Empowered Corporate Worship

Just came across this magisterial statement about ministry and worship in the founding documents of The Gospel Coalition. This is the stuff that makes my heart race...

Gospel-centred ministry is characterised by empowered corporate worship. The gospel changes our relationship with God from one of hostility or slavish compliance to one of intimacy and joy. The core dynamic of gospel-centered ministry is therefore worship and fervent prayer. In corporate worship God’s people receive a special life-transforming sight of the worth and beauty of God, and then give back to God suitable expressions of his worth. At the heart of corporate worship is the ministry of the Word. Preaching should be expository (explaining the text of Scripture) and Christ-centered (expounding all biblical themes as climaxing in Christ and his work of salvation). Its ultimate goal, however, is not simply to teach but to lead the hearers to worship, individual and corporate, that strengthens their inner being to do the will of God.

The core dynamic of gospel-centered ministry is therefore worship and fervent prayer...life-transforming sight of the worth and beauty of God. Yes! Yes, yes! That about hits the nail on the head for me.