When we worship together we model Christian living that draws us closer to God and helps us grow as disciples of Christ. Our faith life matures when we center our core faith practices in our daily lives. These practices include worship, fellowship, prayer, study, service, and stewardship. We know that what we put into practice—what we make a core habit in life—shapes our life. When we model Christian living together, we grow together.
It is important to model the habits that make up a good life. It’s how we define ourselves and our choices. For Christians, an important part of that is how we set ourselves apart. The book of Acts described the early group of Christ followers as ekklesia, which is often translated today as church. The Greek word ekklesia is better understood as a “called-out assembly.” The early Christians knew they were a family that was called-out to live holy lives set apart from how the world lives.
This doesn’t mean that we live geographically apart from non-believers. It’s quite the opposite. Jesus called us to seek people, to reach people, and to love people. The connection and relationships that we actively pursue with others is also a part of how we model Christian living. Yet we understand that while we live in the world, we must be set apart in terms of how we live and what influences us.
We Support each Other and Set Examples for Others
Worship is an important practice that gives our focus to the right place. It gives us the opportunity to encourage and support each other. Hebrews 10:24-25 teaches that in meeting together we can spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Our support for one another includes both encouragement and holding each other accountable to remain focused on Jesus and Christian living.
There is another important outcome of gathering. When we model Christian living through worship together, we teach our community, our friends, and our families the importance of gathering to love and revere God. We want our children to know the importance of putting God first, and to learn from us how to do that.
Children, youth, and people of all ages new to the faith can learn life-saving spiritual practices by watching faithful believers as they model Christian living. They learn more than habitual activities. They learn the practices that help them know God and draw near to him. Their habits become the foundations upon which they build strong lives of faith—and through which they grow more and more like Jesus every day.
Support for each other. Examples for others. Worship together is an important way for us to grow closer as a community and to model Christian living. It’s a time for us to come together in praise and prayer as God’s family.
