What is it that guides our approach to corporate worship and worship leading?
Hopefully, you’ve given thought to this and have begun to develop a philosophy of worship ministry. As part of my recent ministry search, I had the opportunity to clarify mine. As I mentioned in the opening post of this blog series, I will be sharing them over the next four weeks two at a time.
Here are the first two. Please read, ponder, and “borrow” them if you would like.
Worship is about remembering and responding.
True worship celebrates God, both who He is and what He is doing. Regardless of what’s happening in the world around us, we need to recognize that God is still in control, He is worthy of praise, and He desires to be enthroned on the praises of His people. (Rom. 8:28-29, 2 Cor. 14:17-18, Psa. 103:1-5)
The more we know who God is, the more we are stirred to love and worship Him. As we recognize Him we are drawn to praise Him. Through the Scriptures, as the people of God remembered, celebrated, and saw the Lord, they responded to Him in worship. (Psa. 143:5-6, Psa. 42:5-7, Psa. 77:11-12, Isa. 46:9)
Worship is not about making ourselves feel good, but about remembering and proclaiming the story and glory of God played out in the cross of Christ. Worship should draw people’s eyes to Jesus Christ and recognize Him as Savior of the world. (Phil. 2:8-11, 1 Peter 2:5, Rev. 5:6-14)
Worship should always be focused on Christ, the cross, and the truth of Scripture.
Worship without Christ is not worship. This intentionality is what separates the people of God gathered to worship from any other type of gathering. In that intentionality, the Gospel is consistently rehearsed and reminds us that Christ is the exact representation of God, the reflection of God’s glory, the author and finisher of our faith, and that in Him is found all glory, honor, grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness. This focus on Christ and the finished work of the cross is also a shadow of the worship that is and will happen before the throne in heaven.
The basis for this is the truth of the Word of God and its obvious inclusion in any worship opportunity. Worship gatherings built around Scriptural truths and Christ are more effective in drawing people than random collections of songs and verses. Not only will the people of God be renewed in this, but it is how the unbeliever present will be drawn to respond. (Acts 17:23, Rev. 4:10, Rev. 5:9-10, Heb. 12:2, Heb. 1:3, 2 Tim. 4:1-2, Col. 3:16, 2 Tim. 3:16, 1 Cor. 14:25)
What do you think? What would you add? Is there anything confusing or unclear? This is a work in progress as I continue on mu own journey of worship and leading.
Have you developed your own philosophy or guidelines? What are they?
Be sure to come back next week for the next two.
