Weekly Worship is the next Mark of Discipleship: the opportunity to meet Christ at His house where He is the centerpiece as opposed to inviting Him to our house where life seems to be the centerpiece.

Why do you come to worship? What do you bring with you to leave there, and what do you gain there that you take with you? Each of us may have different reasons for communal worship and those reasons may change from week to week. I believe that God has a way of taking our various motivations and turning them, if we are willing to let Him, into means by which to achieve His vision for us: To be disciples building Christ’s Kingdom.

Community worship may feel like a pleasurable thing to do, a spiritually refreshing thing to do, and a rewarding thing to do. We are also called to it through God’s Holy Word:

“They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:42-43

“What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:26

We are also instructed by God’s Word on how to worship Him. Throughout the book of Acts are examples of our roles in the worship of Christ through His church. And what is in it for us? Our personal commitment to weekly worship helps us to recognize Christ as both Lord and Savior and submit to Him through a deep, vibrant and unifying piety. Our relationship to one another in holy worship reflects the perfect marriage of Christ’s with His bride, the church. Besides, you never know when your very presence will witness Christ’s love, compassion, and resurrection power to someone else… someone that would have missed out were you not there!

Next: The Mark of Bible Reading