For a long time, I considered singing in church to be an individual exercise. Standing up in the service as the worship band played, I’d meditate on the words and lift up my voice whenever I felt the spirit move.

Sure, I was singing along with the rest of the congregation, but the words passing my lips were meant to be between me and God. I’ve always been grateful for those moments, but sometimes growing in Christ means stepping out of your comfort zone. It wasn’t until later that I realized I was missing out on another side of the worship experience; corporate worship.

Now, if you’re like me, you’ve never been a fan of the term “corporate worship”. It’s always sounded so commercialized, as though the church were trying to sell a feeling of belonging. Yet, corporate worship actually serves a vital role in the body of believers. When we worship together, we not only strengthen our bonds as a church community, we also minister to one another. Matt Merker, in a guest post for Desiring God, describes it as, “nurturing love among the body of Christ”. He writes...

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