I began the church planting internship with Brooklyn Church Project a month ago, and there is one recurring theme that keeps coming up in my experience thus far: practicing the basics. What do I mean by practicing the basics? One of the core values of Brooklyn Church Project is the commitment to the central practice of the Christian church: corporate worship. In worship, we are devoted to the Word, prayer, and the sacraments as the means of grace for God’s people. These are the basics of Christian practice.

Peter told the early church, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15). How do we set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts? We take hold of the means of grace: the Word, prayer, and the sacraments. In other words, we practice the basics.

One of the reasons I am taking hold of this value so quickly is because of my familiarity with the concept ofpracticing the basics in a different realm. A few years ago, I had a short stint as a high school basketball coach. I drilled my players in practicing the basics: passing, dribbling, shooting, rebounding, defense. I drilled my team in practicing the basics of team offense and team defense. I wanted the basics to become such a part of their orientation to basketball that they were ready to respond and execute well in game situations.

When the church practices the basics of the Word, prayer, and the sacraments, worship becomes such a part of their orientation to life that they are ready to respond and perform their faith well in life situations. Peter assumes that lives centered on Christ will demand questions from the watching world. Therefore, a primary focus of the church should be the practice of worship. The practice of worship enables God’s people to celebrate the gospel and thus set apart Christ as Lord in their hearts.

The recurring theme of my experience (practicing the basics) may seem too simple and too obvious. However, the simple and the obvious are good. The church has been practicing these basics throughout its history. So, we will practice the basics of worship in order that we might become a worshipping community that celebrates the gospel throughout Brooklyn.