The gathering of Christians for worship has been quite contorted in our world today. Some see it as a checkbox of righteousness, a holy obligation, others are left feeling “let down” if the service doesn’t meet their expectations. What is the purpose of God’s design of gathering Christians together for worship?
What corporate worship isn’t:
- Membership – A token toast to a tertiary tribe
- Mass – A passive perceiving of professional piety
- Music – An emotional experience of energized enthusiasm
- Meetings – A homogeneous houseful of happy homies
Definitions:
- Worship is the centering, submission, service of your life [heart] around the Triune God
- The purpose of Corporate Worship is the establishment of a New Covenant community for a Spirit-led witness to the world of God’s Kingdom and Christ’s Rule
Observations: What are the biblical characteristics of corporate worship?
- Apostle’s Teaching
- Fellowship
- Breaking of Bread
- Prayer
Requires:
- God consciousnesses
- Mutual concern
- Social consistency
- Public cooperation
Conclusions:
- Devotion to (1) the Apostle’s Teaching means: communal-receptiveness
(1) authority
(2) admonition
(3) accountability - Devotion to (2) Fellowship means: Christ-centeredness
- Devotion to (3) Breaking of Bread means: selflessness
- Devotion to (4) Prayer means: single-mindedness
Application: Are you contributing to the establishment of the community?
- Are you receptive or resistant to the Apostle’s Teaching?
- Are you engaged or an escape artist to Fellowship?
- Are you serving or selfish in the community and communion?
- Are you Spirit-led or self determined?
Titus 2:14
“He gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13
“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.”
Matthew 15:8-9
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'”
Hebrews 10:24-25
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
1 Corinthians 11:20-21; 33
“So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead without waiting for anybody else. As a result, one remains hungry and another gets drunk.”
“So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other.”
Philippians 1:27; 2:2
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.
“And make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”