This from Eugene Peterson:
“Worship is a meeting at the center so that our lives are centered in God and not lived eccentrically. We worship so that we live in response to and from this center, the living God. Failure to worship consigns us to a life of spasms and jerks, at the mercy of every advertisement, every seduction, every siren. Without worship we live manipulated and manipulating lives. We move in either frightened panic or deluded lethargy.
People who do not worship are swept into a vast restlessness, epidemic in the world, with no steady direction and no sustaining purpose.”
Excerpt From: Eugene H. Peterson. “God's Message for Each Day.”
I am particularly challenged by these words: “Worship is a meeting . . . failure to worship consigns us to a life of spasms and jerks, at the mercy of every advertisement, every seduction, every siren. Without worship we live manipulated and manipulating lives. We move in either frightened panic or deluded lethargy.” Just stop and think about that for a few minutes. Ask yourself, “Is that me? Is that my life?”
Throughout Scripture we find the people of God gathering for public worship. In the Old Testament God called His people to gather in Jerusalem at least 3 times each year for a national worship celebration, a time of centering on His goodness and mercy. The “exodus” story was told again and again, passed from one generation to another. In the New Testament we find Jesus Himself going to the synagogue on a regular basis for worship and faithfully attending the required celebrations in Jerusalem. In His hour of greatest need He turned to His disciples for support and found Himself alone (Matthew 26:36-46).
COVID 19 has convinced far too many that live-streaming is the answer to worship. In the case of those who are confined to assisted living facilities or full care facilities or are recuperating from illness live-streaming is a gift from heaven. But God calls His people to come together for worship and praise. Worship is that moment when, with other believers, we lift our voices, sometimes our hands, always our hearts in praise together to God for His saving and sanctifying and keeping grace.
The “church” is a “gathering people” who gather in His name. It’s more than a social club or shared-interest group, the church is the Body of Christ! Following Christ is not only deeply personal, to follow Christ is also corporate in nature. The early church gathered daily, “ . . . day by day they continued with one mind . . . together . . . .” (Acts 2:46).
If not Parkview, find some local Christ-centered Bible teaching congregation in which to celebrate and center your life in Christ.
It’s time . . . really!
On the journey . . .
Pastor J K
“Worship is a meeting at the center so that our lives are centered in God and not lived eccentrically. We worship so that we live in response to and from this center, the living God. Failure to worship consigns us to a life of spasms and jerks, at the mercy of every advertisement, every seduction, every siren. Without worship we live manipulated and manipulating lives. We move in either frightened panic or deluded lethargy.
People who do not worship are swept into a vast restlessness, epidemic in the world, with no steady direction and no sustaining purpose.”
Excerpt From: Eugene H. Peterson. “God's Message for Each Day.”
I am particularly challenged by these words: “Worship is a meeting . . . failure to worship consigns us to a life of spasms and jerks, at the mercy of every advertisement, every seduction, every siren. Without worship we live manipulated and manipulating lives. We move in either frightened panic or deluded lethargy.” Just stop and think about that for a few minutes. Ask yourself, “Is that me? Is that my life?”
Throughout Scripture we find the people of God gathering for public worship. In the Old Testament God called His people to gather in Jerusalem at least 3 times each year for a national worship celebration, a time of centering on His goodness and mercy. The “exodus” story was told again and again, passed from one generation to another. In the New Testament we find Jesus Himself going to the synagogue on a regular basis for worship and faithfully attending the required celebrations in Jerusalem. In His hour of greatest need He turned to His disciples for support and found Himself alone (Matthew 26:36-46).
COVID 19 has convinced far too many that live-streaming is the answer to worship. In the case of those who are confined to assisted living facilities or full care facilities or are recuperating from illness live-streaming is a gift from heaven. But God calls His people to come together for worship and praise. Worship is that moment when, with other believers, we lift our voices, sometimes our hands, always our hearts in praise together to God for His saving and sanctifying and keeping grace.
The “church” is a “gathering people” who gather in His name. It’s more than a social club or shared-interest group, the church is the Body of Christ! Following Christ is not only deeply personal, to follow Christ is also corporate in nature. The early church gathered daily, “ . . . day by day they continued with one mind . . . together . . . .” (Acts 2:46).
If not Parkview, find some local Christ-centered Bible teaching congregation in which to celebrate and center your life in Christ.
It’s time . . . really!
On the journey . . .
Pastor J K
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