Have you ever wondered why it is so crucial for Christians to gather together for worship? Isn’t it enough if we just spend quality time alone with our God? R. Kent Hughes has a wonderful passage about this issue in his contribution to Worship By The Book (D.A. Carson, ed., Zondervan, 2002). Hughes is pastor of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, and his writings reflect a passion for God’s people in community. He makes the powerful point that there are things that happen when believers assemble together that simply cannot occur when they are alone. He provides the following quote from Robert Rayburn: “When there are a number of worshipers present, there is a participation in worship which is more intense than is the individual passion of any one of them when he is by himself. It is common knowledge that a mob is more cruel than any individual in it would be by himself. Similarly, the enjoyment of an elite company of music lovers at the symphony is more intense than that of a single music lover sitting by himself listening to the same music. God has so created man that there are deeper delights and more intense inspiration in the worshiping congregation than in individual devotion.” Pastor Hughes then goes on to speak of the relationship between corporate worship and edification with this paragraph of his own: “This intensifying effect of corporate worship enhances edification. In fact, edification will not flourish as it ought apart from it, because hearing God’s Word amidst the corporate assent of a congregation intensifies the mind’s engagement and reception of the truth. Likewise, participation in the community of belief intensifies taking the truth to heart. And then the example of the truth lived out moves the believer to live out the radical truth of God’s Word. Corporate worship is essential to edification.” There are things wonderful, unique, and crucial that occur when we gather. It is little surprise that the Scriptures so emphasize the corporate nature of God’s people. As we anticipate this Sunday’s service, I pray that we have a sense of excitement and expectation! “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 –Pastor Greg
Previous
True Friendship