Why Do We Gather? - Congregational Worship (Part 2)

worship Congregational Worship How the church gathers as God’s people Resource: Corporate Worship - Matt Merker (Crossway Publishers) Who? Who gathers together? People who are… 1. Made alive with Jesus (Ephesians 2:1-10) ➡ new life ➡ new speech ➡ new behaviour 2. Joined to God’s family (Eph. 2:13-22, Heb 12:22-24) ➡ invisible ➡ heavenly ➡ universal church (all believers) 3. Joined to a community of Christians (Acts 20:17, Ephesians 1:1, Revelation 1:11) ➡ visible ➡ earthly ➡ local church (time and place) Application If church is “Christians” gathering, then our worship service should be distinctly Christian in both form and content. If church is Christians “gathering,” then our worship service should be a place to participate, not isolate. Application If church is “Christians” gathering, then our worship service should be distinctly Christian in both form and content. If church is Christians “gathering,” then our worship service should be a place to participate, not isolate. Why? Why should we gather as a church? Is it because … • It makes me feel closer to God? Why? Why should we gather as a church? Is it because … • It makes me feel closer to God? • The teaching motivates me to be a better person? Why? Why should we gather as a church? Is it because … • It makes me feel closer to God? • The teaching motivates me to be a better person? • It’s an opportunity to socialise? Why? Why should we gather as a church? Is it because … • It makes me feel closer to God? • The teaching motivates me to be a better person? • It’s an opportunity to socialise? • I want my children to receive a good moral foundation 2017 survey - Pew Research Center Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together for: the praise of His glory, our personal joy in Him, the mutual good of His people, a witness to the world. Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together . . . “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24 ESV) “As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”” (Romans 3:10-12 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together . . . (Election) “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together (Election) for the praise of His glory . . . (Exaltation) God’s glory is the inf inite beauty and greatness of his manifold perfections - John Piper “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-20 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together (Election) for the praise of His glory . . . (Exaltation) God’s glory is the inf inite beauty and greatness of his manifold perfections - John Piper “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood f irm.” (Psalm 33:6-9 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together (Election) for the praise of His glory . . . (Exaltation) God’s glory is the inf inite beauty and greatness of his manifold perfections - John Piper “The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.” (Psalm 145:14-17 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together (Election) for the praise of His glory . . . (Exaltation) God’s glory is the inf inite beauty and greatness of his manifold perfections - John Piper “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” (Ephesians 1:5-7 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together (Election) for the praise of His glory . . . (Exaltation) God’s glory is the inf inite beauty and greatness of his manifold perfections - John Piper “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the f irst to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:11-12 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together (Election) for the praise of His glory . . . (Exaltation) God’s glory is the inf inite beauty and greatness of his manifold perfections - John Piper “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together (Election) for the praise of His glory . . . (Exaltation) “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness.” (Psalm 29:2 ESV) “Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.” (Psalm 148:11-13 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together (Election) for the praise of His glory . . . (Exaltation) “For f rom him [God] and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together for the praise of His glory for our personal joy in Him (Election) (Exaltation) (Enjoyment) Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. - Westminister Shorter Catechism “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together for the praise of His glory for our personal joy in Him (Election) (Exaltation) (Enjoyment) Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. - Westminister Shorter Catechism “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11 ESV) “…Though you do not now see him [Jesus], you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and f illed with glory,” (1 Peter 1:8 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together for the praise of His glory for our personal joy in Him (Election) (Exaltation) (Enjoyment) Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. - Westminister Shorter Catechism “But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!” (Psalm 68:3 ESV) “For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” (Psalm 92:4 ESV)