Why Do We Gather? - Congregational Worship (Part 3)

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) 2. Joined to God’s family (Eph. 2:13-22, Heb 12:22-24) 3. Joined to a community of Christians (Acts 20:17, Ephesians 1:1, Revelation 1:11) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together . . . (Election) “. . . the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” (John 4:23 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) 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) “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 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) “But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!” (Psalm 68:3 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) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together for the praise of His glory for our personal joy in Him and the mutual good of His people (Election) (Exaltation) (Enjoyment) (Edif ication) “. . . .When you come together . . . . Let all things be done for building up.” (1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV) “So with yourselves . . . strive to excel in building up the church.” (1 Corinthians 14:12 ESV) “. . . when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:16 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together for the praise of His glory for our personal joy in Him and the mutual good of His people (Election) (Exaltation) (Enjoyment) (Edif ication) 1. Singing “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,” (Ephesians 5:19 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together for the praise of His glory for our personal joy in Him and the mutual good of His people (Election) (Exaltation) (Enjoyment) (Edif ication) 1. Singing 2. Spiritual gifts: Speaking & Serving “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies. . .” (1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together for the praise of His glory for our personal joy in Him and the mutual good of His people (Election) (Exaltation) (Enjoyment) (Edif ication) 1. Singing 2. Spiritual gifts: Speaking & Serving “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:11-12 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together for the praise of His glory for our personal joy in Him and the mutual good of His people (Election) (Exaltation) (Enjoyment) (Edif ication) 1. Singing 2. Spiritual gifts: Speaking & Serving 3. Praying “And they devoted themselves to . . . the prayers.” (Acts 2:42 ESV) “. . . They lifted their voices together to God,” (Acts 4:24 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together for the praise of His glory for our personal joy in Him and the mutual good of His people (Election) (Exaltation) (Enjoyment) (Edif ication) “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not 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.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV) Why? Why does our church gather? God gathers us together for the praise of His glory for our personal joy in Him the mutual good of His people as a witness to the world. (Election) (Exaltation) (Enjoyment) (Edif ication) (Evangelism) “But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25 ESV)