The Discipline of Worship

The Discipline of Worship

1) What thoughts or feelings does the word “worship” bring to your mind and why?

2) How do you define worship?

A) “The word worship comes from the Saxon word weorthscype, which later became worthship. To worship God is to ascribe the proper worth to God, to magnify His worthiness of praise, or better to approach and address God as He is worthy”

B) Biblical images of worship

1. Thomas with resurrected Christ
John 20:28

2. Four creatures in Heaven
Revelation 4:8

3. Twenty-four elders in Heaven
Revelation 4:11

4. The throng of Heaven
Revelation 5:12-13

3) Worship is…

A) Worship is focusing on and responding to God
1. God is the one true object of our worship and no one or nothing else should be
B) Worship is done in Spirit and Truth (Jn 4:23-24)

1. Without the inward filling of the Holy Spirit true worship is not possible

2. We must worship God as He is truly revealed in Scripture. He is a God of mercy and justice, love and wrath, forgiver and judge

3) What is the difference between worshiping God as He is revealed in the Bible and worshiping Him as you might want Him to be?

4. Worship in Spirit and truth is never a duty but always a joy of life

C) Worship is expected both publicly and privately

1. Publicly—Hb. 10:25—metaphors of the church as body, building, household. Worship is a corporate experience

2. Privately—Jesus is our model as He drew apart for private times or worship and prayer (Lk. 5:16). God is always available for private times of worship for as long as you want to worship Him

D) Worship is a discipline to be cultivated

1. Without discipline of worship. Worship will be shallow and inconsistent

2. Worship is an important part of our relationship with God. As with any relationship, times or worship require us to spend consistent time with God

4) Christ is the one true leader of our worship

A) Christ is alive and present as Savior and Redeemer, Prophet and King

B) Christ is present in His power to save us from sin

C) Christ directs the human means of worship (e.g. preaching, singing, praying)

5) Steps into Worship

A) Practice the presence of God daily

B) Have many different experience of worship (e.g. alone, corporate)

C) Prepare by rest, expectancy, confession, preparation and prayer for worship

D) Let go of any agenda in worship and let the power of God flow and speak

E) Cultivate a holy dependence on God for anything significant to happen

F) Absorb distractions (e.g. crying baby) with gratitude and conquer it

G) Offer a sacrifice of worship—Worship even when you don’t feel like it

6) The fruit of real worship is holy obedience. It causes us to change as we hear God’s call to serve and respond