How are you doing? Maybe your week has been full of blessings, and you’re overflowing with gratitude. Or perhaps it’s been tough—maybe you’ve been wrestling with pain, trials, or the exhaustion of simply keeping up. Whatever your circumstances, I’m grateful you’re here because what unites us is this: worship. This moment is divine intervention. God is present—filling this sanctuary, filling our hearts with forgiveness, hope, and peace.
Worship is more than an hour on Sunday. It’s more than standing, sitting, singing, praying, or even quietly tending to restless little ones in the pews. Worship is a gift, a rhythm of life that God invites us into. I was reminded of this recently when I had the blessing of worshiping alongside my daughter and 17-month-old grandson. It was chaotic, joyful, and beautiful. Their presence reminded me of the importance of bringing children into worship—not just for today, but to plant seeds of faith for generations.
Worship is the first step in our discipleship pathway here at Messiah. It’s about more than what we do—it’s about what God does for us. Louis Giglio describes it beautifully: “Worship is where God transforms our fears into faith, our burdens into freedom, and our weakness into strength.” That transformation is the work of God, not ours. It happens in baptism, in the Lord’s Supper, and in every gathering where His Spirit is present.
Acts chapter 2 gives us a vivid picture of this truth. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter, once a fearful fisherman, boldly proclaimed the message of Jesus. He didn’t draw on his own power—it was the Spirit moving through him. And when the crowd heard Peter’s words, they were “cut to the heart.” This wasn’t a shallow feeling of guilt; it was a deep, convicting awareness of sin. But this cutting isn’t meant to harm—it’s meant to heal. The Spirit exposes sin to bring forgiveness, peace, and new life.
Repentance, then, isn’t about getting our act together before coming to God. It’s coming as we are—broken, weary, burdened—and laying it all at the foot of the cross. God meets us there with forgiveness, grace, and the gift of the Spirit. Baptism makes this personal, giving us a new identity as His children. Whether infant or adult, God promises forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, and new life in Christ. Every time we gather in worship, we remember that truth: we are baptized, claimed, and filled with His Spirit.
But worship doesn’t end when the service does. To live unleashed means taking the presence of Christ into our homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods. It means allowing our lives to be acts of worship that overflow with God’s grace. It means inviting others to experience the same hope and healing we receive here. God grows His kingdom through us.
Messiah unleashed means Messiah alive and active, empowered by the Holy Spirit, boldly sharing the love of Jesus in a world that desperately needs Him. And the promise is real: the gates of hell will not overcome this church.
So as you go into your week—whether journaling, gathering with your life group, or talking with your family—reflect on this: worship is not what we do for God. It’s what God does for us. Let that truth sink in, and let it guide every step of your life.