Purpose of church 1 - Worship

Worship is one of those words we tend to define by what we have experienced at church, but if asked to define it we would probably struggle to find the right words. Since we are seldom asked to explain exactly why we worship, let alone what it means to us. If you looked it up in the dictionary, it would say something like religious ritual. Somehow I find that definition inadequate as I’m sure most true believers would. Mainly because worship under the new covenant does not need to be so rigidly ritualistic as it was under the sacrificial system of the old covenant. What do I mean?

Romans 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Sacrifice equals worship in this verse, even in The New Testament and the covenant that goes with it. Only now our offerings are living, and done with our own bodies. Meaning we fulfill the purposes of worship with the lives we live, not a rote ritual or the forfeited life of an animal caracas. It goes deeper than that still though.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

This is a fulfillment of what happened in Old Testament days. When either the portable tabernacle under Moses, or the permanent temple under King Solomon was made complete, God’s presence would arrive, as illustrated in Exodus 40:33-34 and 1 Kings 8:1-21. It was made complete when the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments were placed within the Ark of the Covenant, then the Ark placed within the most Holy Place of the temple or tabernacle. God’s spirit resides within us in the same way. However, under the new covenant our tabernacle or temple that needs completion is our own bodies, and the stone tablets have been replaced by our hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:2-3) You don’t have to wait to go to temple or church to worship, for you are already there 24-7. 

Temple