Preparing Our Hearts for Worship

August 11, 2022

Peter Englert

I’ve been prayerfully reflecting on two of our summer message series at Browncroft. In the “Created For” series that just concluded, we explored what the first few chapters of Genesis tell us about God’s purposes for human identity. And next weekend we will embark on a new series exploring worship.

May I suggest these two topics are far from disconnected?

In Recalling the Hope of Glory author Allen Ross focuses on our practice of worship based on the book of Genesis. He says this:

For worship to be as glorious as it should be, for it to lift people out of their mundane cares and fill them with adoration and praise, for it to be the life-changing and life-defining experience it was designed to be, it must be inspired by a vision so great and so glorious that what we call worship will be transformed from a routine gathering into a transcendent meeting with the living God.

We have a misconception that worship simply entails singing on Sunday mornings. Though there’s something transcendent about that, worship is a way of life. It’s our response to the majesty, grace, and awesomeness of God.

I love how Ross continues:

When that happens, then we will be caught up in our spirits to join the heavenly choirs of saints and angels who even now are gathered around the throne of God. Thereafter, our hearts and minds will be filled with the hope of glory so that we may truly love and serve the LORD in this life.

In other words, when worship through every facet of our lives, we experience true life-change in Jesus!

In the weeks leading up to Labor Day we will have a series of speakers explore this daily and comprehensive view of worship. As a primer for my own heart, I wanted to think back to several Why God Why podcast episodes hitting on this topic. Maybe they will be of interest to you, too, as we as a church explore worship in our everyday lives together.

Regardless of where any of us are at on life’s journey, I hope these podcast episodes will help all of us move one step closer to understanding worship as a response to the power of God in us!

About The Author

Peter Englert

Peter Englert is Adult Ministries Director at Browncroft Community Church. He graduated from the University of Valley Forge with a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry and a M.A. in Theology. He also blogs at peterenglert.com.

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