Worship God: We Participate

Scripture Passage

Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6

¹ all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.

² So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. ³ He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

⁴ Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion.

⁵ Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. ⁶ Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Sermon Script

Last week, we reflected on the importance of gathering for worship. Gathering is a way of preparing ourselves. We gather together to experience an extraordinary encounter with our living God, who meets us in worship. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them.”

I’m glad to see us gathered here once again today. But that isn’t all there is to worship. There is another part that is equally, if not more, important. We don’t just gather for worship. We participate in our worship.

Without participating, worship becomes a mere spectacle. It becomes a form of entertainment. Or, if not entertaining – boredom. Worship is not what we watch passively. Worship is what we actively engage in. We worship by giving ourselves completely. St. Paul said that clearly.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy and pleasing to God—this is your TRUE and PROPER WORSHIP.

Romans 12:1

We see what “participating” in worship looks like in today’s passage. Like in last week’s passage, it is set in Jerusalem. But much earlier. The Israelites returned to their home after being exiled in Babylon. With Nehemiah’s guidance, they rebuilt their temple. They also rebuilt their walls as a source of protection and security. Right after finishing the wall, the people worshiped. Not only did they listen to God’s word attentively, they worshiped with their bodies.

Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.

Nehemiah 8:5

Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Nehemiah 8:6

We may not worship in the same way as the Israelites. We may not bow down with our faces to the ground. That’s not the point. What is important is that we participate. With all our being.

We already participate by responding to the call to worship. But we can go further. We can SING the words out loud during praise time. We can SAY ‘AMEN’ when the person praying wraps it up. We can LISTEN ATTENTIVELY when God’s word is read and preached. We can PREPARE AND PUT OUR OFFERING in the offering plate during the reflection time.

We shouldn’t expect worship to be meaningful when we come but do not participate. The experience of worship comes from participating in it. You don’t need to do big, grand gestures. It consists of doing small, simple things for God sincerely.

When you worship with a genuine and sincere heart, you bless God. You glorify God. You make God happy. Let your every move be carried by your genuine and sincere heart. That, to me, is what participation is.

Think of it as giving a gift to someone. If it is someone you care deeply about, you won’t give it carelessly. You will give it with thoughtfulness and care. Your heart for that person will be reflected in it.

That’s what we are doing when we worship. We are giving a gift to God. We ourselves are that gift. You know the song, “A Gift to You”.

Everything I am
Everything I will be

I give it to You, Lord
And do it thankfully

Every song I sing
Every praise I bring
Everything I do
Is a gift to You

The Israelites participated in their worship because they wanted to give themselves as a gift to God. Not for no reason. But because of what God had done for them. They weren’t in the most ideal environment or circumstance. They were tired, anxious, and weary. Yet, they still felt blessed and loved by God. So they blessed God by giving themselves in worship.

Our worship is not an obligation we have to fulfill. It is not a weekly chore we have to do. Some of you actually may feel that way. Worship is our response to what God has done. When we respond wholeheartedly, we participate.

When we gather each week for worship, I encourage all of you to take a moment before worship to reflect on your week. You may have gone through your week without much thought. Now is the time to slow down and look back. Think about how God has blessed you. In what ways did God bless you? Remember what God has done. Let that guide you into the time of worship.

Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to ‘love’ the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind. I think ‘love’ is not too different from the word ‘worship’. Worship the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Gather, then participate.