Worship -- Part III

In Parts I and II we looked at the "Who" and "What" of worship.

As you head to your "place of worship" this Sunday morning, you will join millions of Christians across the country that typically define "Where" as primarily the church building. Because our definition of worship is so often tied to the gathering of Christians on the first day of the week, where is obvious, is it not?

In the Old Testament, there are numerous instructions from God about where to worship. The book of Exodus contains more than 50 commandments related to worship in the tabernacle -- Israel's roaming holy place. Another 50 or so references to the tabernacle appear in Leviticus. God was very specific about the where of worship, right down to the materials to be used in this traveling tent.

In Jesus' day, worship was still thought of in terms of location. When Jesus meets the Samaritan women at the well (John 4), she asks Jesus about where worship should take place -- on the mountain where her forfathers worshipped, or in Jerusalem as the Jews practiced.

Jesus responds, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Jesus says that physical location is irrelevant. Instead, Jesus says worship in spirit (let's call this heart) and in truth (mind). That can be done anywhere! It is similar to Jesus response to the question, "What is the greatest commandment?" Remember, He says to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. When you love God (or worship) in this way, location is irrelevent.

Also, did you catch what Jesus said -- "For such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers." That's an amazing thing to consider. As we are seeking to give God glory through worship, God is seeking you! God desires to be worshipped -- you might say he has a nose for such things. Set your heart and mind on worshipping God, and He sets His sights on you.

So, where do we worship? In a church building? Yes. In a living room with our Bible study groups? Yes. At the amusement park with our family, or in the car driving? Yes. Everywhere, to the ends of the earth. The most important location for worship is not geographical. Rather, it is the giving of our heart and mind (spirit and truth) wherever we take our bodies.

Does this negate the gathering of the saints in a building on the first day of the week? Not at all. The entirety of the New Testament makes it clear that group worship in a specific location (at that time probably a living room rather than a church building) is a vital part of the Christian life. But as we will see when we look at the "When" and Why" of worship next week, the Sunday gathering is just a small piece of the worship pie. God wants you to enjoy the whole dessert!