Most believers go to church for the wrong reason: For comfort; for fellowship; to get favors; for making friends; for spreading their agenda or ministry; for the music; for a sermon; ad infinitum. We may go to church for the wrong motive, but we ought, nevertheless, go: "Let us not abandon the assembling together of ourselves as is the manner of some (cf. Heb. 10:25), but encourage one another." Today, the typical Christian will die for a church he won't attend! God wants us to have the right motives, but can work with us even if our motives are wrong--He wants us in church and that is where we belong.
The church is an organism (a living entity) and not just an organization or a business run by some well-intentioned do-gooders. All the members need each other and no one has all the gifts necessary to make the body function. We all bring our gifts to share with the body or family we are part of and contribute as God has equipped us. Our gifts are for the edification of the body, and not to be selfishly used for our own service or profits. We do not peddle the Word of God but make it available without price and without cost. Our ministry is to the body and in another vein, our mission is to the unchurched or unbeliever.
Someone might say, "I didn't get anything out of worship today!" That person went for the wrong intent and needs to examine his motives and heart and the doctrines pertaining to the church's raison d'etre. Christ established the church for the edification of the body and the dissemination of the gospel message to the world at large. The church's primary goal is to fulfill the Great Commission.
When you go to church do you feel better equipped to do that? Worship isn't passive, but active, it is contradictory to listen to worship because worship is giving and not receiving. God has commanded all creation to worship its Creator and corporate worship can only be done in the assembly of believers known as the local church. There is a special presence of Christ when two or three are gathered together in His name.
The key to worship is surrender and the more one loves God, the more he has to give in worship--there must be a relationship there to build on. Some churches teach that there should be no holds barred in worship and everyone should feel free to be as spiritual as they are inclined to be and not inhibited or concerned about what others think, but the truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all worship service and everyone is at a different "stage" or phase, in there spiritual journey and walk in the Lord, and we cannot compare ourselves with each other. There's no "one-size-fits-all."
Everything we do in church is worship: Singing spiritual songs and hymns; giving of our tithes and offerings; fellowshipping and reaching out to others; serving with our gift, and even listening to the sermon is worship! "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22).
We go to church to contribute something of our spiritual gift and to receive from other's gifts in exchange--it is mutual and we need each other; no one is an island to himself. Look for a church in which you can serve with your spiritual gift. We only get what we put into it and we shouldn't go unprepared, like showing up without any spiritual preparation or devotion. We all can minister to another and reach out to those in need with our gift.
Finally, to get the most out of worship, we must empty ourselves, or stop dwelling on ourselves, and get our eyes on Jesus. The gateway is to focus on others and not be self-centered, but reach out in love to one another. Emptying comes before filling, and being filled with the Spirit is an imperative because worship is unnatural and we can only do it in Spirit and in truth (cf. John 4:24).
To conclude: We are to be active listeners: Listening with a purpose like we want to learn and be challenged. We don't go to church solely to hear a wonderful sermon and get uplifted, but that may be part of the equation of a well-balanced church attendance. This may involve taking notes or discussing the sermons afterward--anything that reinforces it and it doesn't end up in oblivion after church. You will find that the more in the Word you are the more interesting you will find the sermons and the ability to follow them critically and positively. God commands our respect and attention, and it is sacrilegious to purposely be a distraction and cause others to lose focus on the message. Remember, God has anointed the minister and has something in mind for you to learn and apply directly to your life. Soli Deo Gloria!
The church is an organism (a living entity) and not just an organization or a business run by some well-intentioned do-gooders. All the members need each other and no one has all the gifts necessary to make the body function. We all bring our gifts to share with the body or family we are part of and contribute as God has equipped us. Our gifts are for the edification of the body, and not to be selfishly used for our own service or profits. We do not peddle the Word of God but make it available without price and without cost. Our ministry is to the body and in another vein, our mission is to the unchurched or unbeliever.
Someone might say, "I didn't get anything out of worship today!" That person went for the wrong intent and needs to examine his motives and heart and the doctrines pertaining to the church's raison d'etre. Christ established the church for the edification of the body and the dissemination of the gospel message to the world at large. The church's primary goal is to fulfill the Great Commission.
When you go to church do you feel better equipped to do that? Worship isn't passive, but active, it is contradictory to listen to worship because worship is giving and not receiving. God has commanded all creation to worship its Creator and corporate worship can only be done in the assembly of believers known as the local church. There is a special presence of Christ when two or three are gathered together in His name.
The key to worship is surrender and the more one loves God, the more he has to give in worship--there must be a relationship there to build on. Some churches teach that there should be no holds barred in worship and everyone should feel free to be as spiritual as they are inclined to be and not inhibited or concerned about what others think, but the truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all worship service and everyone is at a different "stage" or phase, in there spiritual journey and walk in the Lord, and we cannot compare ourselves with each other. There's no "one-size-fits-all."
Everything we do in church is worship: Singing spiritual songs and hymns; giving of our tithes and offerings; fellowshipping and reaching out to others; serving with our gift, and even listening to the sermon is worship! "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22).
We go to church to contribute something of our spiritual gift and to receive from other's gifts in exchange--it is mutual and we need each other; no one is an island to himself. Look for a church in which you can serve with your spiritual gift. We only get what we put into it and we shouldn't go unprepared, like showing up without any spiritual preparation or devotion. We all can minister to another and reach out to those in need with our gift.
Finally, to get the most out of worship, we must empty ourselves, or stop dwelling on ourselves, and get our eyes on Jesus. The gateway is to focus on others and not be self-centered, but reach out in love to one another. Emptying comes before filling, and being filled with the Spirit is an imperative because worship is unnatural and we can only do it in Spirit and in truth (cf. John 4:24).
To conclude: We are to be active listeners: Listening with a purpose like we want to learn and be challenged. We don't go to church solely to hear a wonderful sermon and get uplifted, but that may be part of the equation of a well-balanced church attendance. This may involve taking notes or discussing the sermons afterward--anything that reinforces it and it doesn't end up in oblivion after church. You will find that the more in the Word you are the more interesting you will find the sermons and the ability to follow them critically and positively. God commands our respect and attention, and it is sacrilegious to purposely be a distraction and cause others to lose focus on the message. Remember, God has anointed the minister and has something in mind for you to learn and apply directly to your life. Soli Deo Gloria!
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