I don’t want to seem like a snob but I really think that small groups miss a tremendous opportunity to deepen the spiritual life of their community if they neglect to worship together…

The thing that should seperate our “community” groups from the kind of gatherings that happen at pubs or ballfields is the invited presence of God…

Now, don’t misunderstand me on this point:  God is everywhere.  He’s at the ballfield when coworkers gather to play co-ed softball.  He’s at the pub when buddies congregate to watch the big game…

But there are a few circumstances where the Bible describes a different kind of presence… a special sort of manifestation.  Two of these special circumstances come immediately to mind:

When believers get together.  We see this in Jesus’ own words in Matt 18:

For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.

I can’t think of a better way to describe our efforts to build community through small groups than this… coming together in Jesus’ name.  Whether our primary purpose is fellowship, Bible study, prayer or outreach… Jesus blesses us with his presence when we gather in his name.

The other special allowance of God’s presence is in worship… We know that God is enthroned upon the praises of his people… He reigns there… Rules there.  When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom, he indicated that it was both present now and coming soon.  I believe that the present Kingdom comes when God’s people worship.  Check this out:

In the Old Testament, there are two “locations” described as God’s throne:  the mercy seat (between the cherubim on top of the Ark of the Covenant) and in heaven.    The only people with access to God’s presence were the Chief Priest and the angels.  In fact, Isaiah 66 puts it this way:

“Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool.”

Remember the stigma surrounding feet in middle eastern cultures, a footstool (even a kings footstool) is a pretty ignoble furnishing… much less impressive than a throne for sure…

But in our praise and worship, God makes a throne upon the earth as well… He dwells here and is present in a way that was previously only possible in heaven… Where, incidentally, he is surrounded by worship and praise of the angels.  In worship, we literally build a throne on earth for God to sit upon… a temple for his presence to dwell in…

My wife and I moved to Colorado in 2007, consumating a 12-year odyssey that began in southeast Texas and dragged us through Detroit and Dallas.  We wanted to be here near the mountains, in the beauty of God’s creation.  We were never as comfortable anywhere else.  When we came to Colorado, it was as if our hearts had come home.

I imagine that it’s like that for God… when he is praised, he comes home.  Like the fresh mountain air, praise surrounds him and in that atmosphere, he settles in and begins to move in ways that only he can.

Don’t you think that’s worth a little effort on our part?