It is Sunday morning,  11 am, the 'holy hour'. The people of God have had a little extra sleep, a relaxed breakfast and a leisurely glance at the morning paper. Now they are walking in to the entrance of their chosen church, greeting familiar faces and preparing themselves for what may be either a most fulfilling activity or perhaps the longest, dullest hour of their entire week if they've come just to 'play church'.

     The people of God have come to worship. And it can be the most exciting activity of our lives.... when we discover the freedom and wonder of worship.1

     But if you attend the 1st Church of the Frozen Chosen, you're in trouble. Because worship there is nothing more than an intellectual fill up. And you leave perhaps knowing more about God but not necessarily loving God more than when you came.

     However, if you attend the 2nd Church of the Second Blessing you are also in trouble. Because worship there is nothing more than an emotional fill up. And you leave perhaps loving God more but not knowing why? It is my belief that those in both churches are missing the boat when it comes to worship.

     When Christians gather to worship what really matters? It is a question I have been asking myself for a number of years now. I have, and so have many of you, been exposed to many styles, cultures, philosophies and methodologies of corporate worship. Looking out into the church world, there are Traditional, Alternative, Contemporary, Liturgical and Free-flowing worship styles. But what I want to examine, in this study, are the non-negotiables of corporate worship.

ILL: Having been a wedding photographer I attended hundreds of weddings. And I think we can learn something about worship from weddings. Wedding come in a variety of shapes and sizes with endless variety of tastes, locations and styles.

     Some take a year to plan their wedding while others go from I will to I do in a few weeks. Some just elope. Couples are pronounced man and wife in cozy living rooms, under arches in cathedrals in the sun lit field in their favorite park..and some on roller coasters. There are economical weddings and some very lush and extravagant. Some have just a couple, minister and best man/maid of honor. While others have 26 in the bridal party, 350 guests at the reception, a photographer, videographer, dj and live band, wedding coordinator and a 10 page program.

     No one of these styles or forms of weddings are necessarily right or wrong. When it comes time to getting married, there are legitimate options. Yet, in every case there is that non-negotiable common focus...as a man and women say their vows before God and the guests, God joins then as husband and wife. That is why the wedding, regardless of the form or style is held. That is why the guests come. Every element of the wedding leads to one, unmistakable point....two people are joined in marriage, because at a wedding what really matters ..is a marriage!2

     It would be sad, then, for someone to sit in wedding after wedding, critiquing the form, the style and the appearance of the couple and never rejoice in, celebrate the mystery of a man and a woman becoming husband and wife through the miracle of marriage.

     If we know what really matters in a wedding ceremony, isn't it even more important to know that really matters in a worship service? To do that we need to develop a clear understanding of what God's Word has to say on the subject of worship.

     That seems simple doesn't it? Be there is a problem, a big problem. Our theology tends to look suspiciously like our own practice and tradition. We tend to view Scripture through the lenses that preserve the beliefs we already hold. (preunderstanding) But, by God's grace, we must determine what is truly important and essential and what is merely secondary in the worship of God.3

II. Direction of the Study
    A. What do each of us bring to our worship?

Question: What was the denomination of the church your family attended when you were young?
                 After you got married, did you go to the same church? If not, where did you go?
                 In what church have you spent the most time over your life?

Question: Give us an example of one time in worship, in any of the churches you have attended, where you experienced
                 God's presence in a strong, intimate and passionate way.

Question: What are you looking to get out of this class on Worship?

Question: What am I looking to teach you about worship?

      Biblical Worship is a matter of the Head, Heart and Hands

ACTION: Song: The Heart of Worship by Matt Redman

Question: What is this song saying about true worship?

      All of us come to worship from time to time taking worship from what it should be to what we want it to be.
      And when that happens, we fail to worship God.

      If you came thinking that worship = music or if you don't like the music and sit there  criticizing it and those leading it,
     then you have not worshipped God that morning.

     If you came thinking that worship = the sermon and if you didn't like the message, and sit there criticizing the preacher for
    what he said or for how long or quickly he said it, then you have not worshipped God that morning.

    If you came thinking worship = silence or worship = shouting and celebration then when worship becomes something you
   don't like, you tune out and you have not worshipped God that morning.

     Worship is not based on what we like. Worship is based on who we love....Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Many Christians feel that worship must suit their tastes. Many churches have been built on the personal preferences of the people in the pew. We want to choose who we will worship. The problem is...worship is not about  and for us, it is about and for God alone and He has a way He wants us to worship Him and He reveals it to us in His Word.

     Many churches today have made worship self centered instead of God centered. I don't like the songs, I don't like the volume, I don't like the standing, sitting and kneeling we do. It is as if we are worshipping worship instead of worshipping God. Worship is not music, not preaching, not posture, although it includes all of these. Worship involves a decision made when we are prompted by the Spirit of God to offer God that which is his due.  Worship is an expression of our relationship with God..in song, shouts, whispers, sitting, kneeling, praying, preaching. Worship is our response to God.

    Since I believe worship involves a decision, then the greatest worship happens when someone who doesn't like a churches music or liturgical style prays...Not my will but yours be done, God. I'll still worship you.

     I said it was sad when people at a wedding only criticize and critique and never rejoice in the marriage union...It is even sadder, when we debate endlessly on the secondary or non-essential of worship and miss what really matters.

     The Almighty Creator, God of the Universe has called us to enjoy an intimate relationship with Himself through the perfect sacrifice of His Son, so that we will proclaim His greatness and His glory both as individuals and together as a local church, as we gather together to honor the God of our salvation.4

III. Class Objectives
    A. To stimulate our intellectual knowledge OF worship (head)
     1. What is the theological foundation for worship?

Question: Is it necessary to have a theological understanding of worship in general and of what we do in worship specifically?
                 Why?

           YES! Because worship is wholly about  and directed to God, we must have knowledge of who He is and what He requires of us. We find that in God's Word and Scripture must be the foundation for all that is done in the name of and activity of worship.

     2. What is the historical foundation for worship?

Question: Can church history teach us about worship? What can it teach us?

         Significant historical changes through history have effected our worship today
         We are part of a worship tradition, we are not alone.

     3. What is the responsibility of the individual in worship?

Question: Is it important to have a Biblical understanding of who we are and how we are to worship God as individuals?

         Yes, because we were created to worship God.

    4. What is the responsibility of the 'church' in worship?

Question: Is it important to have a Biblical understanding of how we are to worship God as a local church? Why?

          Yes! Because the primary purpose of the church is to worship God.

    B. To stimulate our emotions TO worship (heart)

Question: What is you initial gut response to what I just said?
                  Is it necessary to examine the emotions when discussing worship? Why?

     1. What is the relationship between worship and emotion?
     2. What are appropriate emotions to display in worship?
     3. Emotions and being 'charismatic'.

    C. To stimulate our bodies FOR worship (hands)

Question: What comes to mind when I say we will talk about the use of the body in worship?
       What are some of the feelings or thoughts associated with the use of the body in worship?

     1. What does 'Liturgy' mean?
     2. What is the place of music in the church?
     3. How does the work of worship and the use of the body contribute to worship?

IV. Process
    A. Theological/Biblical foundation of worship
     1. Definitions
     2. Character of worship
     3. The Order of Worship

   B. Historical review of worship in the church through the centuries
     1. Old Testament worship
     2. New Testament worship
     3. Constantinian worship
     4. Medieval worship
     5. Reformation worship
     6. Revivalist worship
     7. Modern worship
     8. Post-modern worship

    C. Practical examination of worship in our contemporary society
     1. Personal worship
         a. How do we worship?
         b. When do we worship?
         c. It's impact on corporate worship.
     2. Corporate Worship Style
         a. All churches have one
         b. CBC's Style: Blended Worship
         c. Style and Labels: Too Catholic or too Charismatic
     3. Music in worship
         a. Theological examination
         b. Historical perspective
         c. Practical application
     4. The use of the body in worship
         a. Standing, sitting, kneeling, raising hands, walking forward for communion, baptism, anointing w/oil,
            sign of the cross, sharing the peace, etc.

Conclusion: Worship is the work of the people- we need to work together to create  worship that is the gift of our own community to God. Holy and acceptable, in Spirit and Truth.
 
 
 

Harry Causey      'Open the Doors'
Bob Kauflin        'Worship Matters' PDI Ministries
Robert Webber  'The Sacred Actions of Christian Worship' Hendrickson Pub. Peabody. 1993
Robert Webber  'The Renewal of Sunday Worship' Hendrickson Pub. Peabody. 1993