Successful New Testament church and discipleship requires that we re-align our concept of “worship.”

That’s because what most people call “worship” …

Isn’t.

At least, not according to the New Testament.

“Worship” in the New Testament means living lives of sacrificial service and reverent obedience.

That’s it, pure and simple.

It’s not a Sunday “service” …

And it’s not music, singing or a song.

In fact, those concepts didn’t arise in the church until the 4th Century AD.

Instead, worship as commanded in the New Testament is an ongoing lifestyle, 24/7.

Yes, we’re encouraged to congregationally sing praises together when we meet, but only in four passages in the New Testament.

Three of those passages say why:

It’s to encourage or build up one another.

That’s it. Nothing more …

But nothing less!

That destroys the modern narrative of “worship” as pursuing intense experiences, often invoked through manipulative “worship services” …

Which supposedly conjure up God’s presence.

Where do you even find that in the New Testament?

You don’t.

In fact, that’s more pagan than Biblical.

And although a genuine encounter with God certainly can generate emotional intensity …

These days, we instead pursue emotional intensity and call it God.

But it’s not. It’s just an idol created in the fire of fleshly “worship” …

To serve our own needs and impulsions.

So let’s gather Biblically once again, to congregationally express God’s presence already in us …

Through songs that encourage one another towards true worship by living lives of reverent obedience.

Otherwise, we’ll remain trapped in pagan carnality …

Rather than find authentic church, authentic worship and authentic discipleship as defined in the New Testament.