The Why of Worship

Why?   Why do you gather for worship with others?   You might meet in a church building, a rented hall, outdoors, or online.  But why gather?  Why worship?  If you are a worship leader or preacher, why would you invest so much prayer, energy, and time in preparing for worship services.   The songs.  The prayers.  The sermons.   The liturgies.   Why?

I read someone's tweet this week.  They said:  "Pray for me. The sermon was so bad today that I don’t know if I can attend here anymore. I’ve been here 25+ years. I’ve raised a family here. I’ve struggled here. Served here. But...."   Recently I spoke to a pastor who was unsure whether or not all his efforts as a preacher were worth it.   Was it making a difference in the lives of the people in his congregation?  And these struggles are not uncommon.   They have to do with what happens at worship services.

So why?  Why worship?  In this article I like to answer this question.  We have been looking at the eight quality characteristics of healthy churches identified by NCD (Natural Church Development).   I have already looked at empowering leadership, gift-based ministry, passionate spirituality, and effective structures.  In this article I will explore the next quality characteristic of healthy churches: 'Inspiring Worship Services'.   

I discussed this characteristic before in the article:  Inspire!   In this article I wrote:

The proof of inspiring worship services is seeing people move the direction of their lives. People surrendering their life to Jesus and testifying of their faith in church and throughout the week (Romans 10:9). People taking on a holy lifestyle where they put off the old and put on the new (see Colossians 3). People acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly before God (Micah 6:8). People becoming more and more like Jesus (Ephesians 4:13). Inspiring worship services is all about seeing movement in the lives of people. As you lead worship you inspire people to make a joyful noise to our God (Psalm 66:1); as you preach sermons you inspire your listeners to radical obedience as you apply the Word of God (Philippians 4:9; James 1:22); as you welcome visitors and engage in hospitality you inspire visitors to become part of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16).

Inspiring worship services are all about moving people where they are to where God would have them be.   Reflecting Christ.   Radical obedience.  Joyful witness.  What happens on the first day of week impacts all the other days in the week.  If inspiring worship services are all about moving people, then as worship leaders and preachers we need to be very intentional as to what we do and what we say!   Every song, every prayer, every sermon, every aspect of the worship services needs to be targetted toward moving people toward an expected goal.   You need to answer the question, 'why?'.   Why are you preaching that sermon?   Is there a truth you want people to understand?  What is that truth?   Can you put that truth in a single sentence?   Perhaps your goal is persuade people to change something in their life.  What change are you looking for?  A change of heart?   A change of belief?   A coming to faith in Jesus?   And as you apply God's Word to your listeners, what sort of behaviour are you hoping will result?   You need to answer the question, 'why?'  Why that sermon at this time and for this people?

The same is true of the songs you sing, the prayers you pray, and every other aspect of your worship services.   Even what happens before the hour of worship, and what happens afterwards.   Both in-person and online worship services.   Everything you do ought to contribute to an expected goal.   And yes, ultimately everything we do, and everything we say, is to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)  Through our worship services we desire that people connect with God in a meaningful way and provide opportunity for people to "speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs... always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  (Ephesians 5:19-20)  But as God's Word is explained, proven, and applied -- the goal of worship services is see people's lives influenced for the better.   This brings glory to God, as Jesus said:   "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:8) 

If you deeply desire that worship services will have a positive influence on those who attend, then you need to be able to explain why you are preaching that sermon, why you are singing that song, why you do what you do.  Set clear goals and expectations for your worship services.   Know why you do what you do.   If you know why, then it is more likely that those who attend will also be able to easily explain why they come to worship.  Your worship services will attract unchurched visitors as they begin to see that worship services do make a positive influence in their lives.   And as worship leaders and preachers you will have a way to measure whether or not you have having an impact on those who attend.  You ought to see people grow in understanding, grow in conviction, and grow in godliness.   All because you considered one question:  why?