A married couple is sitting in a counsellor's office. There is distance, not only physically, but emotionally from each other. They are saying to the counsellor, "we were once so close, but the loving feelings are gone". What is the best strategy for the counsellor to take?
He could try the guilt trip and tell them, "Come on. Love each other. That's what God would want you to do". But, that might only get their defenses up and get him nowhere. How about this: He gently takes them back to the time they first met. He helps them remember what attracted them to each other in the first place. He helps them work through all the distractions of life, all the disappointments and misunderstanding, and helps them fall in love with each other all over again.
That could be a great strategy in the church as well to take people back to their first love with Christ and develop them into worshipers. In your sermons, rather than reminding them of their "duty" before God, re-connect them with who he is. Refresh their memory about his character and attributes, resisting the urge to say, "So, that's why you are supposed to worship".
Biblical worship is a relational thing, full of heart, gratitude, honour, affection, and love. We worship the one we know (John 4:22). The Holy Spirit within believers is faithful to quicken them to respond to the God they love.
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