Living as Worshiping Disciples

By Laura Springer and Jeff Barnhart

Key Passages: Psalm 27; Matthew 18; Ephesians 5:15-21; 2 Timothy1:13-14; Revelation 5:10–12

Key Idea: The church is God's community of worshiping disciples who live the whole of life learning and loving together as they serve Christ by filling their gatherings and daily lives with his truth and presence.


Worship is much more than a meeting on the church calendar. Worship is how we live in the world as followers of Jesus, and living as disciples is one way to look at worship.

As God's community of worshiping disciples, Christians learn together as we love one another. We are follower-learners who live alongside one another in God's presence, knowing he is always with us, no matter the situation. We know he loves us, and we are safe in him, so we help one another follow Jesus. We help one another come to him just as we are, trusting him to transform us. We know that his kindness and overabundant supply of grace will continue to transform us into the image of Christ.

Christians act as worshiping disciples when we fill our gatherings with God's truth and presence. Together, we learn the Word and practice God’s ways, training our minds, wills, and emotions to recognize and carry out his grace. We learn to value what God values through honest conversations in life groups and patio time. We learn to respect one another by bearing with one another, speaking honestly, and acting for one another's good. Let us submit our preferences and priorities to God's call to unity, dedicating ourselves to kindness and respect. As a church community, let us support discipleship by creating events and programs that connect intellect, emotions, and daily life. Let us design physical spaces that invite person-to-person connection. Above all, let us focus ourselves, programs, and events on Christ.

Christians act as worshiping disciples when we fill our days with service that puts God's values into practice. Each day, we can take what we have learned about God and his ways and figure out how that works in daily life. Let us put knowledge, skills, and passions to work in the everyday stuff of life: home, work, school, and play. When we meet people along the way, let us choose to connect, whether with a simple nod of greeting or a good word. As a community of worshiping disciples, let us point others to Jesus by loving one another in public and proclaiming the one who made such love possible.

Brothers and sisters, let us commit ourselves to live as worshiping disciples by filling life with God's truth and presence, following him as our center, and living every moment for his glory. Let us help one another pause in his presence, whether gathered together or dispersed into our days. Let us live our moments for the glory of Jesus and then recount his glory and grace when we gather together. Everything we know and can do has been given to us by God, so let’s give ourselves back to him in worship that fills our days.