Corporate Worship

Everything is worship. Everything. The word "worship" simply means "to ascribe worth or value to something." And that's something we all do. Our homes have a certain value, as do our families. Our automobiles, our education... everything has some level of importance. The value we place on people, places, and things is, in a real way, worship.

Everything is worship, and everyone is a worshiper. C.S. Lewis writes, "We humans are far too easily pleased." He suggests that we seek our pleasure in areas which can never satisfy the deepest hungers of the soul. We worship the wrong things, when true life, and life-giving worship, can only be found via constant communion with our Heavenly Father. Worship is what we do; worship is how we live. It's reflected in our bank statements and daytimers, and is seen by others whenever we invest time and energy into something. Some of us worship the One right thing; others of us just worship. But, again, everything about life is worship, and everyone is a worshiper.

Amazingly enough, God is not simply seeking worship; He is seeking worshipers (see John 4:23 for this vital distinction). It is not the worship service that He desires. Rather, He craves intimacy with His people. That is, He seeks those who seek, above all else, relationship with Him -- and He has promised that in their quest for Him they will not emerge empty-handed (Jeremiah 29:13).

At TDC, we believe that God's mercy fuels true, right worship. That is, when we get a glimpse of what He has done for us ("While we were still enemies of God, Christ died for us," Romans 5:8 says), we gladly offer Him all we are. The greater mercy we realize He has offered us, the greater our worshipful response.

Poor, hollow, empty worship indicates a lack of understanding, or believing, the depths of God's love. Without God's mercy, we would remain dead in sin. As a result, as an act of worship, we passionately offer Him our lives- our work, our hobbies, our schedules, our abilities, our relationships- everything. This is the essence of worship. It is a price we gladly pay (Romans 12:1-2). You see, true Christian worship is not simply what we do on Sundays during the "worship" service. It involves the singing and praying and preaching and meeting and greeting, but it is so much more. Worship is life. It is an ongoing conversation with the Creator that effects everything we do.

Stylistically, what we do in corporate worship @ TDC changes regularly. We have been given some amazing musicians whose personal worship through their instruments influences what we do corporately. But, you will usually find a rock band with acoustics, electrics, bass, drums, keys, electronics, and a myriad of other instruments- whatever we can make fit (banjo, mandolin, electro- junk, spoons, jug, washboard, kazoos- just whatever is @ hand...). We do believe that worship is indigenous- that is, it is specific to the ones expressing themselves. So, we like to write alot of our music, and the church attaches herself to it. We use other folks stuff, too. So, there will be recognizable music when you come.