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Q. What should Christians who complain "I feel like I haven't been to church today" be looking for?

A. Isaiah wrote about his meaningful worship service in the Jerusalem temple (in Isaiah 6:1-8). We can learn from him what to look for when we go to church:

• The awesome presence of God [verses 1-4]. God is everywhere and not confined to buildings. But when we worship we should be convinced, "Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place!" Worship should not be sheer boredom or surface entertainment, but should convey a deep respect for the holiness, majesty, joy and power of God—who is in our midst!

• A conviction of our own sinfulness [verse 5]. It may seem strange, but the closer we get to God, the more we're aware of our own sinfulness. The brighter the light, the more the wrinkles show.

• Cleansing of sin and release from guilt [verses 6-7]. A church service should motivate us to repent of sin and leave rejoicing in knowing that if we've submitted to Christ, "the blood of Jesus . …purifies us from all sin."

If the worship service creates no awareness of God's presence, no motivation to repentance, no sense of cleansing, then we'll have a feeling of emptiness when we leave.

• Inspiration to serve [verse 8]. Instead of an instinct to criticize, the worshiper should leave with an incentive to share the truth with the lost and to minister to the hurting in the world. In past years, "Enter to worship, depart to serve" was a statement that was often displayed on church bulletin boards.

Bob Russell is senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

Adapted from: Lookout (9/5/99)

Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc./Men of Integrity magazine.
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Prayer for the Week

Lord, we thank Thee that we can come to Thee just as we are. But remind us that we dare not leave as we came.

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