Creating an Atmosphere of Worship in the Home
Session 4: Creating a Space for Worship
In this series of teachings on worship in the home, you have probably noticed that it requires a great deal of intentionality.
It doesn’t just happen by itself. If there is a second requirement, it would be that of creativity.
Most of us already have – whether we know it or not – a schedule that we have adopted as our daily or weekly routine.
This usually has some version of worship already in it. However, if the dedication of our home’s worship is going to get better,
it will require that we revisit how we have included it in the daily or weekly patterns of behavior that currently exist. In other words, we have to “create†a space for it.
Throughout the Bible, it is clear that the space for worship was one that required those worshipping to make it a part of their regular existence.
Even in cultures that were theocratic (meaning “Ruled by Godâ€), they still had to make space for personal devotional and communal time with God.
It is of such importance that God literally made laws for stepping away from work and spend time in family and holy fellowship (Sabbath day – Exodus 31:12-17).
Also, there was space that was to be made daily, weekly and monthly to present sacrifices (Numbers 28-29).
The Jewish community and later the early church used this as a time for daily prayer (Acts 3:1).
We also see that many devout men in the bible – like Daniel - spent significant time creating intentional spaces for personal worship and prayer (Daniel 6:10).
Creating a space for worship doesn’t just require making a space. It is rooted in a theology that allows the person to understand that authentic communion in worship with God and others can take space outside of the formal church buildings. In Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well (John 4:4-42), He informs her of two core truths that must be adopted if we are ever to create healthy worship spaces in our homes:
1. Worship was intended to go beyond the “mountain†(John 4:20-21) The woman tells Jesus that Jews worship on one mountain (meaning the Temple in Jerusalem – as seen in Isaiah 2:3) and the Samaritans worship on another mountain (referring to the temple at Gerizim – mentioned by Moses in Deuteronomy 11:29). However, Jesus informs her that people will worship on neither mountain. This lets us know that worship is intended to exist both inside and outside of formal spaces for worship (like church buildings). The building was never intended to be a place that “boxed in†worship. It was intended to be one of many spaces that was wherein worship can take place.
2. The context for worship is “the worshipper†(John 4:24). Jesus then mentions that the Father desires “true†worshippers. He defines this persons as one that worships in Spirit and in truth. Jesus resets the traditional thinking of worship by letting us know that we, not the physical building, are the context of worship. This means that wherever you are, worship can happen. The only requirements for worship are that we worship God at a spiritual level (not just rituals, language and actions but from the heart, Matthew 15:18) and that we worship God based upon the truth of God (as revealed in the Word of God, the Bible – John 17:17, 1 Peter 1:22-23). Whether you are in the grocery store or a coffee shop, worship can take place as long as it is from the heart and based upon the truth of God’s word. If there is a worshipper present, worship can go forth.
If you are going to create a space for worship in the home, it’s not very hard to do. Remember, the early church did start with church buildings, they began with worship in homes (Acts 12:12). They had to be creative. By looking at many of the models of worship throughout the bible, we can gain some central principles on creating a space for worship in our homes.
Session 4: Creating a Space for Worship
In this series of teachings on worship in the home, you have probably noticed that it requires a great deal of intentionality.
It doesn’t just happen by itself. If there is a second requirement, it would be that of creativity.
Most of us already have – whether we know it or not – a schedule that we have adopted as our daily or weekly routine.
This usually has some version of worship already in it. However, if the dedication of our home’s worship is going to get better,
it will require that we revisit how we have included it in the daily or weekly patterns of behavior that currently exist. In other words, we have to “create†a space for it.
Throughout the Bible, it is clear that the space for worship was one that required those worshipping to make it a part of their regular existence.
Even in cultures that were theocratic (meaning “Ruled by Godâ€), they still had to make space for personal devotional and communal time with God.
It is of such importance that God literally made laws for stepping away from work and spend time in family and holy fellowship (Sabbath day – Exodus 31:12-17).
Also, there was space that was to be made daily, weekly and monthly to present sacrifices (Numbers 28-29).
The Jewish community and later the early church used this as a time for daily prayer (Acts 3:1).
We also see that many devout men in the bible – like Daniel - spent significant time creating intentional spaces for personal worship and prayer (Daniel 6:10).
Creating a space for worship doesn’t just require making a space. It is rooted in a theology that allows the person to understand that authentic communion in worship with God and others can take space outside of the formal church buildings. In Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well (John 4:4-42), He informs her of two core truths that must be adopted if we are ever to create healthy worship spaces in our homes:
1. Worship was intended to go beyond the “mountain†(John 4:20-21) The woman tells Jesus that Jews worship on one mountain (meaning the Temple in Jerusalem – as seen in Isaiah 2:3) and the Samaritans worship on another mountain (referring to the temple at Gerizim – mentioned by Moses in Deuteronomy 11:29). However, Jesus informs her that people will worship on neither mountain. This lets us know that worship is intended to exist both inside and outside of formal spaces for worship (like church buildings). The building was never intended to be a place that “boxed in†worship. It was intended to be one of many spaces that was wherein worship can take place.
2. The context for worship is “the worshipper†(John 4:24). Jesus then mentions that the Father desires “true†worshippers. He defines this persons as one that worships in Spirit and in truth. Jesus resets the traditional thinking of worship by letting us know that we, not the physical building, are the context of worship. This means that wherever you are, worship can happen. The only requirements for worship are that we worship God at a spiritual level (not just rituals, language and actions but from the heart, Matthew 15:18) and that we worship God based upon the truth of God (as revealed in the Word of God, the Bible – John 17:17, 1 Peter 1:22-23). Whether you are in the grocery store or a coffee shop, worship can take place as long as it is from the heart and based upon the truth of God’s word. If there is a worshipper present, worship can go forth.
If you are going to create a space for worship in the home, it’s not very hard to do. Remember, the early church did start with church buildings, they began with worship in homes (Acts 12:12). They had to be creative. By looking at many of the models of worship throughout the bible, we can gain some central principles on creating a space for worship in our homes.
- Make a personal or family commitment to worship between Sundays (Acts 2:42, 17:11)
- Be willing to re-purpose your time to make space for worship (Luke 6:12, Psalms 63:1)
- Create a space that works for your family’s worship (Acts 16:13)
- Refuse to allow any change in circumstances to prevent your worship from taking place (Acts 16:22-25)
- Include space to meditate on the word of God (Psalm 1:2)
- Have a space that is quiet enough to have clear communication with the Lord (Acts 10:1-4, 9)