The Air I BreatheSample

The Worship Circle

Worship is a personal thing. But it’s also something we do together.

In other words, our responses of worship to God are both personal and corporate. And each kind of response is intertwined with the other. Through Christ we’ve been reconnected to God, and in Him we’re linked to each other. Each one of us plays a unique role.

I’m not talking about organized religion, but the organism called the church. If you’re a believer in God, He has made you a part of His body, His people. A part of your worship is to make a connection with other believers around you.

The primary purpose of the church (the people of God) is worship. At its core, the church exists to glorify God. And without your life and voice, the body’s expression is incomplete.

But even in the corporate setting, worship doesn’t begin with a group activity. It begins with our individual responses to what God has revealed to us about Himself. Those responses don’t just happen once a week...they happen day by day.

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

As we come together with other believers in worship, we bring that same sense of focus we’ve had in our daily journey. We bring that same determined devotion.

Most of my life, I thought that you went to church to worship. But now I see that the better approach is to go worshiping to church.

What would happen if we came worshiping to church, filled with an awareness of His presence before we even reached the door? Well, for one, the lead worshiper’s job would be a lot easier! 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 leave 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 circle is complete. Unbroken.

Why would God design worship to be both personal and corporate? How does one strengthen the other?