By Pastor Stephen Hess –
Of all the misconceptions among Christians about worship, probably the most common is the idea that worship is something that only happens on Sunday morning. Many people view worship merely as what happens during a “worship service.” Some have an even more limited view, thinking that only certain activities within the worship service such as the singing or the music constitute worship, and that everything else is in a separate category. But God never intended for us to have such a limited understanding of worship. Followers of Jesus should not be people who worship God only on Sunday but every day of the week. Here are three different categories we should think about if worship is going to characterize our lives.
Corporate Worship – Worshiping corporately refers to worshiping with the whole body of Christ or the church. Ever since Christ’s resurrection, Christians have gathered on the first day of the week (“The Lord’s Day”) to worship him together. Even though we should be quick to say that we should be worshiping more than just Sunday morning, we certainly shouldn’t be worshiping less! God’s word tells us that corporate worship is an essential part of our spiritual lives. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Corporate worship is one of the primary means of grace that God uses to strengthen us in our faith. If we are regularly skipping church, then we are not only failing to worship God as he intends but we are robbing ourselves of this means of grace.
Family Worship – We are called to worship God not only with our church family but also in the home. God designed parents to be the primary “disciplers” of their children and this involves the responsibility to worship together as a family. The foundation of family worship is the regular reading of God’s word and praying together. One example of this in Scripture is the command that God gives to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land: “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deut. 6:6-7). I have found that an easy way to practice family worship is to incorporate it into meal times. Each day at breakfast and dinner we read a short Bible story or a family devotion with our children and pray together (sometimes we even sing a hymn). It only takes a few minutes, but it provides a regular way that we can redirect our hearts to God each day.
Private Worship – In addition to worshiping God with other people (family, church, etc.), Christians should regularly express our devotion to God by worshiping him as individuals. When we make time for spiritual disciplines such as prayer and reading his word, we are not only receiving nourishment in our faith, but we are also worshiping God. As the Psalmist says, “My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night” (Psalm 63:5-6). In order to keep myself disciplined in private worship I have found it helpful to use a couple of tools. One is a Bible reading plan. Reading just a few chapters a day takes me through the whole Bible in a year, and having a systematic plan helps keep me in the word each day. A second tool is a daily devotional. Devotionals can be a helpful aid in reflecting on God’s word and providing guidance for prayer.
I encourage you to make worship something that extends beyond Sunday morning into every day of your life. As Psalm 113:3 says, “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!” God is worthy of all our praise, and it is only in worshiping him that we find our true purpose and soul satisfaction.