I remember songs and sermons. But some of my very favorite worship experiences centered in corporate prayer. Our prayer meetings for revival last year stay close to my heart. Have you ever wondered how the early church worshiped? Perhaps, we have left out things that were very important in worship. What have we added through the years that does not essentially enhance our worship?
As Paul left the Ephesian elders, he told them he would not likely see their faces again in this world. After preaching, they prayed, wept, and embraced each other. The crowd walked Paul to the ship. Luke says they had to tear themselves away from the people to continue their journey.
Paul Miller has written books about prayer. In one of them he describes the liturgical pattern of worship in the ancient church. They sang a song, read scripture, and preached a message early in the service. This was a word from God about God. The rest of the service became a time of talking to God through extensive prayer, singing in worship, and the Lord’s Supper. Communion at the table provided the crescendo.
My friend Dennis Wiles once said, “We know what we like and like what we know in worship.” He was right. Still the order and elements of our worship say something about what we believe is important. Prayer must never be perfunctory.
In Luke’s account, everybody prayed. Others can pray with us and for us, but never instead of us. Notice that they knelt when they prayed. Their expression of prayer was not so formal that they missed the chance to weep and embrace. Prayer bonded them so deeply that leaving was not easy. I cannot be the only worshiper who longs for that kind of authentic expression of prayer and community in worship. Could our way forward in worship involve looking back and gleaning the very best of our holy heritage in worship? How would that look? Would you be willing to try?
