The Assembly - Group Worship

Assembly and worship are not equivalent terms. The word "worship" is frequently used in the New Testament to describe an action outside an assembly, as when the wise men came to Bethlehem and finding Jesus "they bowed down and worshipped him" (Matthew 2:11, 12), or when the man born blind had been healed (John 9:38), or when the disciples in Galilee met Jesus after the resurrection (Matthew 28:17). Worship describes the expression of an attitude of heart characterized by awe, veneration, and respect. It always occurs individually whether one is alone or in an assembly.

Group worship is just a number of individuals sharing together---the actual worship occurs in the heart of each one.  All the others in an assembly may be worshiping while the individual is not. Or an individual may be worshiping while the others are not. The forms or acts such as singing and praying are not actually the worship. They are just the means of expressing the sense of awe or reverence that is in the heart. The heart must have a means of expressing itself, but the forms or actions without the heart are not worship. And the feelings and thoughts of each individual will not be identical even though all are participating in the same activity. Jesus was alone in the Garden of Gethsemane in the closest communion with God. Peter, James and John were a little way off physically and a long way off in heart and mind. The other apostles were even further away (Matthew 26:36-39).

A time for worship, whether of an individual alone or of a meeting of several people, is direct address to God.  He is the focus of attention and this is distinguished from the daily walk.

Our common expression for this assembly for direct address to God is "going to church," though it is not a very accurate expression.  

G. C. Brewer

The Model Church