Saturday, October 13, 2012

The Gift of Personal Worship in a Corporate Setting

Worship is a lot like eating.  It's personal.  What goes in is who we become.  What's been ingested is evident to others, lacking the details.  Worship and eating are both private and corporate practices.

After a piano offertory last week, a gentleman approached wanting to ask a "personal question." 
Knowing this grandpa has a great sense of humor I said, "Sure,"with a laugh .
"Do you ever play for just you?"
"Of course.  When I'm stressed, or need time to think or just worship. I leave whatever I'm doing and play."
"I thought so," he said with a smile.

When each of worships God personally, our corporate worship becomes richer, fuller, deeper.  One of my friends has the ability to pray Scripture, especially the Psalms.  She speaks with passion and heartfelt humility, her voice rising, falling, tapering to silence.  Before she completes a petition, every eye in the room is moist and every nose sniffles.  Our hearts are satisfied; we have experienced God differently through her experience and expression than we have through our own.

Regardless of how we minister in our local churches, we must come setting aside self and revealing God as we know Him through His Word. What thoughts or Scriptures aid you in corporate worship and ministry?  I'd love to hear your answers.  Would you leave one here, even if it's brief?

"Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,  that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.... As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:1, 9-11 NKJV)
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20 NKJV) 

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