Who is worship for?
I’ve often heard it said that we get it wrong: A worship service isn’t a time for the preacher and musicians to make a presentation in which the congregation is the audience. Instead, it is a time for the preacher and musicians to guide the whole assembly in making a presentation in which God is the audience.
While I think the word “audience” too much suggests passive watching in either case, it’s a valid point. When we read the Old Testament especially, notice how much emphasis is placed on worship needing to be pleasing to God; it’s not something done for the people, but for God.
With the New Testament, the emphasis on sharing the gospel tends to emphasize conveying information rather than actual worship. Especially in the Protestant church, this has led to worship often being modeled after the education system, where the people at the front of the room are just passing information to everyone else. (It’s worth noting that even in education, it’s not a particularly effective approach).
In our day of “virtual” worship this raises the question: If the congregation’s role in worship is mainly passive observation, is there any actual advantage to sitting in a pew instead of in front of a screen?
Today’s readings from the Catechism suggests two important aspects of worship that take place in person: Coming into the presence of God, and spiritual growth.
Yes, God is everywhere, but anyone who has ever been in a truly spirit-filled worship service understands that God is present among his assembled people in a way, and with a power, that can never be duplicated in individual prayer and worship, no matter how deep.
And while we can learn a lot from reading books or watching videos or listening to podcasts (at least I hope so, or there’s not much point to writing things like this!), there is nothing that replaces the widsom gained when believers work through God’s word together. Or, in the words of Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
We gather for worship first because God instructed us to, and also because it gives us an experience of God, and growth in our faith, that can’t be duplicated through any other means.
– Rev. Mark Fleming
This is part of a sermon/reading series in July-August, 2024, looking at some core Christian beliefs, along with distinctive emphases of the Methodist branch of Christianity.
The daily readings are my own, but they are loosely based on the topics covered in the Catechism of the Global Methodist Church. The column at the right contains the questions from the catechism and the sources it lists.
You can find the full catechism and other information about the Global Methodist Church at globalmethodist.org.
I invite you to join us for worship and other church gatherings at China Methodist Church and Forest Park Methodist Church.
Respectful conversation is welcome. Use the comment section at the end of this post.
31. Is it right and good to worship our creator and redeemer?
It is our duty and privilege to bow in adoration, humility, and dedication in the presence of God.
Psalm 92:1-2 It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night…
Psalm 95:1-7 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
Revelation 5:9-14 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Confession of Faith Article XIII* We believe divine worship is the duty and privilege of man who, in the presence of God, bows in adoration, humility and dedication. We believe divine worship is essential to the life of the Church, and that the assembling of the people of God for such worship is necessary to Christian fellowship and spiritual growth.
We believe the order of public worship need not be the same in all places but may be modified by the church according to circumstances and the needs of men. It should be in a language and form understood by the people, consistent with the Holy Scriptures to the edification of all, and in accordance with the order and Discipline of the Church.
32. Why is worship essential to the life of the church?
The assembling of the people of God for worship is necessary to Christian fellowship and spiritual growth.
Acts 2:41-47 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.All the believers were together and had everything in common.They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Romans 1:11-12 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 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.
Confession of Faith Article XIII* See above