Crescendo of Worship

Excellent or Praiseworthy is posted on Monday and Thursday nights.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
— Hebrews 10:23-25

I entered the church building with a sense of holy expectancy. I had felt the presence of God and seen Him at work throughout my flight to Italy days before, so I knew that I would meet Him in worship on Easter morning. As the congregants gathered, I felt that they were also excited to be together and to have the chance to worship our living Lord—united in spirit and in truth.

Leading us in worship that glorious morning was one called of God to that remote region—one who had the vision that God would bring all nations and all tongues together for prayer, singing, fellowship, teaching so that the body of Christ-followers would be built up and encouraged in the faith. The entire service was to be a sacrifice of praise offered to God . . . . brought in humility and gratitude for the bounty of the abundant life, promised in John 10:10.

The church building itself was in an industrial area, not looking anything like the ornate cathedrals that I would spend the next week visiting and touring. Members of the military base nearby filed in, joined by other members of the community who had immigrated from Africa and neighboring countries—a glimpse of what we will see someday revealed in Revelation 15:4: “Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”

It was obvious to me as I watched them gather together that this was a loving community—the body of Christ. They greeted each other with smiles, handshakes, and hugs.

It was not necessary that I felt “at home” in this foreign church—after all, I was thousands of miles from my “church home.” But there is something significant about the consistency in worship and teaching that makes one feel “at home” with a body of Christ-followers in a strange land. It is the Holy Spirit. Unexpectedly, and joyfully, our missionary-pastor led us in a Call to Worship using one of my favorite devotional books, The Valley of Vision—and I knew that this hour was to be one of great worship. I was at home.

Our time in corporate prayer brought me to consider the needs of those around me—I could set aside the inner distractions and focus on the leadership of Christ in calling us together. Surely there were desperate circumstances in the lives of those around me, most of whom I did not know. Things like job uncertainties or loss, illness in family members, financial concerns, lack of housing, deployments during wartime, bureaucratic paperwork which was holding family members hostage and separated from each other . . . and I knew that God knew. As we centered our hearts on Christ alone I could sense, in the stillness of the hour, a realization of the fact of God’s promises in the bowed heads around me. When we lifted our heads the countenance on smiling faces seemed to radiate a fresh confidence that God is who He says He is, that He hears, and that His word can be trusted.

We then studied the word—faithful teaching from Revelation 5 and 19, centered around “The Last Supper of Jesus—What it means to Accept or Reject the Lamb.” I tracked all of the pastor’s points and diligently took notes, but also continued to be amazed at the sacrifice—and gift—that God’s calling placed on this man. How blessed all of us were to sit under his teaching—who could have led any number of churches back in the States, but was called to learn a foreign language and leave for distant shores. At the end of the message, I looked around at the congregation, wondering and hoping that those in attendance appreciated what they had in this profound offering. The energy he put into making his points was inspiring—obviously well-studied and prayed over.

The crescendo of worship was building for me—from the gathering of the saints, to the call to worship, to prayer, to singing, and to teaching . . . . but the best was yet to come. Communion. “Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) We took the bread; we took the cup . . . . as a family, from many lands. And then we sang.

Perhaps that was the most forceful moment for me. The children of the families were ushered in with their teachers and brought to their parents for the final song. All of the songs before had been grand, but there was something about seeing the children being held by their parents as they sang that touched me. I saw my little granddaughter’s eyes scanning the room—looking at the room full of worshippers. She was taking it all in. I was reminded of a favorite verse: “I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations.” (Psalm 89:1) Many nations, many generations—together in mighty praise to God on that beautiful Easter morning. And what were they singing? “In Christ Alone”:

“In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.”

They sang in Italian . . . . and in my English-mind I could not get the words right to match the music. But this made it all the more powerful to me because I could tell that those around me knew exactly what they were singing.

We left changed—ready to serve, ready to extend more grace, ready to obey the voice of the Father.

When my husband and I talk to families who have a service member deployed, we hear how that dear military man or woman longs for worship. Some are blessed to find a chapel service, or a chaplain leading a small group in teaching and praise, or one Christian joining with another Christian huddled at the computer joining a congregation in Atlanta or Dallas or London—feeding their souls. But some are not so fortunate, and their souls are parched and their spirits thirsty. My prayer is that they will find music, like “In Christ Alone,” to be a source of sustenance—with Scripture reading—and a renewed desire to seek out others who long for Christian fellowship. Whether privately, in a small group or large, we were meant to worship. “Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.” (Psalm 29:1-2)

Words to “In Christ Alone” available on www.gettymusic.com

Questions to Share:

1. Think back on a time of worship that you have experienced which was memorable to you. Why do you remember that event?

2. Share with your spouse what you remember from question #1. Was there a time of worship that you remember as a couple?