There’s something about God’s people passionately ascribing His worth that catches the world’s attention. When a woman who lost her husband to cancer 3 months ago stands in a worship service with tears running down her cheeks, and, somehow, unmistakable hope radiating from her countenance, it stands out. When a high school senior walks through the hallways with striking joy, uncommon compassion, and unashamed truth, it stands out. When a young married couple fresh out of college opts to plant their lives in the Middle East, denying the comforts of freedom and security to take the gospel into risk-laden territory, it stands out. When a retired veteran and his wife spend the best hours of their day at homeless shelters and food pantries instead of re-tracing their favorite golf course, it stands out. The world can’t ignore the contrast, and it begs the question of what’s different.
In 2018, songwriters Corey Voss, Dustin Smith, Michael Bryce Jr., and Michael Farren penned the lyrics of a song that quickly became one of our favorites at FBC. The bridge reads:
“The world cannot ignore it
When all the saints are roaring
Hell where is your victory
Death where is your sting?”
- “Praise the King”, Corey Voss -
If you’ve ever found yourself planted in a room full of believers worshiping, you know that there are no words to fully describe the spirit of joyful agreement in those moments. They are moments drenched in collective unity. They’re brimming over with celebration over having been rescued. They loudly proclaim the victory and resurrection that is ours in Christ. And for believers, those moments just feel…right. They’re what we were created to do.
This kind of passionate worship, expressed in the large meeting rooms of American Congregations and the crowded basements of the underground church, carries the gospel to the nations. The kind of worship that’s lived out in cubicles, hospital waiting rooms, lecture halls, dining rooms, coffee shops, hard phone calls, elementary school pick-up lines, grocery store aisles, football fields, and facebook comment sections, also carry the gospel to the nations. How? Because the kind of people who can stare life’s trials, injustices, sufferings, conflicts, brokenness, and discouragements in the face and yet retain a resilient joy not their own, stand out.
The passionate worship of the people of God carries the gospel to the nations.
Whether by direct exposure to gospel-laden truth, or by the experience of interacting with believers who are filled with the Spirit of Truth, gospel seeds are planted. When all the saints are roaring with their song and with their lives that God is good, victorious, glorious, worthy, holy, compassionate, just, kind, gracious, merciful, and loving, the world cannot ignore it.
If we want the nations to understand God’s worth, we need to be a people who proclaim it.
John Piper explains,
“…worship is the goal and the fuel of missions: Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Missions is our way of saying: the joy of knowing Christ is not a private, or tribal, or national or ethnic privilege. It is for all. And that’s why we go. Because we have tasted the joy of worshiping Jesus, and we want all the families of the earth included.
“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.” (Psalm 22:27)
Seeking the worship of the nations is fueled by the joy of our own worship. You can’t commend what you don’t cherish. You can’t proclaim what you don’t prize. Worship is the fuel and the goal of missions.”
(READ FULL MESSAGE HERE)
To learn more about how you can engage in MISSIONS at FBC, get to know our church’s missionaries, and be inspired by how God is leading the nations to worship Him, visit our Missions page by clicking the button below.