Why Wednesday #2
This week’s “Why Wednesday” Question:
Why do we have a time of worship at the end of our services?
If you’ve been to one of our weekend celebration services, you’ve probably noticed that we spend a significant chunk of our gathering in worship. Most church services begin with worship, but not all end with an extended time of worship. You might wonder, after we’ve already sang a few songs in the beginning, and heard a message from God’s word - why would we worship again?
I’m happy to say it is much more than a way to transition, to fill space, or to end the service on a happy note. The decision to end with worship is based on a theological value we are deeply committed to: that worship IS response.
To put it simply, God reveals and we respond. Dr. Mark Roberts says, “If true worship is really a response to God’s initiative, then worship leaders should focus less on getting people to do something or feel something and more on pointing them to God’s revelation of Himself in Christ and in scripture.”
Response looks different for everyone. God reveals Himself through His Word, through prayer, through creation, and even through conversations. As God reveals His power, we respond in wonder. As God reveals His holiness, we respond in confession and awe. As God reveals His grace, we respond in humility and gratitude. As God reveals His purpose, we respond in surrender and commitment. There are so many ways to respond to God, but our response should always be marked by sacrifice and surrender.
So if we believe that one of the ways that God reveals himself is through the teaching of his word, it makes sense to us that we would create space after receiving the message to respond to what He is doing in us. In this space we can pray prayers of thanksgiving, respond with praise, repent, reflect, listen or rejoice. I think for us, worship as a response gives us a real freedom to respond individually and authentically. God is revealing Himself to each of us uniquely and as a result our response will be our own.
Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge You, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.”
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