Passionate Worship
Last week we focused on Radical Hospitality, the practice of freely sharing God’s love with others, and warmly welcoming people into this family of faith. The second essential practice of fruitful congregations is Passionate Worship, for worship is where we take in and celebrate the good news of God’s love for us and for the world, and allow that love to change us. According to Bishop Schnase, “Passionate Worship fosters a yearning to authentically honor God with excellence and with an unusual clarity about connecting people to God. Whether fifteen hundred people attend, or fifteen, Passionate Worship is alive, authentic, fresh and engaging. People are honest before God and open to God’s presence, truth, and will. People so desire such worship that they reorder their lives to belong. The empty places in their souls are filled. They experience a compelling sense of belonging to the body of Christ.” (p.53) Worship is so important that need to regularly ask ourselves how can we improve our experience of worship to help people connect to God and God’s will for our world? Let us commit ourselves to the life-giving practice of Passionate Worship!
blessings, Ernie
To listen to my message, click on “PASSIONATE WORSHIP”