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September 2004 Table of Contents
Modes of Worship
Biblical Acts of Worship … the Journey Continues
By Mark Garner
In last months issue we discussed these seven acts of worship
- Shouting to the Lord
- Being silent before the Lord
- Kneeling before the Lord
- The Congregational Amen
- Raised heads
- Bowed heads
- Lying prostrate before the Lord
We must remember that if as Christian worship leaders we say we believe the Bible then our worship services must be biblical. If they are to be biblical, then they must include the elements or acts found in the Bible. "The church is reconsidering and reconfiguring this vital expression of its relationship with God, and as a result we more than ever need to study worship in its biblical context… because anything else will not be acceptable to God." I challenge you to consider yourself more of a worship developer than a worship leader. Part of that developing is understanding your role as teacher and using opportunities in your worship to expand your congregations understanding of true worship.
Chuck Smith Jr. "Depth & Breadth in our Worship" Worship Leader July/August 2003
Biblical Act of Worship #8 "Declaring our Thanks"
Biblical reference – Hebrews 13:15 "Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, of thanksgiving to our God"
Explanation: The fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
Application: We should allow for times of thanksgiving in our worship services, times to express our thanksgiving both out loud and silently. This could be set-up with several scriptures and simply saying to the congregation "Let us declare our thanks today for... or let's spend some moments today thanking the Lord for.... "
Biblical Act of Worship #9 "Affirmation of our Faith or the use of Creeds"
Biblical reference: Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD alone."
1 Kings 18:39 "And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God!"
Matthew 16:16 "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Explanation: The Latin word for credo means "to believe/trust, commit or trust in". The English definition means a formal statement of religious belief or a confession of our faith.
Application: When the church collectively makes a declaration of their faith, whether it be the use of the Te Deum or the NICEAN creed, there is a synergy that takes place as young and old proclaim "out-loud" their beliefs. Check out www.creeds.net for other creeds used in the church and found in scripture.
Biblical Act of Worship #10 "Singing Psalms"
Biblical reference: Colossians 3:16
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.,
Other references: James 5:13, Ephesians 5:18-19, Matthew 26: 29-30
Explanation: This refers to the actual Psalms themselves or could also be interpreted as a pious song. The leading idea of the psalms is that they were accompanied by instruments.
Application: There is such a richness in the psalms that we should incorporate them often in our worship services, either by singing them or songs based on the them.
Biblical Act of Worship #11 "Singing Hymns"
Biblical reference: Ephesians 5:18-19, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."
Other references: Matthew 26:29-30, James 5:13 Colossians 3:16,
Explanation: A hymn is a song in the praise of gods, heroes and conquerors. It is a sacred song related to celebration. Generally it means a song of praise to God. It isn't necessarily just a song in the hymnal, all though most hymnals contain psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. The song "Sing to the King" by Billy James Foote technically is a hymn.
Application: Just as we should use psalms in our worship, we should use hymns also. We should educate our members as to what are true hymns. Simply talking about this and referring to new hymns as hymns can help to redefine and break down the stronghold often held on members who complain with the phrase "We don't sing enough hymns." We may in actuality be in a period of church music where there are more hymns being sung than there were 10 years ago.
Biblical Act of Worship # 12 "Singing spiritual songs "
Biblical reference: Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
Other references: Ephesians 5:18-19, Matthew 26:29-30, James 5:13
Explanation: A spiritual song is a song, lay or ode – the ode is the generic terms. Psalmos and humos are specific meaning a song which took its general character from the Old Testament psalms, although not restricted to them the latter was a song of praise with some spiritual meaning. Many of today's songs that are not specifically in praise to the King (meaning they would be classified as a hymn) could be classified as a spiritual song.
Application: We should plan on the use of the spiritual song in our worship. Songs of this nature often speak to both the intellect, the emotions and our spirit.
Biblical Act of Worship # 13 "Sing a new song "
Biblical References: - 6 Psalms refer to "singing a new song" Revelation 14:3 "and they sang a new song before the throne"
Other references: Ephesians 5:13,14 Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Revelation 5:7-10,
Explanation: A new song would mean just that "a new song". New songs flow out of spirit filled believers.
Application: We should allow for new songs to come forth spontaneously, begin by singing new songs yourself. Several songs we use now in worship were actually birthed as spontaneous songs in live worship. Examples include the song "Breathe" and "Change my Heart O God".
Biblical Act of Worship #14 "The Confession "
Biblical References: 2 Corinthians 9:13 "Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for [your] liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men."
Other references: Isaiah 57:16-19, Psalms 38:18, Ezra 10:11, Philippians 2:11, James 5:16, Leviticus 26:40,
Explanation: Ezra 10:11 exhorts that we are to "make confession to the Lord." Throughout history the church has been known for making public confessions. When we as believers confess out loud the world takes notice.
Application: There are several musical confessions that we can sing like "Breathe" … declaring that we are desperate for the Lord, or "Sweet Mercies" which begins with the words "It's our confession that we are weak…" We can also confess through directed prayers and through congregational readings. Confessions can be sung, or spoken individually or corporately. Confessions can be predetermined or can be made spontaneously. Confessions can be either about ourselves, our depravity, and can lead us into confessions of who God is.
May I challenge you to take a hard look at the elements you are incorporating into your worship services throughout the next month and venture out a little by using some of these biblical acts of worship.
Mark Garner serves as the Associate Pastor/ Worship and Creative arts at the First Baptist Church of Hurst, Texas. These acts of worship have been formatted into a workbook and also have been the emphasis for an email campaign entitled "THIRTY-DAYS-OF-PRAISE." For more information on the material contact Mark via email at mark@firsthurst.com.
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