Worship
Romans 12
The letter to the Romans was written by Paul to the church in Rome, which he hopes to visit for the purpose of bringing the gospel to the Gentiles in that area. He has heard about this church’s faith and knows many of the leaders there. In this letter, he reminds them of the gospel and encourages them to continue the work God has called them to: living out the gospel and preaching it to both Jews and Gentiles.
Though we as Resonate Church are not the direct audience of this letter, there is so much wisdom and truth from Paul about the discipline of worship that we need to hear. As people with the same calling, to live out the gospel and preach it to all people, this section of Romans clarifies what worship is and how to practice it daily in our context.
Paul comes right out with his point: True and proper worship is to offer one’s body as a living sacrifice to God. Worship is a discipline of surrender. This is why we worship through singing together each week in our Sunday Gatherings. Through this weekly practice, we as a community sing in one voice songs that honor God over ourselves, that remind us of His character, and that declare our surrender to his love. This posture of surrender should not be contained to Sundays, however, we have the opportunity to surrender to the way of Jesus in every moment.
In Hebrew culture, worship and sacrifices were things done at specific times, in a specific place: the tabernacle. But through Jesus and his sacrifice, he fulfilled the requirements of the Jewish law which required specific sacrifices and he made a way for all people to access him and worship him. This is why Paul describes the church as “a holy temple in the lord… A dwelling place in which God lives by his Spirit.” in Ephesians 2. The church (as in disciples of Jesus) is now the place where worship happens.
We are the temple of God. He dwells with us and within us. Worship happens not at a specific time and place, but we have the opportunity to worship God in every moment as we offer our lives as a living sacrifice to Him. This is why Paul follows his statement about worship as sacrifice with instructions for living in community. As the dwelling place of God, we should reflect his character of humble service, sincere love, and countercultural peace. God is glorified by this type of communal surrender. It is also why the discipline of worship takes a lot of discipline.
In John 4 Jesus says, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem...Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth.” In order to be a community that worships as living sacrifices, each of us must center ourselves on the power of the Spirit and the truth of Jesus. It is through Jesus alone that we access the father, and through the power of the Spirit that we are sanctified into God-glorifying people.
But what does it look like to do this? Worship starts with simply giving our attention to God. Every moment is an opportunity to give your attention to God. Whether you are singing at Sunday Gathering or walking to class or having dinner with your friends or family, you have the opportunity to be present to the spirit and offer yourself as a living sacrifice. There is no one way to worship; each of us connects with God in different ways and showing love, sacrifice and making peace looks different in each of our individual contexts. This is the beauty of the temple which God has created the church to be. We glorify him by our individual obedience which builds into a community that honors him.
As you lean into the discipline of worship, consider taking the following steps:
What helps you give your attention to God? What makes you in awe of Him? Do more of that thing. If it’s singing worship songs in your car, do that everytime you drive somewhere. If it’s prayer walking, find a rhythm where you do that regularly.
Create a visual queue that reminds you to set your attention on God. Maybe this is a note on your computer or a pen mark on your hand. Whatever this is for you, whenever you see it, take a moment to remind yourself of God’s character or the presence of his Spirit.
Evaluate your relationships in community. Are you using your gifts and passions to serve? Is there some forgiveness that needs to happen? Is there someone who you could rejoice with or mourn with? If we are indeed being joined together into a holy temple where God lives by His spirit, we must also worship by living into sacrifice, love, and peace with one another.
