The Triad of Worship
Pastor Jerry Koller

Worship is the primary way we respond to the love of God.

Christians believe that true worship is the highest and noblest activity by which man, by the grace of God, is capable. ~ Dr. John Stott

When it comes to worship, this is something we must choose to do because worship is active, not passive.

Scripture shows worship is carried out in three arenas: the Public, the Private, and the Corporate arena.

Corporate Worship is what takes place when the Body of Christ gathers together at a specific location for the purpose of worshipping God as one.
· The amount of time spent in corporate worship is typically the smallest.
· Many consider this the most exciting arena because we do not engage in it alone.

Private Worship is what takes place between you and God.
· Seldom—if ever—is anyone else involved in private worship.
· Private worship may include time set aside to read the Scripture.
· Some set aside time to do what has often been called daily devotions (some use devotionals).
· Private worship may include the study of Scripture.
· Private worship may include meditating on a passage of Scripture.
· Another element would certainly include prayer.
· Private worship may include singing songs that direct worship to God.
· Private worship can encompass a much larger amount of our time and attention than Corporate Worship.

Public Worship is what takes place in the general arena of life.
· You could say public worship is anything that does not fall under private or corporate worship.

Paul stressed the importance of giving all of ourselves to God as an act of worship.

Four verses earlier, Paul gives praise to God in what some consider a kind of doxology.
· A doxology is a statement or hymn of praise directed to God.
· It comes from the compound Greek word doxologia. The first part of the word, doxa, means glory. Logia, or logos, means speaking.

Chapter 12, verse 1 begins with the word therefore. This word points back to the things Paul mentioned earlier. It can also point back to his doxology. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!
I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

“Body” here is not limited to our physical bodies. It is a reference to our whole being—body, soul, and mind.

The greatest sacrifice we can offer to God is ourselves.
· Every day of our lives is an opportunity to worship God.
· The sacrifice we offer must be holy and pleasing to God.

Offering our lives as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God is the ultimate active response to God whereby we declare His worth.

Worship, properly understood and faithfully practiced, is the joyous celebration of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

· Lennon McKamey (son of Kyle & Sarah) needs surgery on his shoulder due to two tears on his left labrum. He has an appointment on 6/18 and hopes to have surgery soon after.
· Jean Pietrzak (Sandi Starland's sister) is recovering from a fall in which she injured her neck. She's in trauma care with orthopedic and neurology care.
· Bruce & Vasha Ferguson and their family upon the loss of their granddaughter, Felicia, on 5/3.
· Bruce Ferguson had his medications adjusted and is continuing with his doctors for further treatment.
· Nolan Marshall has sporadic, intense behavioral issues due to diagnosis and continues treatment to manage symptoms.
· Miriam Bryant has begun therapy for hip issues.
· Vincent Bryant (son of Miriam Bryant) is dealing with multiple health issues: blood clots which are interfering with his dialysis treatments; continues to recover from a 2nd surgery on his left hand which resulted in one finger being amputated; issues with an ankle that prevents him from driving.
· Anna Bocock has Epstein Barr in addition to one strain of Lyme. She is waiting for next month’s treatment to be done, will then take another blood test to see how the treatment performed, and once the tests come back, she will hopefully be able to move forward with the Lyme disease treatments.
· Caroline Bocock is having some symptoms resurface so she will need to have more treatments. They are waiting for her most recent test results to come back so they can determine which strain of Lyme’s needs to be treated next.
· Joyce Bocock continues to do well. Prayers for continued improvement and relief from pain are appreciated.
· Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.

First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com