Web Worship:  The A3CEES' ministry offers, Web-Worship, A Distinct Experience Making a Difference

Expectations:  Physically, most of us are accustomed to worshipping in a building.   Since we know worship has nothing to do with a place per se, participants should expect an experience involving activities of worship and not the typical place such as a church building.  However, the worship experience will include the following:

A period of praise:  This is the act or acts of bragging on God.  We sing or speak of His greatness and acts in creation and our personal lives.  Participants should always come with a list of thankful expressions.

A period of thanksgiving: We'll provide an opportunity for persons to spend a few brief moments to express thanksgiving to God.  Such as, "thank God for taking care of me today.  I thank God for my family.   I thank God for His faithfulness."

A period of praise:  Again, we sing or listen to music concerning God's love, care, and greatness.

A period of sharing:  Here, those who choose to can type in prayer needs to establish the burdens we offer to God.   Some participants may choose to voice their personal needs for prayer.  Sometimes we will pray over the group.  Other times we'll have persons pray for each other.  Again, persons should have their prayer request prepared.  Please share briefly your need in a spirit that you are assured the prayers and faith of the participants will be effective with your desire.  Remember, we have extensive counseling support for you to express detailed and extensive needs.  So, be brief.

Brief period of praise (optional):  This is music or singing designed to remind us of God's faithfulness toward us.

God's Word and the Opened Door:  Here, we listen to Him from His word.  The message will always be relevant and applicable to daily living, and we'll always make an expression to those who desire a family relationship with God.

Heart's Offering:  Participants will never be pressured to give, or left with guilt-feeling if they do not.  However, an offering is an essential aspect of worship, which is translated as returning a symbol of what God has provided back to Him.  Participants will be provided a very private way of sharing when or if they desire. The Biblical guidance is as follows:

2CO 9:7 Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Decently and In-Order:  We want to experience the fullness of God's presence.  We cannot be so structured that we do not allow sincere and orderly expressions.  However, we must also be careful not to allow the experience to become exploited by undisciplined behavior, rude outbursts, expressions identifying the behavior of other persons, or a platform to demonstrate spiritual superiority.

The Apostle Paul who is the most profound missionary and writer in the New Testament corrected this type of conduct.  He corrected the Corinthian church where they were divisive, and constantly attempting to demonstrate who was most spiritual.  There are three unique concepts he uses that we are to keep in mind.  These are follows:

1.      Above any gift our God given ability, seek the greater virtue of love.  Love does not seek its self aggrandizement.  Love seeks to build-up each other.  The Biblical guidance is as follows:

1CO 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

1CO 13:2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

2.      After love, seek to share the Word of God in the worship experience.  We appreciate the tongue of a foreign language, and the 'prayer' language tongue.  However, we use these spiritual tools in the appropriate way.  The worship experience is toward God and designed to encourage our believing family. Unless there's a need to speak a foreign language, it is not necessary and no one would understand.  Similarly, the prayer language is for a believer's personal use.  It does little to build up the person who does not understand what is being articulated.  It's better to simply make an expression in understandable language when in the general fellowship.  The Biblical guidance is as follows:

1CO 14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

1CO 14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

1CO 14:3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

3.      God's divine nature is orderly.  He does not cause confusion.  Persons at Corinth where constantly trying to show their spiritual superiority even if it meant rude behavior.  This might include speaking when someone else was speaking, or sharing something that no one else understood to seem spiritually superior.  They battled over who had the most superior spiritual gift or position.  The Biblical guidance is as follows:

1CO 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

1CO 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Final Word:  Find a room where you will not be distracted.  Turn-off cell phones, unplug land-lines and turn-off anything that is distracting.  Close your door, and let's have a personal encounter with God. But don't unplug the computer or computer line.

Amen!!!