Old Church Basement: Returning to Simple WorshipSample

OLD CHURCH BASEMENT

Hallelujah is all I need

When I think of your goodness and your love for me

Oh, the joy of my salvation is coming back to me

It’s just an old hallelujah with a new melody

Today when we think about worship, our thoughts often go to the stage - a large band with a light show, and vocalists with amazing voices.

But while all these things are good, they aren’t necessary to worship God.

Do you remember when you first came to know Jesus, and when your faith felt exciting and new? Can you remember feeling led to worship because of who God is or what He had done for you?

Those moments of honest praise when you worshipped with whatever you had - that is your old church basement.

Your old church basement doesn’t have to be a physical place, because God can show up anywhere. Instead, it’s about remembering and calling to mind that place where you first learned to praise.

In the Bible, we see many times when God's people created markers or reminders at the place where God's presence met them.

Jacob did it in Genesis 28.

The Israelites did it in Joshua 4:1-3.

If men and women of God throughout scripture did this, maybe we should too.

What are those times when God showed His faithfulness and unconditional love to you?

Where have you seen His compassion and glory on display?

Where were you when you recognized the joy of His salvation? What songs and verses remind you of that place?

While we're unlikely to use a pile of rocks as a marker of where God met us, we can be more conscious of remembering those intimate moments of worship with God.

Take a moment right now to ask God to remind you of your old church basement. Then, praise Him in whatever way you feel led.

Think of the goodness and love of Christ towards you. Reflect on the original joy of your salvation when you came to know Christ. The more we praise, the closer we become to Christ who does all things well.