We have often said that corporate worship when the church gathers is totally dependent on the worship life of the individual believers who gather. I-to-Us worship is found in Psalm 34:1-3:
I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak His praises.
I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are helpless take heart.
Come, let us tell of the Lord's greatness;
let us exalt His name together.
Psalm 34: 1-3 NLT
David starts with the personal pronoun early in the Psalm, "I will praise . . . " But then he switches to the corporate pronoun, "Come let us . . . let us exalt His name together." The gathered/corporate worship of the church flows out of the contribution of every person gathered who has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. It combines all that we have brought as an offering of worship, as individuals, into a concerted expression of love from the body of Christ.
We each bring the expressions and worship of our own hearts, our experiences with Him, our struggles, our joys, and all of our thoughts and emotions. All of those individual expressions combine together in a symphony of worship and praise. Wait a minute. Does that mean every one of us has a responsibility as to the corporate expression of worship when we gather? Yes, that is exactly what it means. Because of His unique work in each of our individual lives we come together united in Him, joining in one glorious voice to give praise and glory to Him! Our personal worship lives contribute to the glory of God as His church gathers together. May we all, always, come prepared. mjm
