So continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness
and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And
the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47
If you were asked "When do you worship?" How might you respond? Probably like the majority of us ... “worship
is on Sunday mornings at 10:45 am” as we refer to our "worship
service."
When worship is discussed usually the mind thinks about the
"how to" … personal preferences of music or the type/style of worship
we like. I believe we need to learn to respect
all forms and fashions of worship regardless of how we might worship. But each church and each individual has a
particular form of worship they find most appealing.
It is interesting that the Bible does not give a clear
definition of worship at least to time and style. Why?
Because worship cannot be contained in one certain style, nor can it be
limited to an hour or so slot on Sunday mornings. Worship, like the One we worship, cannot be
contained to time and space such as11:00 am at North Side Baptist Church.
In other words the "how to" worship is not as
important as the "who to" worship and the "why to" worship.
These early believers were purposely worshipping and it
impacted two realms ... them and others.
These believers met and worshipped in the temple. Though it does not define the only place or
time to worship, I think it makes a point for our worship. The temple had two primary functions:
11.) The
sacrificing to God,
22.) The
worshipping of God.
It’s worth noting that sacrifice was always a part of the
worship experience. Worship is to be, in
one aspect, "sacrificial" on the part of the worshipper. This is modeled in our worship through our
offering time. It doesn’t take too much
scrutiny to see that there does not seem to be a true spirit of sacrifice
during the offering in most churches. We
are more about “taking up a collection” than having a time of offering. At North Side, we connect the invitation to
the offering because we feel it is important to have the sacrifice of ourselves
attached to the time of giving. Worship
does not just invoke sacrifice; it begins with sacrifice.
While in the temple they were "praising God" which
points to the focus of our worship being the Lord Himself. When looking to the matter of worship our
hearts are pulled toward the Psalms.
Here the psalmist shows in many instances the heart motive and life
actions of worship.
A Psalm,
a Song for the Sabbath day. It is good to give thanks to the LORD And to sing
praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the
morning And Your faithfulness by night, With the ten-stringed lute and with the
harp, With resounding music upon the lyre. Psalms 92:1-3
In your preparation for worship
it is good to sing the songs of praise whether they are sung aloud or in your
heart. God honors the praise of His
people. Worship begins in the heart
turning to God.
Scripture to Claim:
…the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the
bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, "Give
thanks to the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His loving kindness is
everlasting"; and of those
who bring a thank offering into the house of the LORD. For I will restore the
fortunes of the land as they were at first,' says the LORD. (Jeremiah 33:11)
