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."