Not a Local Automotive Station

Inspired by the book, Emerging Worship p. 3

I few years ago I picked up a book titled Emerging Worship.  Peaking my curiosity I bought the book and began reading it.  In a "nutshell" the book is about changing our focus on having a "worship service" to creating a "worship gathering."  We too often times come to church expecting what we are going to get out of the service rather than what we are going to give.  I read across the excerpt and wanted to share it with you.  I will let the excerpt and Scripture speak for itself.


"I admit that I'm being somewhat sarcastic with the service station analogy.  But I'm not joking when I say we need to recognize that going to a worship service is not about us, the worshipers.  It is not about God's service to us.  It is purely our offering of service and worship to God--offering our lives, prayers, praise, confessions, finances, and services to others in the church body. 

The description of a church gathering in 1 Corinthians 14:26-27 says, 'What shall we say, brothers?  When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.  All of these must be done for strengthening the church.'

This was not 'come together to sit and receive' like at a gas station.  This was everyone gathering to offer service to God and others in worship.  The gathering was not primarily about meeting the needs of the individual, but centered on the worship of God and strengthening the whole church.

In the New Testamente English word 'service' is used to speak of an act of giving, not receiving.  Paul spoke of his ministry saying, 'Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God' (Romans 15:17).  Paul talked quite frequently about his 'service' to the saints, which meant Paul was serving them.

Nevertheless, the 'worship service,' where the focus is supposed to be us bringing our services to God by worshiping Him, has subtly changed to focus more n us getting served by going to the meeting."

"Holy Ambition"

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.  The history of mankind will probably show that no people have ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God.  Worship is pure or base.  The worshiper attains a high or low thought of God.  For this reason, the gravest question before the church is always, God Himself.  The portentous fact about anyone is not what he is doing at a given time, what he may say or do, but what in his deep heart he conceives God to be like."  A.W. Tozier

"What is your view of God? Are your prayers God-centered prayers?  A broken spirit begins in the presence of God.  When you see God for who He is, it gets very easy to have a broken spirit.  So, how is your prayer life?  What comes to mind when you bow your head to pray? Do you have a high or lofty view of God, or has He unconsciously become your self-help genie, your good buddy, your back-up plan when all else fails?  We will never have a broken spirit unless we have a high and lofty view of God."  Chip Ingram:  Holy Ambition


I know we all come to church with different perspectives of God.  Each of our experiences lead us in different facets of service and places different desires on our heart.  However, when it comes to your true view of God, are you taking Him as serious as you should?  Since the author focuses on prayer, I want to ask the simple question:  How is your prayer life?  Are your prayers only raised during times if need?  Or are your prayers lifted up because your relationship with Him allows you to have a broken spirit?

Read through the text a couple times and let God speak to you as you reflect on your view of Him.