Last Sunday was an amazing worship experience for us at Central. There was a great spirit (Spirit), and lots of people were in attendance that we don’t see very often.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could have that Spirit every Sunday? Well, we can. Two things made worship special last week that we should try to replicate every week:
First, from the congregation to the choir to the worship leaders, everyone was ready and prepared for a special experience.
Second, we greeted one another as long lost friends, genuinely happy to see one another for worship.
Preparing our hearts and minds for worship is essential to a genuine worship experience. When we come to worship looking for how God is going to reveal Himself to us in worship, there is a sense of anticipation that opens our spirits. It allows us to see more clearly what God is up to. And while we can’t sing the Hallelujah chorus every Sunday, we can commit ourselves to listening for what God is saying to us through the music and the words that we sing and hear.
But working hand in hand with our worship preparation is our commitment to find genuine joy in seeing and welcoming one another on Sunday. Ken Bryant said it well this past Monday in deacon’s meeting. Talking about the importance of greeting well, he said, “We should think of those coming to church with us like guests we welcome into our home, whether they are regular members or visitors.”
The Bible verse that applies to that kind of thinking is Romans 12:10, which says, “love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.” The key to this is that when we treat others as guests and look out for helping one another, and when the same kind of love and care is shown to us, it helps our hearts and those worshipping with us to be prepared, and to expect great things in worship; we are not thinking about a negative conversation, or how we feel left out of groups, or whether we are wanted or needed. We feel loved, accepted, and wanted, and that prepares us for meeting God’s Spirit.
So today, let’s let Easter continue on. Let’s live out that Easter Spirit by preparing for worship, and by showing genuine affection for one another.
Blessings, Sonny