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By Pastor Kelly W. Austin

 

 

I read and article the other day entitled, “Who’s the Audience?” that I would like to share with you.  I hope it will be a blessing to you as it was to me. 

 Who’s the Audience?

            I used to view the worship service in church as a time for entertainment.  Speaking of folks like me, Soren Kiekegaard said that we tend to think of church as a kind of theater: We sit in the audience, attentively watching the actors onstage.  If sufficiently entertained, we show our gratitude with applause.  Church, though, should be the opposite of the theater.  God is the audience for our worship. 

           What matters most takes place within the hearts of the congregation – not onstage.  We should leave a worship service asking ourselves not “What did I get out of it?” but rather “Was God pleased with what happened?” 

God took pains to specify details of animal sacrifice for the ancient Israelites in their worship.  Yet He said that He didn’t need their animals: “I will not take a bull from your house, nor goats out of your folds.  For every beast of the forest in Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills” (Ps. 50:9-10).  What He wanted was their praise and obedience. (v.23). 

By focusing on the externals of worship, we too miss the point: The Lord is interested in a sacrifice of the heart, and internal attitude of submission and thanksgiving.  The goal of worship is nothing less than to meet and please our God. – Philip Yancey 

Lord, may our worship and our praise,

From hearts surrendered to Your ways,

Be worthy offerings of love

For all Your blessings from above. – Sper

 At the heart of worship is worship from the heart.

 Read: Psalm 50:7-15

                                             

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Thursday by appointment 7:30pm to 9:30pm

2^nd and 4^th Saturday 1pm to 2:00pm

Other appointments can be scheduled outside of these times

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 or the church secretary to establish a time in advance

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