Would you like to know about something that can improve relationships? Or increase mental wellness? Or bring satisfaction and meaning to life? Or to help you know your purpose? Read on to find the answer . . . 

The answer is making worship a priority – a “non-negotiable” part of our lifestyle. We were made for worship! Just as a physical is an annual appointment with our primary care physician, corporate worship is a weekly appointment with God.  

With a focus on spiritual intentionality this New Year, can we prioritize regular worship of God as a divine appointment? With God’s help, I believe we can!  

This past Sunday, I preached from Hebrews 10:19-25 which is a very pragmatic part of scripture. The “Preacher” (the author of Hebrews) offers some essentials for healthy, functioning congregations and believers: 

• Remember who we are – brothers and sisters (v. 19) 
• Remember whose we are – the household of God, or the “family” of God (v. 21) 
• Draw near to God – God is approachable! (v. 22) 
• Hold tightly to the hope we profess – God is faithful (v. 23) 
• Motivate one another – spur one another on toward love and good deeds (v. 24) 
• Don’t forsake worshiping together – it’s easy to get out of the habit (v. 25a) 
• Encourage one another – build others up (v. 25b). 

I’d like to drill down on a problem I see in our culture: the increased number of Christians who have gotten out of the habit of regular worship. This is so critical. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many churches like ours had to shut down. While many people returned, many did not, especially our young families. And it’s easy to get out of the habit and fill our schedules with other things. One of the lasting implications of this dilemma is that our kids won’t have a foundation to rely on when life gets tough.   

My encouragement to us as a church is to make corporate worship a priority. There are proven benefits of worship: improved emotional and mental wellness; lasting friendships; growing in our faith; cultural engagement; being equipped for what is right and just; strengthening families; individual and corporate communion; and an overall sense of purpose and mission for life beyond the church walls. 

In his commentary on Hebrews, Dr. Tom Long, well-known pastor, preaching professor, and author, says the following about worship: 

“[Worship] happens when we gather with other Christians in ordinary sanctuaries for prayers and hymns, preaching and blessings.   

Whether it is high mass or prayer meeting, a eucharist or a revival, choral evensong with a boys’ choir . . . or a praise service with a synthesizer . . . whether it takes place in St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve, Macedonia Baptist on Sunday night, or in the coffee room of an office on Thursday morning before work . . . whenever Christians cluster together for worship, we walk through the doorway of an ordinary building, an earthly tent, and find ourselves in the company of heaven singing praises with the heavenly hosts.” (Interpretation, Commentary: Hebrews, p. 107) 

Will you seek to draw near to God through both personal worship (daily personal time with God) and corporate worship with your sisters and brothers here at HRBC? Consider it a matter of spiritual intentionality rather than an average resolution for the New Year. I can promise that it will make a world of difference in your life and in the life of those you love! 

Happy New Year and God’s blessings,