Worship is central to the mission of God.
I believe that the role of evangelism is to create more worshipers of God. Evangelism and mission exist because somewhere, worship does not. So the mission of the church is really about worship.
Paul writes in Romans 15:8-9 saying “I am a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
Sally Morgenthaler in her book Worship Evangelism says, “The biblical goal of evangelism is to produce worshipers, not just to save the lost from the fires of hell or to enlist more recruits.” (pg. 39)
Our priority on worship should be central.
To what are we inviting folks to when we tell them about Christ? Surely we are not simply inviting them to intellectual understanding of his teaching and philosophy. Further, we are not only inviting them to participate in the community of faith. We are inviting them to Jesus himself. To a dynamic and responsive relationship marked by love, adoration, praise, thanks, etc. In essence we are inviting them to become worshipers of God.
And if we are inviting them to become worshipers, where will they learn? Among a people who are devoted to offering acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus.
Worship is central.
“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27
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