Encountering God’s Presence in Worship with Others

Just as spending time with God daily is the practical habit of inviting Jesus to be first in your day, gathering for worship in the presence of God with other followers of Jesus is an essential habit of inviting Jesus to be first in your week.

As we gather with others, we anticipate an encounter with the presence of God, sense we are part of a movement much bigger than ourselves, and respond to God’s presence through prayer, singing, and growing in faith through authentic, relevant, and Gospel-centered teaching.

There are three key components to encountering the presence of God in a powerful worship experience:

Anticipation - God is omnipresent, which means that He is everywhere. We don’t have to ask for His presence in worship experiences because He is already present. We don’t always live with an awareness of this reality, and when we’re not aware, our prayer should be for a greater awareness of His presence. When we gather for worship with others, we gather in anticipation of an encounter with the presence of God. When Jesus is present, anything can happen.

Participation - Participation in corporate worship means that I am fully present with God, myself, and others. I don’t come to worship entitled, with my legs crossed and arms folded, saying, “God, bless me if you can.” I show up bringing an offering of praise, worship, and gratitude to Him. Worship isn’t about me; it’s about God.

Application - When the Word of God is meditated on, studied, read, taught, or preached, it never returns void. God always accomplishes His purposes through it, therefore I anticipate hearing from God when I ask, “What do you want to say to me through Your Word and how do you want me to apply it?”

We would love to have you join us at one of our campuses soon. See the details below to plan your next visit. We look forward to gathering with you!

Read an excerpt from Pastor Gabe’s book, The Intentional Life, by clicking the link below!

The Intentional Life — Gather