What & Why

What is worship? Worship in the Old Testament meant three main things: homage to God ((Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 95:1-7), service to God (Exodus 3:12, 4:23, 8:1), and reverence for God (Deut 5;29, 6:2).

Worship for Israel, God’s people in the Old Testament, was essentially “life” worship – living every area of their lives under God and His Word. The Bible tells us that Israel failed and this pointed us to a new way of worship for the world which God alone will provide for.

Worship in the New Testament centres around Jesus. Matthew 12:6 states that “one greater than the temple is here.” This means that the new meeting point between God and man is not centred around a place but a person – the person of the Risen Lord Jesus!

The Lord Christ Jesus alone is the worship leader who brings us into God’s presence! We cannot get any closer or be any more right with God than through Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-25). We do not need any human middle man – priest, prophet, pastor – to get us closer or more right with God.

Here in ARPC, we gather to worship God by hearing His Word, singing, praying & serving one another in love! We gather to worship God by sharing the Good News & the Good Life with friends! Then, we depart to worship God “24/7” with our lives!

It is our prayer that people who worship with us will walk away from all our gatherings and say, “That was an encounter with God in His Word (I heard God’s voice) and His People (I met God’s people).”