t may surprise many of our congregation to learn that our new pastor has in the past been an avid “blogger” (a blog- ger is someone who writes, or “Blogs,” his or her opinions on a weblog). In the past I had read many of his blogs as a matter of both curiosity and inspiration. With Tim recently be- ing installed in our pulpit, I decided to review some of those blogs to reacquaint myself with his views and posts. During that browsing session, I found a post entitled “Preparing for the Lord’s Day” which reminded me of some similar thoughts I have had concerning a believer’s desire to draw near to his Savior during the act of formal corporate worship. A common complaint against formal organized worship is the statement “I just didn’t get anything out of it,” as though the worship service is designed to entertain and inspire the worshiper. This belies a chronic misunderstanding of Who the service is principally pointed towards. The question when it comes to the worship of the Creator of the universe is not what we take from it but instead what we bring to it. Isa. 29:13 says: “The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” The ingredients of the worship service such as the creeds, the music, and the means of grace are not in- tended to entertain the worshiper, but to turn the worshiper’s focus to the One who is worthy of worship. Any human endeavor that is cherished requires prepara- tion and dedication. No team expects to make it to the Super Bowl just by merely showing up at the games and hoping it all turns out the way they want. Similarly, no one should expect to show up to worship unprepared and expect to receive any- such as meditation, prayer, and daily private worship. But, just as no team depends solely on their preparations prior to the game, but is expected to execute those preparations during the contest, so a worshiper who seeks true communion with God needs to execute those prior preparations during the service. Corporate worship is not merely an exercise for the choir and the pastor, but is a spectator sport requiring the participation of the congregants, both physically and spiri- tually. This involves embracing the sentiments of the creeds, and applying the lessons of the Scriptures and the sermon. Only when we discipline ourselves to divert the worship of our own desires and pleasures toward that which God desires and what pleases Him we will indeed “get something” from a worship service.
Worship as Work I
By Richard Moore
“Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an of- fering and come before him. Worship the LORD in the splen- dor of his holiness” 1 Chron 16:29. May we truly offer a sacri- into His courts with praise.
This was originally printed in the Brighton ARP Church Newslet- ter. Richard Moore was serving as a deacon when he passed in October 2024. He was also serving on the provisional session for River City ARP Church plant in Little Rock, AR.
March/April 2025
Yes, I want The ARP Magazine! Check the appropriate boxes below. Give to your church along with a check, or mail directly to The ARP Magazine.
Please renew/start my magazine subscription. (One year $20) A gift subscription from _____________________________________________________ Please mail me a sample copy. I am undecided at this time. BILL ME
Name
Address _________________________________________________________________________ Email
Church _________________________________________________________________________
ARP Magazine • 918 S. Pleasantburg Drive • Greenville, SC 29607
_________________________________________________________________________ CREDIT CARD (Pay online at
www.arpmagazine.org) _________________________________________________________________________
ARP Magazine • 918 S. Pleasantburg Drive • Greenville, SC 29607 25
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
