The Universe's Largest Choir

October 1, 2006 - From a study on worship from Jack Hayford's book "A Heart of Praise"

Psalm 68:24-26

24 They have seen Your procession, O God,
The procession of my God, my King, [c]into the sanctuary.
25 The singers went on, the musicians after them,
In the midst of the maidens beating tambourines.
26 Bless God in the congregations, Even the Lord, you who are of the fountain of Israel. 

It is ritual (that in today's worship) that the congregation participate.  However, we must not just sit back and be critics.  We are not the audience - God is.  

The worship leaders and choirs should be like directors leading the people to express their worship. Just as a choir has multiple voices and gifts, so each one in the congregation has gifts to offer that are essential for acceptable worship.  

Our private times of worship are not enough.  God inhabits the praises of His people as a whole.  The drama of worship is too grand a production to be produced by believers in lonely isolation from each others.  

Every member of the cast gathered to worship God is important.  We must not forsake the assembly of gathering together to worship our Lord (Heb 10:25)

Thank you, Lord, for the church; for believers with whom I can share life and faith in common.  And, when we assemble, grant me a sense of personal participation with them in worship instead of being a distance observer.