The Second Corporate Discipline – Worship

Worship is the chief act of the people of God.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday.  We come together to remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Tom has prepared a message.  I’ve prepared prayers.  Jim has prepared musical offerings.  The Praise Team has new songs to share.  The Chancel Choir has rehearsed major portions of Handel’s Messiah.

If worship is the chief act of the God’s people, how do you prepare for worship?

Richard Foster suggests four things – 1) practice the presence of God daily;  2)  have many different experiences of worship;  3)  find ways to really prepare for the gathered experience of worship (go to bed early after a time of prayer and confession, let go of inner distractions);  and 4)  have a willingness to be gathered into the power of the Lord. 

In short, Foster challenges us to come to worship with a sense of ‘holy expectancy.’ 

As you enter the chapel or sanctuary tomorrow, lift your heart in adoration to the Lord. Think about God’s majesty, glory and compassion as revealed in Jesus Christ. Think about how the object of our worship is our Lord whom we love with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.   Lift up the pastors, musicians and other worship leaders to be given the power reveal the truth of God.   Picture God’s glory filling the room.  Lift up those who gather around you.  Look around until you see someone who seems sad or lonely. Lift up a prayer for them and go say hello.  And then get ready…..

“When we are truly gathered into worship, things occur that could never occur alone. There is the psychology of the group to be sure, and yet it is so much more;  it is divine interpenetration. There is what the biblical writers called koinonia, deep inward fellowship in the power of the Spirit.”   

And what might we expect to happen…..

Worship should propel us into greater obedience.

Worship should propel us into acts of service.

If it doesn’t, it isn’t worship.

Worship isn’t for wimps.  It is not for the timid or comfortable.  Come to worship ready to be propelled again into the adventurous life of the Spirit.

Drawn from Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline: the Path to Spiritual Growth as the outline for these devotions:  The Inward Disciplines of Meditation, Prayer, Fasting and Study;  The Outward Disciplines of Simplicity, Solitude, Submission and Service; and The Corporate Disciplines of Confession, Worship, Guidance and Celebration.