Thoughts On Worship

Last night, I was browsing through a book by Dan Kimball called Emerging Worship. There were several statements that caught my attention (actually, they re-caught my attention as I had already underlined them...but I don't think "re-caught" is actually a word...but it is now). I'll share some of those now...and maybe some more in the days to come.

"Most people view the weekend worship service as a place where we go to get service done to us by 'getting out tanks filled up' at the service station. It's a place where someone will give a sermon and serve us with our weekly sustenance...We need to recognize that going to a worship service is not about us, the worshippers. It is not about God's service to us. It is purely our offering of service and worship to God - offering our lives, offering our prayers, offering our praise, offering our confessions, offering our finances, offering out service to others in the church body...In the New Testament, the English word 'service' is used to speak of an act of giving, not receiving."

You know, I've actually heard people say, "I'm here to get filled up so I can make it through the week." As I read Kimball's thoughts, I was reminded that this is not what it's about. Yeah, often times when we worship together we leave encouraged, built up, strengthened in our faith. But, the point of our worship...together on Sunday mornings and each day as we go our separate ways...is to glorify God.

1 Corinthians 14:26-33 gives a picture of what worship should be...a gathering of the Body where each one has a part, each one has something to offer. I'm going to use Peterson's Message paraphrase.

"So here's what I want you to do. When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight. If prayers are offered in tongues, two or three's the limit, and then only if someone is present who can interpret what you're saying. Otherwise, keep it between God and yourself. And no more than two or three speakers at a meeting, with the rest of you listening and taking it to heart. Take your turn, no one person taking over. Then each speaker gets a chance to say something special from God, and you all learn from each other. If you choose to speak, you're also responsible for how and when you speak. When we worship the right way, God doesn't stir us up into confusion; he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches - no exceptions."

What do you bring when you gather with the Body of Christ for worship? Are you "prepared" when you come to worship on Sunday mornings?