The Gathering - Part Two

Why do we gather each week? 

This question may appear to have an easy answer.  We may quickly conclude that we gather to worship. While this is true, we want to be able to understand what that means and what that looks like. Certainly we are told in scripture that all of life is to be lived as an act of worship. Paul says in Romans 12:1 to, “present your bodies (all of who you are) as living sacrifices.” He describes this as an act of worship. So if all of life is worship, then why do we gather each week? 

I believe that the purpose of corporate worship is . . . 

"to remember what God has done to bring us into relationship with Himself through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, to celebrate the communion that is now possible with God, to give attention to His word and to recommit to living within the grace of this covenantal relationship with God and each other."

In other words, we gather to reorient our lives around the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Over the next several weeks we want to unpack this purpose statement for our gatherings. We want to see how the Bible speaks one unified message of God’s desire to gather to Himself a people who will serve Him as a kingdom of worshipers. There truly is no greater call in life than this!

“Father, we pray that You will allow us to understand Your purposes for the church gathered and as we grow in our understanding may we have a deeper desire to be joined together regularly with Your people to declare Your praise. Amen.”

Songs for Our Gathering this Week:

Strong to Save (F1/F2) 
     by Eddie Hoagland | Tyler Miller

Let God Arise (FSat/F3) 
     by Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash | Jesse Reeves

Grace Alone

     by Dustin Kensrue

Your Glory
     by Leslie Jordan

Man of Sorrows
     by Matt Crocker | Brooke Ligertwood

The Gathering - Part One

" . . . and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."   

Over the next several months we want to consider the worship gathering or the "assembling together" as the writer of Hebrews calls it. Why do we gather? What are we to be about as we gather? What informs these answers? We will be looking at what the Bible says as a whole about worship and how it applies to us today in our gatherings. It is our prayer that these posts will truly "spur us on to love and good deeds."

There is one important point that I would like to begin with as we consider this discussion of corporate worship. The true nature of worship is responsive and not initiative. In other words, worship does not bring about any ability to provide for or secure a relationship with God. Worship starts with God and His initiative and we respond. Worship will never and should never replace the Gospel. There is no power in worship to bring us into the presence of God. That's right! Our act of responding to God's revelation of Himself does not bring us any closer to the throne of God's grace.  The Gospel alone brings us into God's presence and our worship should acknowledge this truth. This should bring great peace to the worshiper knowing that there is no pressure to perform in worship in order to bring about good favor with God. Christ alone brings us good favor with God. We are solely responding to who He is and what He has provided so graciously for us through the Gospel.

This response should also be based on objective truth which is revealed by God in His word. The motivation for worship is not first a subjective, feelings based approach, as if to say, "I'm not feeling this so I wonder if it is true." The proper order is faith placed in God's truth which will lead to right feelings.  We must not get these out of order. 

So as we gather together this week to respond to our God who calls us into worship we should not first ask the question, "How do I feel about what I am singing, hearing, experiencing?" We must first ask the question, "Do I believe these things to be true?" When the answer is "yes" then our minds, hearts and lives become reoriented around the Gospel! We move away from the idols of our lives and allow Christ to become the center!

"Father may You show us what is true.  We believe so many lies.  You are the Truth.  As we gather before You this week, please allow us to grasp that You have provided access into Your presence through Christ. May we come with no other hope! Amen.”

For further study on this topic see Hebrews 10:19-25; John 4:7-26

Songs for Our Gathering this Week:

Let God Arise (F1/F2) 
     by Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash | Jesse Reeves

Strong to Save (FSat/F3) 
     by Eddie Hoagland | Tyler Miller

Hear Our Praises 
     by Reuben Morgan

You Alone Can Rescue 
     by Matt Redman | Jonas Myrin

Rejoice 
     by Dustin Kensrue | Stuart Townend

The Rock Won't Move 
     by Jacob Sooter |Kyle Fredricks | Landon MacDonald |Tyler Miller