Worship Team Devotions: the Church
Cath Kortman
Author
Published on
September 16, 2026

In the Old Testament, the temple was a place of worship where God’s presence dwelled. Three times each year, the Israelites would make pilgrimages to Jerusalem to worship at the temple, singing a group of psalms called the Songs of Ascent as they traveled in anticipation of gathering to worship God. They helped the pilgrims share excitement for the journey, pray for God’s protection, and celebrate the unity of their faith. 

Share a time when you experienced anticipation and excitement over a trip like the Israelites would have on their journey to Jerusalem. 

Read Psalm 122 together 

Psalm 122 (NIV) 

I rejoiced with those who said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
Our feet are standing
    in your gates, Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built like a city
    that is closely compacted together.
That is where the tribes go up—
    the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
    according to the statute given to Israel.
There stand the thrones for judgment,
    the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”
For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.

Discussion questions 

  1. In verse 1, the psalmist, David, expresses excitement about gathering together with the family of God. What is special about times of corporate worship? What do you value about church gatherings today? 
  2. Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit mean Christians do not have to go to the temple to meet God. Jesus is our high priest mediating between us and God. As a result, we don’t need to take pilgrimages to the earthly Jerusalem, but rather understand ourselves to be on a pilgrimage throughout our lives to God’s heavenly city. Can you think of songs or other corporate worship practices that remind us of our heavenly home and citizenship? 
  3. David closes the psalm by praying for peace for Jerusalem, God’s people. While we long for the heavenly city above, we also understand our responsibility to pray for, care for, and participate in the work of the church today. What are areas in the local and global church that are in need of prayer today? 

Read this psalm one more time. Imagine joining the joyful procession to the new Jerusalem. Join David in praying for peace in the church, both in your own local context and in your nation and the world. Pray that the church may be a foretaste of our heavenly home. 

This devotional is part of a series of devotionals created for worship teams. You can find the whole series here.