First of all I want to let you know that worship is not to be confined or put in a BOX called SUNDAY.
Worship is a way of life.
When Christians assemble together to worship, we come into the very presence of God (Hebrews 4:16). This involves more than just “going to church”.
It should be a period of devoted worship to God. In keeping with Christ’s command (Matthew 4:10), we should regularly and faithfully worship God.
• Jesus frequented the synagogues (Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:15-38). Where could the people have found Him at any time when seeking Him (John 18:20)?
• Jesus frequented the temple (Luke 2:41-49; Mark 12:35-13:1). Where could the people have found Him when He was in Jerusalem (Mark 14:49)?
• Has Jesus quit assembling with His followers—even today (Matthew 18:20)?
We are prone to think of worship as something that can only occur in a meeting house among Christians. But worship is a broader concept than that. Those acts of worship we participate in during our assemblies [Sunday Service] are really
an overflow of a worshipping life—a life of sacrifice and service to God (Romans
12:1). Everything we do is an offering that we lay at the Master’s feet. Worship is not just a specific set of actions in which we publicly engage, but also aseries of actions that overflow from a dedicated heart, and a worshipping life (James 5:13; Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 13:15).
That is not to say that we can just be content to worship God by the way we live, and not assemble with the saints for worship. That very attitude shows that we do not have the worshipping heart that we claim.
The New Testament often mentions saints assembling together for worship and mutual edification (Acts 2:46; 11:26; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; etc.). Even in the shadow of persecution and death, they made great sacrifices to meet together to worship.
Worship also has secondary benefits. Who else benefits from our assembling together (Hebrews 10:24-25)? Edification builds up and
promotes spiritual growth. Note the importance of edification when Christians assemble together in the following verses.
• 1 Corinthians 14:3-5—
• 1 Corinthians 14:12-17—
• 1 Corinthians 14:26—
We can never overemphasize the importance ofpersonal contact among brethren. It is far more than mere socializing. I would like to to look at these verses and tell me as well as for your own personal answer/satisfaction. What benefit do you see in the personal contact between brethren in each of the following assemblies?
• Acts 11:19-24—
• Acts 14:26-28—
• 2 Corinthians 8:16-24—
• Philippians 2:25-30; 4:16-18—
God Desires Communion. Don’t let the greatness and awesome majesty of God fool you—He desires communion with His creation. Note how He has sought communion with man at various times.
• Genesis 3:8-9—
• Exodus 25:8-9—
• 1 Kings 6:11-13—
• Matthew 1:23—
• Ephesians 2:19-22—
• Ephesians 3:17—
• 1 John 4:12-16—
We cannot bring glory and honor to God by merely following the prescribed acts of worship. We give life to worship and glorify God by other things too—the manner in which we perform worship, the heart which we pour out in devotion, and the majesty of God which we uphold in those acts. To be wholly obsessed with the glory of God is the consuming passion of the true worshipper who lives to exalt God.
“Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2)
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand” (Psalm 95:6-7)