WILMONT PLACE BAPTIST CHURCH
  • About Us
    • Plan A Visit
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Where We Are
    • What We Believe
  • Events
    • The Mission Work Day
    • WOW Events
    • Youth Falls Creek 2025
    • All-Church Event/Announcement Request
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • Text Notifications
    • Smartphone App
    • Member Directory
    • Maintenance Request
    • Private Event Request
    • Worship/Media Archive
    • LIVE
  • Give

Extending Corporate Worship at Home

2/17/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Shortly after resuming worship from a COVID-19 shutdown, a precious elderly member enthusiastically proclaimed, "Oh good! Now I can worship again!" I know what she meant, but at face value, her comment marked a depreciated view of worship. Worship is not an hour-long activity on Sunday, worship is a way of life for those following Jesus. Corporate worship is an expected privilege and should be the culmination of believers in worship during the week.
Recent weather has demanded that Wilmont cancel some regularly scheduled worship and Bible study events. Once again, as in 2020, members are facing the reality that a week or two may go by where personal worship is the only avenue to honor the Lord. These times of necessity can be sweet and can offer several unique opportunities.

Spending time in personal worship during what would normally be seasons of corporate worship:
"Worship is not an hour-long activity on Sunday, worship is a way of life for those following Jesus."
  1. Allows followers of Jesus to dive deep into personal Bible study or devotional meditation. When the pace of life regularly exhausts us, these unexpected seasons can be the spiritual boost we need.
  2. Reminds members of the value of meeting with other members. We miss our corporate praying, fellowship, singing, and encouragement. We miss seeing life change taking place in those around us. We miss the corporate exhortation from the Word. It is good that we miss these things to remind us to appreciate them when we gather again.
  3. Provides couples and families opportunities together. Seasons when you are isolated from your larger church family helps you unite as a nuclear family, bringing the focus of the home back to a place often neglected.
  4. Turns passive worship into active worship. Serve someone else by calling to check on them, or braving the weather to deliver a favorite treat. Caring for others is an active worship event that pleases the Lord.
So as you shelter in place during days of pandemic or travel advisories, here are some suggestions on how you can participate in meaningful worship whether alone or with others in your family.
Picture
Read an entire book of the Bible (together if possible) ... a short one. Philippians or Ephesians would be a good start. Adventurous? Read an entire gospel. Check the internet for average reading times for each book of the Bible.
Picture
Write 4 or 5 cards or letters of encouragement to others in your church. Remember stamps? They are still sold and still work!
Picture
Lead your spouse or family through guided prayer. Start by reading Jesus' instructions on prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Make a list of things to pray for. Be sure to include elements of praise, thanksgiving, needs, and confession. Call out your list and allow time for others to pray silently or lead the others in the group out loud. Close by reading Jesus' longest recorded prayer in John 17.
Each of these activities may take more time than some are accustomed to spending. But none of them will take more time than you would normally spend during a mid-week or weekend event at church with others.
We would gather as a church if possible, but when we can't, know that your worship can continue!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    About Us

    Wilmont Place Baptist Church is a Southern Baptist church of 150 active members on the south side of Oklahoma City. Text-driven expository preaching, Bible-teaching, personal growth, and community evangelism define the culture and direct the activities and events of the congregation. The church is working through a formal revitalization strategy in which members become family and the community becomes ministry.

    Archives

    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    December 2022
    September 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019

    Categories

    All
    CaringWell
    Community
    COVID
    Discipleship
    Evangelism
    Membership
    Revitalization
    The Journey

    RSS Feed

Wilmont Place Baptist Church • 6440 S. Santa Fe Ave • Oklahoma City, OK 73139 • 405.634.0440
  • About Us
    • Plan A Visit
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Where We Are
    • What We Believe
  • Events
    • The Mission Work Day
    • WOW Events
    • Youth Falls Creek 2025
    • All-Church Event/Announcement Request
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • Text Notifications
    • Smartphone App
    • Member Directory
    • Maintenance Request
    • Private Event Request
    • Worship/Media Archive
    • LIVE
  • Give