OK…I think this will be my last blog on worship…for now. :)

A couple of blogs ago, I mentioned how, for most of us, we’ve always thought that we go to church to worship. But now, I hope that we are seeing that the better approach is go worshiping to church. Do you mind if I just quote one more time from Louie’s book? It’s too good not to…why try to say something well when it’s already been done?! I love it when an author can so perfectly capture in words what is so powerfully flooding your soul…

Trust me, church is a lot better when our meetings are filled with people who have been pursuing God for six days before they get there. Church as a “refill” or a “tank-up” is a disaster. Corporate worship works best when we arrive with something to offer God, as opposed to coming only to get something for us.

Church is supposed to be a celebration of our personal journeys with God since we were last together. Imagine what would happen if each person in the congregation was seeking the face of God throughout the week. Some would encounter sorrow, others major happiness. But all would have a story to tell of God’s faithfulness in good times and bad.

What would happen if we came worshiping to church, filled with an awareness of His presence before we reached the door? Well, for one, the lead worshiper’s job would be a lot easier! (I agree!! And I think we’d be early rather than late, because we’re just so full of the Lord and are bursting with the desire to express it corporately!) And the intensity of our collective offering would be full on.

Can you see it? All of our personal streams of worship flowing into one surging river. One mighty anthem. A beautiful mosaic, telling an even greater story of who God is and what He’s done. People leaving a gathering like that inspired to seek Him as never before. And they come back again bringing worship with them, starting the cycle all over again.

The worship cycle is complete. Unbroken.

Oh, I can’t tell you how I long for this to be true of The Summit. I weep with passion for you – but mainly for God. I long for Him to receive – continually – from me and from you, personally and corporately, the praise and worship He is so worthy to receive.

“We aren’t designed to operate on a weekly worship cycle, but a moment-by-moment connection of personal worship that’s as much a part of our lives as the air we breathe.”

I’ll see you on Sunday…let’s go worshiping to church!