well, for one, the lead worshiper’s job would be a lot easier! And the intensity of our collective offering would be full-on.
Can you see it? All of our personal streams of worship flowing into one surging river. One mighty anthem. A beautiful mosaic, telling an even greater story of who God is and what He’s done.
People leave a gathering like that inspired to seek Him as never before. And they come back again bringing worship with them, starting the cycle all over again.
The worship circle is complete. Unbroken.
We need to overhaul the way we view the Sunday service. Or whenever it is we meet together with others to worship.
Usually no one has given the service a moment’s thought until they arrive. We come through the door like we’re stopping at the mall. We sit and chat. We wait for someone to guide us before we ever stop and connect with the privilege of it all.
… But now I see that the better approach
is to go worshiping to church.
Yet the corporate gathering is a sacred thing. A special thing. A holy thing. Maybe we need bigger buildings after all. Cathedrals that remind us that we’re really small and God is really big. Buildings that force us to look up.
Bruce Leafblad, one of the major shapers of my perspective on worship, has a great definition of worship. Part of it goes like this: “Worship is centering our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection on the Lord.”3
You can’t make it any more clear than that.
True worship requires our attention. I know that’s difficult in our commercial-driven culture, where our television-trained minds have geared us for a break every seven minutes. But God requires us to love Him with all our minds. His sheer immensity and beauty demands our complete attention.
Have you ever been talking with somebody who was constantly looking around while they were talking to you, checking out the scene while you tried to make your point? It makes you just want to walk away, doesn’t it?
In my late teens I used to often sit alone in the worship service so I could concentrate on God without being distracted (or distracting someone else). What are practical ways you can be more attentive in corporate worship?
Why do we think it’s any different with God?
When we come to worship together it’s imperative that we find God and lock our gaze with His. That’s not easy with all the other people in the room. But our primary reason for being there is to see Him. At least it should be.
I don’t know about you, but my attention wanders like crazy. For me, the corporate worship experience is a constant “roundup,” me chasing down my drifting thoughts and reattaching them to God. So I’m not saying it’s easy to stay focused on Him. Just that it’s essential.
As we worship with others, it’s important that we find Him, because our attention aims our affection.
We have the amazing potential to shoot arrows of affection into the heart of God. If those arrows are going to hit the target, we have to know where the target is.
And if those arrows from our hearts are going to register with His, they have to be honest and true.
That means we have to think carefully about what we’re saying … what we’re singing. And who we’re singing to. Sometimes we would be better off saying nothing than standing there lying to the face of God. Our worship would honor Him more if we just stopped singing and realigned our heart with His.
I believe for this to happen, we have to connect with God before we arrive. Worship is an intentional thing. It’s something we set our hearts to do. So the next time you come to worship with other believers, take a deep breath as you cross the parking lot. Think about the vastness of the God you are coming to meet. Think about His love and grace as you pass through the doors.
And before the worship service begins, begin to worship in your heart.
The key is to come prepared. To come worshiping. To connect with God. To keep your eyes on Him.
As we conclude the discussion of this book, what do you most want to tell God about the life of worship you desire to live? Talk openly about this before you pray together and actually express those desires to your loving Father in heaven.
You are a worshiper. It’s what you do. And you are going to worship—no matter what! That’s the simple truth of this little book.
Something’s going to grab your affection. Someone is going to captivate your heart and mind. One thing is going to rise to the surface of your values and drive your life, aiming your steps and determining your destiny.
The invitation of God has come to you, inviting you to join those who glorify Him with all of who they are. He’s inviting you to discover His infinite worth, giving you the privilege of exalting Him as infinitely worthy.
Through Christ, you can breathe again, inhaling the wonder of God that always surrounds you, exhaling words and deeds of praise that reflect all of who He is.
So, whether personal or corporate, let’s make this what we do. Let’s give Him all we are.
At the beginning of this book, and again before chapter four, you wrote out your definition of worship. Without looking back at those, write one final definition for worship below.
How has this changed—or has it changed—from when you first started WIRED?