Review:

 “Called Out” – Ekklesia – out of the world; in it but not of it1 (See John 17:14-15)

 God is both holy and gracious, both terrifying and approachable, both truth and grace.

 WEEK 1: Paul defined worship. “What is God worth to you?” (Give Him what He is worth—our everything!)

 WEEK 2: Christian said personal worship “comes out of our awareness of our sin-debt in view of God’s kindness.”

 Worth-ship (old English): to ascribe, to assign, to declare worth2

 Worship: extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem; the reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power.3

 Proskuneo: to fall down before, to bow down before, to show reverence or submission1

Corporate Worship 

o The congregation, the community, the assembly, the church, the body (part of being “called out”)

o Worshipping together weekly in the local church’s worship service—“corporate worship”

Four “Alternative” approaches to corporate worship:

1. OPTIONAL: “I’ll go if I don’t have a better offer, or if I feel up to it.”

2. BUFFET-STYLE: selectively consuming whatever fits your personal taste buds

o Attending only what you prefer

o Dropping into one church body after another but never committing to any one

3. CHRISTIAN REBELS: “I don’t have to in order to be saved, so no one can make me.”

4. CREATIVELY REDEFINING: out in nature, “wherever 2-3 are gathered together,” at a Christian concert, etc.

Is Corporate Worship man-made or God-made? If it is man-made, then we are free to:

o …be critical.

o …be selective and preferential.

o …take it or leave it.

But if it is God-made we need to:

o …be protective.

o …be true to His design.

o …be all in.

What does God’s Word say about Corporate Worship? (AKA the Church)

Matthew 16:15-18 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The Church is:

1. a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place

2. a Christian community of members gathered for worship as a local church body

3. the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth (Big “C” Church)

4. the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven

 Jesus said, “It’s better that I go in order for the Spirit to come to you. [John 16:7] Wait for the Spirit. See ya!”

[Acts 1:1-11] And the church was . 🙂

What are we called to in Corporate Worship?

We gather together in corporate worship because for thousands of years our Christian brothers and sisters have been

faithful to gather together weekly on “the day” (Sunday). (Revelation 1:10; Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25)

We gather together in corporate worship for . (Matthew 21:13; Acts 2:42)

We gather together in corporate worship to hear the church leadership’s teaching and preaching of God’s Word. (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 4:11-13)

We gather together in corporate worship to celebrate and proclaim Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection through the two sacred acts Jesus left us: baptism and communion. (Matthew 26:17-30, 28:19; Acts 2:42)

We gather together in corporate worship for the of the saints. (Acts 2:42)

We gather together in corporate worship by publicly gathering. (temple courts, see Acts 2:46)

We gather together in corporate worship to and our God (Psalms; the dedication of the first & second Temple; Matthew 26:30; John 4:23-24; the Triumphant Entry—Jesus was worshipped!)

We gather together in corporate worship to our sacrifices and offering to God and to support the work of the ministry. (Luke 11:42, 21:1-4; 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Timothy 5:17-18)

We gather together in corporate worship to function as a and use the God has given us for the building up of His church. (Ephesians 4:11-13; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14)

 We take time to get ready for stuff we care about all the time—job interviews, going to the beach, exercising, taking trips, hunting, going to bed, having people over, going out on a nice date, etc.

 How do you prepare for your sacred and special weekly appointment with God with His people?

 What’s worked well? What hasn’t worked well?

 Is there something you’re needing to do differently or try?

 There are lots of great churches in this area!

 It looks different to be “all in” in different churches.

 Here it’s clear: SCMD (Jesus -> Baptism -> Connection -> Ministering -> Discipling)

 Is there a Next Step God is prompting you to take? What are you going to do about it?

 Participate weekly unto God because of your own personal relationship and worship of Him.

 Are you in a long-term relationship with your church, or are you needing to “switch things up” because you’re stagnant and bored with who you’re with? Is your relationship to your church body and family based on “thick or thin,” or “as long as it’s convenient and pleasing to me”?

 Are there changes you’re needing to make in your personal life in order to align yourself to God’s calling for you as a Christian participating weekly in His church through corporate worship?

Hebrews 10:24-25 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25not 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.

1Definition of ekklesia can be found using Strong’s Concordance and HELPS Word-studies at BibleHub.com.

2Old English definition of worship can found at the Online Etymology Dictionary, www.etymonline.com/word/worship

3Definition of worship taken from Merriam-Webster.com/dictionary/worship

All Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [emphasis added]