Tag Archive - theology

Worship without the Word of God Is Empty

June 28, 2011 in Worship with 2 Comments

The Bible is more than just a rule book, and more than just a bunch of stories. It is the revelation of God. It paints a vivid picture of God’s love for mankind. It shows us the vastness and wonder of God’s inherent character.

Why is this important in the realm of worship? What is the connection between true worship and God? True worship is worship that happens in spirit and in truth (John 4). Without an accurate picture of God, our worship can’t be truthful, spirit-filled, connective, or meaningful. We will find ourselves in a trap of redundant and ritualistic worship without meaning or authenticity. But seeking to understand God’s nature, His true nature, frees us from redundant worship.

How does redundant worship take over in our lives? It happens when our vision of God is limited by our own experience instead of the expressive revelation of who He is. When we let our understanding of God be shaped solely by our own limited experience, we put God in a box of our own design. Putting God in this box (which can’t contain Him anyway), makes our worship limited and flat.

The good news is that the Bible gives us a clear picture of consistent and dynamic worship of God. In every situation where people encounter the true and unchanging nature of God, worship immediately follows. We see this in the life of Abraham, Moses, David, Job, Elijah, Isaiah, and many others.

In fact, the unchanging nature of God was so real to the Apostle Paul, that his writings often include periods of expressive worship that momentarily break from his train of thought. The reality, though, is that there really isn’t a break because sound truth and theology should always result in a true expression of worship. We see this in Paul’s writings in 1 Timothy. Twice in this letter Paul breaks into praise, using what is believed to be early Christian worship language, in response to the truth of God being revealed. In 1 Timothy 1:17, he writes, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” in response and gratitude for the great mercy of God.

Again, at the end of the letter in 1 Timothy 6:15-16, Paul again expresses praise. Even in the midst of the very practical matters that Paul is writing about, he cannot escape the overwhelming truth and centrality of God. He says, “God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.”

These examples should serve to remind us who the God we are called to worship truly is, why He is worthy of our worship, and why worship is something we should engage in with our whole being. A true vision of God formed by the truth of Scripture will result in majestic and expressive worship in spirit and truth that happens in a way that engages all of who we are (emotions, intellect, spirit, body) in response to all of who God is.

Are you finding worship to be uninspiring, routine, or redundant? May I suggest you revisit who the God who has made a way for you to be redeemed truly is? Perhaps your vision and understanding of God needs to burst out of the box it’s been placed in and find a new expression capturing the wonder and majesty of the Creator of the universe. Then, together, we can truly express, “Blessed be the name of the Lord!”

How does God’s Word influence your journey of worship?

(Come back tomorrow for a list of practical suggestions of how to incorporate the Scriptures into a service of worship.)

Why I Do What I Do

June 22, 2011 in Worship Leading with 5 Comments

There’s an amazing quote that has been floating around the Internet over the past few days. In case you haven’t seen it, here it is:

Why I Do What I Do: A Quote From John Wimber

“The difficulty will not be so much in the writing of new and great music; the test will be the godliness of those that perform and deliver it. In that sense some of our worship community is not well prepared. Many have been allowed into worship leading because there is a need for their worship and musical skills.

But little has been said to them about the need for godliness, spirituality and depth of maturity in their individual and family lives. Quite frankly, many of our musicians are just not steeped in a daily spirituality.”

- John Wimber

Whether you agree or disagree with the theology and philosophy of John Wimber and the Vineyard Movement, the significance of these words cannot be denied. Continue Reading…

[Book Review] Sabbath by Dan Allender

June 3, 2011 in Book Review with 3 Comments

Of the Ten Commandments, perhaps the one related to the Sabbath is the most misunderstood and ignored one. Dan Allender addresses this in his book, Sabbath, part of Thomas Nelson’s Ancient Practices series. This series looks at the seven ancient practices that are common to all Abrahamic faiths. I received a free copy through Thomas Nelson’s Booksneeze blog-review program to read and offer my unbiased opinion on.

Allender examines what it means to see the Sabbath as a true day of delight instead of as a burden. He believes that most Christians have been taught poorly about the Sabbath and have thus developed incorrect understandings about it. He starts with the premise that we should keep a Sabbath not so much for our own benefit, but because God commands it. He sees the Sabbath not as an abstract “principle” to work into our lives, but as a reality to be engaged in weekly. It’s more than just not working, but the opportunity to experience true joy and delight in who God is, what He has made, and our place in it. Allender explores a wide range of ideas of how he sees Sabbath intersecting with the reality of our life in a fallen world. Continue Reading…

[QOTW] Through the Spirit and by faith

May 26, 2011 in QOTW with 0 Comments

“How do those things belonging to Christ become our own? The answer is that it is accomplished through the Spirit and by faith. We are grafted into Christ by faith and we continue to receive the blessings of that union by faith. The Spirit brings to us everything that belongs to Christ through the instrument of faith.”

— Neil H. Williams, “The Theology of Sonship”, (Jenkintown, Pa.: World Harvest Mission, 2002), 6

[QOTW] Responding to God or expressing ourselves?

May 12, 2011 in QOTW, Worship with 0 Comments

“Without knowing the dramatic plot and its doctrinal significance, our doxology becomes unfocused. Our praise lacks not only depth but even its rationale: For what exactly are we praising God? Are we responding to God’s character and works, or merely expressing ourselves?”

— Michael Horton, The Christian Faith, (Grand Rapids, Mi.: Zondervan, 2011), 23

[QOTW] The Core of a Biblical Theology of Worship

April 29, 2010 in QOTW, Worship with 0 Comments

The core of a biblical theology of worship is the worthiness of God.  Christian worship is only possible as our response to the glory, power and love of God as revealed most clearly in and through Jesus Christ.

The gift of God’s revelation enables humanity to worship….but our human tendency is for our vision of God to be small and petty rather than stretched to the heights and magnificence that he deserves.

From Mark Labberton in
The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God’s Call to Justice


New Beginnings and Revelations

January 8, 2010 in Ponderings with 0 Comments

It’s the time of year when we look to new beginnings. We seek to gain a greater understanding of some things, and in other things seek to do better at them. For some people, we might desire certain revelations to come about that will cause pieces of the puzzle of life to fit together better.

One of the greatest revelations of all time is celebrated at this time of the year. Whether or not it actually happened date wise at this time of the year isn’t important. What’s important is that it happened.

What is this that I write of? The time of the Christian year known as Epiphany, or the time when God appeared.

A few days ago I received an group email from Dan Wilt, a leader and scholar in the world of ancient/future worship, talking about the significance of Epiphany and the new year. With his permission, I’d like you to read what he wrote… Continue Reading…

The Languages of Worship: Prayer and Scripture (Essentials Red)

March 4, 2009 in Worship with 0 Comments

For: The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship History Course with Dan Wilt

We’ve developed this church perspective that worship = music. While music and singing are a huge part of worship expression, worship is far more than music. It’s something that I am discovering both in the Bible and in looking at the history of worship expression in churches across time. Two of those expressions that we should revisit are those of prayer and scripture.

The worship languages of prayer and Scripture have always been important to me, and I have been privileged to be a part of churches that have valued those things, even if maybe not to the point of the Church of the past. These languages played a huge role in the life of the early church, both corporately and individually. For them, life drove prayer. Continue Reading…

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