Worship is giving honor and praise to God, who alone is worthy of all glory and blessing. When we gather together in worship as the assembly of God’s people, we form a special dwelling place for God. In a letter to the church at Corinth, Paul exclaims, “We are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:16).

The apostle makes the same claim in writing to the church at Ephesus. “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:19–22). The church at large, the whole body of Christ, is a temple of the Holy Spirit. What about your congregation? “You also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

The Apostle Peter adds to our understanding of this reality. “You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”(1 Pet. 2:5). The assembled church is a temple. It is a special place of God’s dwelling. It is a special place to offer sacrifices to God, spiritual sacrifices of praise.

Suppose I were to ask this question of the people of your congregation: Is God’s presence among you as you worship any different than His presence in your homes as you sleep? Of course God is present everywhere, you say. The Puritans, however, drew a distinction. God is essentially present everywhere. He is graciously present in our worship. God is especially present in grace and love among His people gathered for worship to draw them to Himself.

What does this mean? For one thing. you may enter worship with great expectancy. You may anticipate meeting with God. l will put it more strongly! You may have the most significant and profound encounters with God in the corporate setting, worshiping with God’s people. For another thing, you may also expect unbelievers who come into your midst will encounter the Almighty. Paul asserts such an unbeliever “will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you” (1 Cor. 14:25).

Part of our problem today is the impact of individualistic thinking on Christianity. For example, we’ve been taught that the most effective evangelism is one on one. For the most part, evangelistic meetings are designed to get people into the hands of counselors. Personal work is considered the most important work. As a consequence, we also believe it is in such situations, one on one, that we have our most significant encounters with God.

Consider this. Where will you have the most blessed of all meetings with your God and Savior? It will be in heaven. You will be with all the people of God, gathered around the throne, in the greatest choir ever assembled, giving adoration and praise to your great God and Creator. This will be a corporate encounter.

Our congregations gathered for worship are much smaller choirs giving praise to God. But God’s purpose and promise is to take up residence among us. We may sing to Him from Psalm 22:3, “You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.” We may anticipate His special presence with us to change us, strengthen us, and prepare us for God-glorifying work in His world.