Many Christians misunderstand the purpose of congregational worship. Many times our congregational worship has become an experience in which man is the focus. Worship has deteriorated into an "I didn't get anything out of that sermon" experience. Man has become the object of his own worship. He is there to be entertained and spiritually massaged. It hardly occurs to some that worship is primarily a matter of God receiving something from us our praise, adoration, and confession of dependence on Him as our Saviour.

1. Our culture. Worship could vary a lot from one culture to another depending on the people's understanding of it.

2. The Balance. This is another factor that contributes in our understandings concerning the purpose of worship. Worship involves a balance of our intellect, emotion and will.

a) Intellectual response. Worship involves knowledge. We must know about God. We must know something about who He is and what He has done, before we can ascribe worth to Him. Unfortunately many often concentrate on an intellectual response. It is important but it is not the whole of it.

b) Emotional response. Emotional excess in some quarters has made many wary of any emotional expression. However, when we focus on the greatness, power, majesty, wisdom, and love of God it creates a joy, exuberance, and a liveliness that is the opposite of dead, ritualistic services.

c) Our will response. Worship also involves our will. We must constantly submit our will to His will. We must voluntarily place ourselves under His Lordship and Headship.

3. We must have private time of worship. The lack of it is the reason why our worship services can often become more of a form than reality. If we are not thankful, praising, worshiping people in our private lives, we probably will not engage in meaningful congregational worship either.

Our whole relationship to God is to be characterized by an attitude and practice of thanksgiving. It is impossible to instantly experience fellowship with God at precisely 11:00am on Sunday morning. Congregational worship is a continuation of what has already happened during the week, in our lives.

Finally. God wants our worship more than anything else. Congregational worship is an expression central to the purpose and vision of the church. Worship is so critical to congregational health that it needs to be emphasized. Congregations need to be taught what worship is, its purpose, its function, and its place in the life of the body.

Ivo Ivanov Assistant Music Pastor KT/LCC