I had two deeply moving worship experiences Sunday morning. Each one moved me to prayer, praise and tears. One happened in my car and the other in church.

While driving to Ashville, NC in time to attend the 9:15 AM worship service at Biltmore Baptist Church, I listened to contemporary Christian music on “The Message,” a Sirius XM station. They played one powerful song after another and the Holy Spirit used the words to minister to my heart. As the old saying goes, “I had church” in my car.

Then I “had church” at church. A large crowd filled the early service at Biltmore Baptist and for 75 minutes we worshiped King Jesus. As we stood singing four songs, one after another, the Holy Spirit again ministered to my heart and at one point all I could do was bow my head in prayer and wipe away the tears.

Listening to music and preaching are a normal part of worship. So is participating in congregational singing. Yet the grandest part of worship is what I do in response to God’s movement in my life and my life. Worship is me responding to my God…it is me expressing praise and love. I’m not sure I’ve worshiped if all I do is listen. That is why I’m thankful I was moved to prayer, praise and tears yesterday morning.

I believe my God would have been disappointed in me if I had not responded to Him by doing more than just listening.

Pastor Steve Hogg