While visiting other churches during the sabbatical months, I have thought a lot about Sunday services. This is probably because Sunday services are most visible to the eye when visiting a church. As a matter of fact, the idea of revamping our Sunday service to a higher level has been in my mind for a while. This is so that we can go deeper into the presence of God. Some of you with keen eyes may have noticed that I have been touching many aspects of Sunday service in an effort to renew it since the end of last year. The “Story of David” that made my heart pound during sabbatical months was another reason that reminded my heart on Sunday service.  David was a worshiper, and that is why a harp is a symbol of David. 

However, the most important aspect of Sunday service is “us”. First of all, we have to be the true worshipers of God. I think what makes Sunday worship genuine and truthful is the craving of the worshipers.  If our love for God grows cold, our life becomes impassionate. If our life is impassionate, then our worship for God grows cold as well. Just changing the format of Sunday service does not melt our cold and hardened hearts. What matters the most is to cultivate a good worshiper’s heart among us.

In Korea, there is a proverb, “Hunger is the best appetizer”. If we don’t have thirst for God in our lives, no matter how perfect the Sunday service is, we will feel it as boring and meaningless.  As such, if the worship loses its spiritual vitality, it is a sign of problems in our spiritual health. The words of God go in on one ear and come out the other. The praise to God just lingers in the air, and prayers do not come from the heart. If we are in such conditions but do not realize the significance of it, we have a bigger problem. If we think that Sunday service is supposed to be dry and meaningless, our spiritual health has been in bad shape for a long time already.

In Holy Life seminar, there is a lesson on Sunday service. The lesson teaches that preparing for the service by prayer is important. I hope that many of you will prepare for the service by praying before the Sunday service starts in the main sanctuary. I hope that you pray for yourselves first in becoming a true worshiper. I hope we pray that our love for God is repaired, and the thirst and great expectation for Sunday service is restored.

From pastor Choi, Jin-Won