Wednesday Service | Worship Night | Jordan Brawner

WHY DO WE DO NIGHTS OF WORSHIP?

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (AB)
⁶ That is why I remind you to fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment] which is in you through the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

• Times of worship and praise are about fanning the flame!

Hebrews 10:25 (NIRV)
²⁵ And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope. Let us do this even more as you see Christ’s return approaching.

• We fan the flame when we gather together!

Psalm 122 (NIRV)
I was very glad when they said to me,
“Let us go up to the house of the Lord.”

A groundbreaking study by researchers at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found that worship might actually help people live longer. Led by Professor Tyler Vander Weele, the study followed over 74,000 women for more than 16 years and discovered that those who attended religious services at least once a week had a 33% lower risk of early death compared to those who didn’t.

One possible reason for this is the biological and psychological of religious experiences.

Worship, prayer, and singing can trigger the release of endorphins and oxytocin, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, which help reduce stress, anxiety, and inflammation.

Studies have also found that deep spiritual practices, such as prayer and meditation, activate the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to lower heart rates, reduced cortisol levels, and improved overall health.

Psalm 37:4 (ESV)
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

• There are special blessings reserved for those who draw close to God!