Faith to Change

“Increase our faith!” That’s why we’ve come, isn’t it? That’s what worship is about. We come to lift up the name and glory of God in praise and supplication. We come to grow closer, stronger, deeper in our faith. So, as worship is prepared for this week and the launch of a new series, the worship team should spend some time around the idea of strengthening faith. What tools can worship provide that can carry folks throughout the week in their journey of faith? Perhaps a corporate prayer shared in worship but designed to be taken home and used throughout the week, maybe throughout the series; a prayer to increase faith that becomes a signature prayer for the congregation. We are formed through our prayer lives.

We are also formed in community. When we gather for worship, we listen to and lean in toward other worshipers and those in leadership. Are there ways we can help create and foster relationships in worship? Maybe we pray together in pairs or small groups, with time to listen as well as share. Perhaps we invite prayer partners to work together beyond the worship moment. Relationships help increase faith.

We can also grow by focusing on the text. We have a text each time we gather for worship. How can we help people explore the text beyond the worship moment? Perhaps we invite reflection on the text before we come to worship. A sermon-prep Bible study can be a dynamic way to help congregation members hear the text as a living document that helps us grow our faith.

Worship is a moment in and of itself, but it connects to and feeds other moments in our lives and faith. This week – indeed, every week – focus on those connected moments. What are we sending folks out to do? What events, actions, and decisions in their past are we helping them reflect on in their lives as we worship this day? Worship connects to life, grows out of life, and feeds into life, or it isn’t true worship. Worship can and must increase our faith week by week.