What is worship?

[JIman]

Worship so often is "defined" as songs sung. My question is this: "What is true worship and how does theology play into worship?"

[chrismoncus]

I can tell you a few things the Bible says about it.


God commands it - Matthew 4:10 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=4&verse=10&version=31&context=verse)
God desires it for Himself only - Exodus 34:14 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=2&chapter=34&verse=14&version=31&context=verse)
Bondage, such as sin, hinders it - Exodus 8:1 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=2&chapter=8&verse=1&version=31&context=verse)
Is not specifically music
Can be done through music - Psalm 100:2 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=23&chapter=100&verse=2&version=31&context=verse)
God blesses those who do it - Exodus 23:25-26 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2023:25-26;&version=31;)
It is a natural response to His goodness - Genesis 24:25-27 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=1&chapter=24&verse=25&end_verse=27&version=31&context=context)

[Rob P]

Chris,

Thank you for the responce to the Worship question. I just joined this forum at the request of my church leaders and I learned more difinitively, what worship is from Biblical passages, then was explained other times to me.

Thank you for your knowledge. I will be back to learn and to ask questions in the future.

Thanks again.

[JIman]

I appreciate your reply. It is very grounded. Now if I may nudge you a little. Your verses showing worship were all how we could do it and the end result. I am going to ask for 3 things from you. 1) Find what Jesus and the apostles say about worship 2) Study and find what they define worship as. 3) Why is demanded and desired by God? In other words why is it important enough to merit a command? I would just like to say there is nothing wrong with OT scripture to back your point. I just want to pull in a unified study so that we get the old and the new thought processes on the same topic. I think you will fond worship takes a slightly different tone when discussed in the new testament verses the old. As do most things. Both sides are important and can be an interesting discussion topic in and of itself.

[chrismoncus]

Man. Good questions.

I'm going to study and think on these things and get back to you. Thanks for the challenge.

[JIman]

You are most welcome and I eagerly await your response.

[SaintLewis]

Worship so often is "defined" as songs sung. My question is this: "What is true worship and how does theology play into worship?"

True worship is a life lived in responding to God and the musical aspects of worship are simply the tip of the Iceberg, for no good pleasure or experience can be experienced in it's fullness until it is express, and one of the best expressions of our responding to God with our lives is musical. Worshiping God through song is an special opportunity to unite with other believers of various backgrounds and life-stories to encourage one another, metaphorically pushing one another one through our passionate singing, raising one another's eyes upwards to the one whom we worship, beginning to reverse the fall by creating a sense of our re-union with God, while reuniting us with the creation, our brothers & sisters in Christ, and even ourselves. Singing praise to the Lord is simply one aspect to ushering in God's kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven".

That's just off the top of my head...

[JIman]

I love your reply. I have a question though. If true worship is a life lived responding to God, then can you elaborate on that and tell what worship lived out looks like. How does worship in one's life manifest and impact not only others, but yourself also?

[SaintLewis]

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength"..."love your neighbor as yourself"...

Basically, living the Kingdom - ie, a life of worship - looks like Jesus. That's why I'm convinced that one of the most important aspects of being a worship leader is implementing a Biblical model of discipleship into the team: prayerfully teach, demonstrate, prayerfully teach, stand alongside while the disciple does it, prayerfully teach, challenge disciple to do it on his/her own and report back, prayerfully teach, send them out to do it on their own and raise other up likewise.

[JIman]

Wow a sincere and God lead answer. I thank you and look forward to seeing how worship is defined and/or lived out for others.

[FreedbyJC]

Worshipping is simply loving GOD.

And Jesus told us how to love GOD .... John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command." & v21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me."

[bblankin]

What is true worship?"

definitely one of the "big questions" :) SaintLewis has hit the main point, i think: that worship should be a way of life, not a discrete action. in addition, i want to say that worship is recognizing this truth and acting upon it: the truth that God is so great, so transcendent, so loving, so wonderful, so intimate that nothing else matters. however you get there, however you express it, when you act out that truth, you're worshiping.

how does theology play into worship?

many of us grew up with a false, limited picture of God: that he was a sort of santa-claus figure (he gives you gifts if you behave yourself) or the big policeman in the sky (watching for your mistakes so he can whack you) or a sort of grandparent (doting on you and thinking you're adorable no matter how you behave). no one would worship a god like that. i didn't begin to truly worship God until i began to grow in understanding how marvelous He really is. and as my view of Him continues to grow, i'm learning more and more about worship.

--
Ben B

[SaintLewis]

Ben - great point.

One of my favorite pastor/teachers, Mark Driscoll, often states that he can't imagine worshiping 'girly-man' Jesus that he could take down in a street fight, and believes the feminization of the church is one of the reasons so few men come. What man wants to worship a wimpy savior he could take in a street match? Thankfully, God is much bigger than the portrait we often encounter in the church.

[JIman]

I am truly inspired by the way this topic is taking off. I have not weighed in with my definition of worship yet, because I wanted to see a genuine discussion develop that did not seem forced by me or initially influenced by my answer. Not to mention, I thought it might be hokey to pose a question and immediately answer it myself.

Over the last few months I have seen so much of God as I struggle with a path of God that seems to have satan at every corner. I have been seeing the results of God's blessing on my life (Let me take a second to say that all the things we consider blessings are not... The car, The house, the new wife/renewed marriage. These things are like the shekinah glory of God...merely after effect and proof of the Glory of God. The Glory of God was shown to Moses when he looked at God's backside as a result his face shown for the rest of his life. It dimmed through the years, but the glow never completely disappeared. The same is true with blessing. It is the Blessing of God that produces the tangible things, relationships, and positions that we mistaken call blessing. That, however, is another topic altogether.)

Throughout my struggles, trials, and even persecutions I have learned what worship to God is. Worship true worship is service. A life of others first is a life of true worship. When you take a moment to see outside your box and find ways to impact other people's lives to the God (and yes I said God instead of Good, because God directed help is the only good help.) then we see God truly lifted high. I get stories everyday of how "Christians" hurt people, how "Churches" let people down and my wife with whom I am currently engaged in a sincere spiritual battle for her soul and our marriage asked me today how I could remain a Christian after how my local ministry centre has acted and allowed others in its employ to act toward me. I told her that a life of Christ is not about how I am treated or what ministry centre I attend, or even if I attend one.

A life of Christ is a relationship with the creator God and being in a personal relationship with him. A life with him is a life putting other's first and helping to end/ease their troubles in any way possible because that is how we show love to God and Love expressed is worship at its core. I will say it again love expressed (Yeshua tells us that this is how the world will know we are His i.e. that we love him, that we love one another....No greater love than this does anyone have than that would die for their friend. We are called to love the world and be be friends to lost people.) Trying dying for your enemy try a selfless love which I am learning so well through my struggles and you will see true worship.

Sorry if it is long and a little overkill but this point has been beat into my head almost literally throughout the last several months.

[El Ben]

One of my greatest mentors and teachers, Jason Spears, used to say that worship was recognizing who God is and who you are not, and responding accordingly. That, in a nutshell, I think is a pretty valid explanation of the concept of worship. Regardless how you thread the needle, it all rolls back down to worship being a response.

We can say we love, serve, and obey Jesus all we want, but the real truth of what we believe is made evident through our response. Faith without works, after all, is dead.

Just a thought.

[FreedbyJC]

AMEN El Ben ---getting throught the gate is a struggle sometimes but you cannot stand in the doorway thinking that's the journey! We've got a long road ahead of us and we must the walk the walk if we want to see the King.

[Michael G]

If I may recomend a book here. The title is "Real Worship" and is written by Warren Wiersbe. I don't always agree with everything in this book but there are many intersting points which I have had to do alot of thinking about. The main focuses are worship involves: wonder, witness, warfare, and wisdom.

[SaintLewis]

...as worship leaders that we make a point of trying to truly understand what God says about worship? I'm currently reading a very helpful book by Noel Due called "Created for Worship" that is an overview of the entire Bible as it regards Scripture. Another book, if you really want to WORK, is "Engaging with God" by David Peterson - a dense, and very hard to read, Biblical Theology (ie - it looks at EVERY passage in the Bible that addresses 'worship', looking at them in their literary and historical context, and summarizing the teaching of each book, then testament, then the Bible as a whole), but worth investing in, if you've the time. Either way, these have greatly helped me discern the great difference between what I 'heard' (understood) the first time I was asked to 'lead worship' and what God actually wants from us as lead worshipers. Anyway, those are a great aids to help you study the Word with 'worship' in mind.

[Michael G]

Shannon, Thank you for the book recomendation. I will have to get a copy. God bless.

[JIman]

I appreciate the book recommendations. I find it interesting to see that one was called Created for Worship, as this has been an aspect of my understanding for quite some time. Thank both of you for the book recommendations and I will be looking into to them.

[Michael G]

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24

In spirit and in truth. What is this spirit, what is this truth here? Maybe a look at Romans 12:1-2a will give a little insight on this.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:1-2a

A little more light is shed on this worship thing here. Our spiritual act of worship is the offering of our bodies as living sacrifices. Wow our bodies! Everything we do with our bodies, every action, every word, every reaction is to be as a living sacrifice to God. How is that possible? Look further into the verse, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Ok, so how do we renew our minds?

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

We do not do this renewing of our mind on our own. It is all done from God, through Christ. This is the only way to become a new creation, this living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. Hold on there, holy and pleasing? That's what Romans 12 says, our bodies are to be holy and pleasing to God. My mind tells me that no matter how much my mind is renewed and no matter how much of a new creation I become, my body could never truely be considered as holy! But what does scripture say?

"Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
Then I said, 'Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, O God.' "[a] First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Hebrews 10:5-10

So according to scripture, yes, my body has been made holy through Jesus Christ.

Looking at all of this my definition of worship would be:
The offering of our bodies as living sacrifices, which have been made holy and pleasing to God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we may be made into new creations who know God in spirit and in truth.

Hey what about all the other stuff? Gifts of the Spirit, acts of kindness, service, music, preaching etc.? I propose that all of that is a part of worship, but it stems from the above definition. That the renewing of our minds, the being made into a holy new creation produces all of the other parts of worship which we hold so dear. In fact, if I might be so bold, I would say that this can be the only consistant definition of worship because all of the other things involve diversity. God loves diversity. All of the other things about worship will differ between different cultures, backgrounds, and enviroment. I suggest that God loves to be worshiped in many different, diverse ways, the only consistant is the offering of our bodies and minds to Him.

I'm sure this post should get some interesting responses so let me have it! LOL Just remember I'm not a preacher or scholar I'm just a happy little CNA typing in a post!

[SaintLewis]

Michael - absolutely spot on! Amen.

[JIman]

I am impressed.

[jim_snedeker]

here's a web page with a fairly straightforward charge to those involved in leading worship...
http://www.church-musician-jobs.com/theologyofworship.html

enjoy

[bblankin]

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24
That's a fascinating passage. Allow me to quote a few verses before the one you quoted:
"“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."

To me, this implies a contrast with all worship prior to the life of Christ. "A time is coming ... a time is coming, and has now come ..." as if the moment arrived while he was speaking to her. "Yet ... the true worshipers..." seems to be in contrast to both "you Samaritans" and "the Jews."

Which begs the question: what is it about the Old Testament worship that was not "in truth"? The temple system was ordained by God -- how could that worship not be "in truth"? I'd like to see a couple of answers before I post Andrew Murray's answer.

[SaintLewis]

Jesus was speaking to a Samaritan who worshiped God incorrectly, in that they only believed and taught a portion of God's truth, the pentateuch/torah (1st 5 books), meaning that the rest was replaced by ideas from other pagan religions...their worship was VERY passionate and 'spirited', but lacked a solid grounding in truth....the Samaritans were used to being criticized by the Jews on that fact (it was common practice for Jews spit to on Samaritans if they saw one in public) and becuase they had built their own (false) temple. The Jews had the truth side down, but lacked 'spirit' - they understood the 'text', but missed the 'spirit of the text', and in the process were also missing God's ideal just as much as the Samaritans. I think this balance between objective knowledge and subjective experience of God is what Jesus is getting at.

I've preached on this - you can take a listen to the sermon on my Saint Lewis myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/saintlewis) if you want to listen.

blessings, ya'll!

[FreedbyJC]

Its like saying I have a book and then when asked what is it about, I describe the book physically...cover, title, author, photos, number of pages...all pertinent information but without any peronal commitment or heart involvement.

God was calling them into a relationship and they were only interested in their own desires and needs- "What's in it for me?" They wanted to be served and not to be servants.

[El Ben]

To use that same analogy, It's also like being able describe how the book makes you feel, the memories it evoked, the great thoughts you thought after reading it, and even how you would express it to others, but not being able to say what it looked like, who wrote it, or what the title was.

It's like shannon said earlier. It's all about balance.

[worshiptrench]

Dr Bruce Leafblad, whom both Louie Giglio and I had and were heavily influenced by defines it this way

Worship is communion with God in which believers center their mind's attention and heart's affection on God humbly glorifying Him for who He is and what He has done.

[Lodeharper]

Worship is not just a simple song. It is the second highest form of prayer to tongues.




______________
berta
2007 Lexus IS Technology by Lexus U.S.A. (http://www.who-sells-it.com/cy/lexus-u-s-a-2009/2007-lexus-is-technology-8564.html)

[SaintLewis]

Worship is not just a simple song. It is the second highest form of prayer to tongues.

Not to start an aggressive 'theological' debate, but as a charismatic Christian myself, I would be interested in seeing (drop me an email on here, as it'd be off topic from this post) your reasoning behind 1.) tongues being the highest form of prayer, and since it's on-topic, respond to this post 2.) the Biblical reasons you would conceive of worship as primarily 'prayer'. It's an interesting concept, but definitely not something I've heard/read before, so I'd love to hear you explain the idea.

[El Ben]

Originally Posted by Lodeharper
Worship is not just a simple song. It is the second highest form of prayer to tongues.

Well, considering that we're exhorted to seek the gift of prophecy over tongues, I'm pretty sure that I disagree with it being the highest form of anything, least of all, prayer, especially since one of the highest forms of prayer (if there is such a thing), I see listed in the bible is Romans 8:26- In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

Also, just because I didn't know until someone told me, it's considered bad forum ettiquite to make a one-shot statement of assumed fact with no explanation of why you think that it's true. Three words, Lodeharper: Burden of proof.

[worshiptrench]

It is the second highest form of prayer to tongues

Hmmm, don't know that I agree. But then we shan't discuss theology on this page according to the rules. Paul says I'd rather speak 5 words known in coporate worship than 1,000 unknown. A worship song is a known tongue prayer set to music.

[JIman]

I don't see any rules that say do not discuss theology, so go for it. Point of fact: I asked one person what does the bible say... and basically how does worship differ from old and NT. Those questions require theology. You discuss worship of God without the study of God (theology) being involved. The main problem I see with Christians on the whole is this effort to separate the theology from the worship, but good worship stems from good theology. Your whole life should be spokes of wheel coming out from the hub, which should be the bible. Never shy away from theological discussion that is how we grow.

[El Ben]

...don't know how Biblical that is, but I do know this: that when we begin to focus on things God has done/is doing, how big God is, etc. our focus is stripped away from ourselves and redirected into more of a thanksgiving mode. Like Ben B said, we begin to progress through those gateways into deeper and intimate encounters/responses with God as our focus moves more from "about God" to "to and with" God.

The following response isn't so much a response to the above quote as much as to the general idea of the last couple of posts here (http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?p=759#post759)

I think we just start building walls for our worship when we start throwing around these random, uber-biblical "worship theologies" on it. Don't get me wrong, I love the analogies we were discussing earlier, but I worry about assigning an equation to anything related to God, as he has a nasty habit of working outside the equation (sometimes, it seems, just to spite the fact that it's there.) What it all boils down to for me is this: If the songs I sing are more about God than to him, does he get any less glory? If the songs I sing are more about God than to him, have I worshiped any less?

[SaintLewis]

What it all boils down to for me is this: If the songs I sing are more about God than to him, does he get any less glory? If the songs I sing are more about God than to him, have I worshiped any less?

Stated that way, I'd say "No - He is equally glorified by songs to Him and about Him."

I think I'd reword the question, however, since most songs to God are about God - here's how I'd state the questions: If the songs I sing are more about 'what I think I am doing for God' than about Him, does He get any less glory? My personal answer is: explicit Glory? Yes. That's not to say He won't be glorified, as God glorifies Himself - I am convinced - in EVERYTHING (even in our sin and through permitted evil), but is He explicitly, and directly, outwardly more glorified by songs to/about Him more-so than songs about what we do for Him, I'd lean strongly towards saying 'Yes - He is.'

Discuss. ;-)

[El Ben]

Oh, well when you word it like that, I agree with you. God obviouslly gets more glory from any kind of expression in which He is the main focus. I totally see what you're saying there.

I also will say that God gets just as much glory when we celebrate who he is and what he's done, or his characteristics/aspects, [what Tozer calls "his Divine Nature" (Knowledge of the Holy).] If we were to do that in song format, it might not be necessarilly a statement of description to or about the Father so much as an expression of thankfulness for say, oh, his goodness.

Ex: I am free to run, I am free to dance, I am free to live for you, I am free.

While this line doesn't really go right out and say something like "Lord you are more precious than silver," it does make a point out of celebrating the goodness of God in that he has given us freedom. That might not have been the best example, but do you see what I'm saying? Celebration of who God is and what he's done is just as important as adoration of his person.

[russhutto]

I think you could split hairs on these ideas. And in the end it ends up being semantics.

I think what some of us are talking about has nothing to do with whether or not God is glorified.

I think it's more of an issue of OUR response to Him. Of course, there's no set formula for that, but there is a natural progression in most people's expression of worship in which the person's response is dictated by several different things.

these in no specific order are: What God has done for the individual. What God has done in the Bible. What God has done for mankind. What God can do. Who God is. What He does in the moment. etc, etc. since we are all individuals and respond to God in different ways, I think the 'move through the "tabernacle/Temple"' approach is a scriptural way to understand our offerings of worship. Whereas the OT progression makes not much sense to our practical natures in the 21st centuries, an in depth study of what each area of worship, and each element of worship symbolized or covered COULD be helpful for those who would "lead" in worship today. and by that I don't mean advocating going back to the Temple worship system, but looking at it as a portrait painted by God as an example to ALL in what spiritual worship is.

Just a thought.

P.S. There are indeed some formulas about worship/response in scripture, especially phrases that start in "IF"...

[El Ben]

Well-said, Russ. I by no means want to split hairs. In fact, my original intention was to point out how futile splitting hairs was. Somehow, I may have gotten my wires crossed and started splitting hairs about splitting hairs. Just remember, though, that what may seem splitting hairs to you may be clarification to me.

[russhutto]

Well-said, Russ. I by no means want to split hairs. In fact, my original intention was to point out how futile splitting hairs was. Somehow, I may have gotten my wires crossed and started splitting hairs about splitting hairs. Just remember, though, that what may seem splitting hairs to you may be clarification to me.

Nice, can I borrow a brush? haha.

Again, wasn't saying YOU were splitting hairs, just that it's really easy to. I do it all the time. Maybe that's why I'm a hair-splitter-spotter...because I ARE ONE!!

Anyways, back on point.

I wanted to add the "dictionary" definition of worship to the discussion.

wor·ship [wur-ship] noun, verb, -shiped, -ship·ing or (especially British) -shipped, -ship·ping.

–noun
1. reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.
2. formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage: They attended worship this morning.
3. adoring reverence or regard: excessive worship of business success.
4. the object of adoring reverence or regard.
5. (initial capital letter) British. a title of honor used in addressing or mentioning certain magistrates and others of high rank or station (usually prec. by Your, His, or Her).

–verb (used with object)
6. to render religious reverence and homage to.
7. to feel an adoring reverence or regard for (any person or thing).

–verb (used without object)
8. to render religious reverence and homage, as to a deity.
9. to attend services of divine worship.
10. to feel an adoring reverence or regard.

GREEK: (by the way, love word pictures!)

John 4:24s "worship" comes from 2 words: "pros" and "kuon"
"pros" meaning "towards, to, or at" and "kuon" meaning "dog"; when combined we get "proskuneo" which means "to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand"

This means that worship in this phrase is about posture - positioning one's self in a humble position (dog) and showing affection, adoration (a response such as a kiss). We can take from that that true worship is an act in which the "worshiper" approaches tenderly, humbly, and with more focus on the "object" (master) than themselves.

Combine that with "spirit" (the Holy Spirit) and "truth" (the truth pertaining to God and His revealed Word), and we can get a basic New Testament definition of worship.

That being said, FOR ME, all of that boils down to this simple definition of worship: responding to God in a posture of humility, led by the Holy Spirit, while aligning with His revealed nature found in Scripture.

(take a breather)

On top of that, we have different variations of "worship" throughout scripture, which to me, appear to be "ways to worship" rather than "worship" itself.

Take some time some time to look up "worship" or "praise" in a good lexicon, or concordance and you'll see what I mean!

[twc_admin]

Russ -
Your hair doesn't look split - it looks consolidated into the center.
Sorry - just had to lighten things up! :-)

[russhutto]

Russ -
Your hair doesn't look split - it looks consolidated into the center.
Sorry - just had to lighten things up! :-)

OMG LOL...

just kidding I never use chatspeak...

But very funny. I got the almohawk (almost a mohawk, but not quite a fauxhawk) a few weeks ago and myhair grows so fast, it just looks funny now...so this week I trek once more to get it mowed.

Gotta keep my students guessing. And, it's just me.

[El Ben]

You, fortunately, have the luxury of versatile hair. My hair has two styles and two styles only: short and kinky or long and kinky, but I just realized that my hair has nothing to do with God, and neither does the following statement:

Fred, you wanna do lunch today? Brogen's South? I WANT CHEESE STICKS!

[twc_admin]

Hey - hair, hair - it's getting hairy!
Ben - will PM you!

[bblankin]

I think what some of us are talking about has nothing to do with whether or not God is glorified. I think it's more of an issue of OUR response to Him. Of course, there's no set formula for that, but there is a natural progression in most people's expression of worship in which the person's response is dictated by several different things.

back to where i was in the other thread: it's not even so much about *my* response, as it is about my desire to lead the congregation in *their* response. my role as worship leader, as opposed to lead worshiper, is to facilitate (i.e. make it easy) the congregation's entrance into worship. for most worship leaders/lead worshipers, worship comes easily or naturally or however you want to say it. for many in the congregation, it doesn't. they find it difficult or challenging to leave the cares of this world behind and focus their attention on God, esp when their kids are squirming next to them or they notice a misspelling on the overhead or whatever.

the metaphor -- that's the word i used in the other thread -- of entering the gates with thanksgiving and the courts with praise, and progressing to worship, is not intended as a formula or "three steps to lively worship" or some such nonsense. it's my attempt to recognize and respond to the challenge of helping others overcome whatever it is that makes it difficult for them to get out of "the world" and into worship.

in my experience, it's easier for people in the congregation to move from daily distractions to thanksgiving than it is for them to move from daily distractions to worship. it's easier for them to move from thanksgiving to praise than it is for them to move from thanksgiving to worship. so perhaps i should say it the other way round: i want to lead them into worship. to get there, praise is a good jumping-off point. but it's hard to get hem to praise when they first walk in the door. to get to praise, thanksgiving is a good stepping stone.

not that it has to be that way, not that i do it that way every week. just sharing an idea that many have found effective.

[MeredithLCurtis]

When you look at examples in the Bible of people worshiping, you see something being given...a sacrifice...a bottle of expensive perfume....tithes & offerings...a song...a dance.:p
Worship is an act of giving to the Lord our devotion, affection, honor and applause. There is a sense of wanting to give something lavish that will delight the heart of the Father in Heaven and wanting to please God...give HIM the desires of HIS heart. :)
When you fall in love, you want to give little presents and do little things to show your affection. So in worship, you want to show Jesus how very much you appreciate all He's done for you and Who is is!:rolleyes:
There is something reckless and free about worship that is hard to define with mere words.:p

[BillyChia]

It seems to me that the Bible doesn't spend a lot of time defining worship but rather the authors of scripture spend most of their time describing worship.

[russhutto]

Part of me thinks the reason for that is because we were born to worship. Yeah I know, it makes a good "song"...but it's also true. We were created by God, for God.

Each one of us has an inherent desire to worship. The object of that desire, on which we focus that worship is really what makes the difference. We're all worshiping something in our lives. At times we "worship" God, others we worship other things.

This isn't to take away from "acts of worship" - those things we do or offer to God as an outward response of a worshiping heart.

[BillyChia]

we were born to worship.

100% true. You don't need to minimize that.

[MeredithLCurtis]

That is true! We are created to worship. And we worship. We worship something. It is hard to define worship...easier to describe worship because it is so inherent in our nature. Our nature is one that worships. :rolleyes: Almost like breathing. We can breath poison or fresh air but we always breathe. We can worship God or idols but we always worship!

[BillyChia]

Speaking of breathing,
Has anyone seen the Nooma video "Breathe?"
You can check out a clip here (http://www.nooma.com/Shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=318&Mode=WMV&PMID=223).
Deeper in the video Bell talks about how even non-Christians esentially proclaim God simply by being alive. The whole earth is filled with God's Kavod (http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Numbers&chapter=14&verse=21) (Glory).

[Danny White]

Worship to me is abiding in the True Vine and His words abiding in me!
Worship is spending time with Him in His word.
Worship is serving,being a servant in His kingdom.
Worship is praying and obeying.
Worship is hating what God hates and loving what God loves.
worship is doing all things in the name of the Lord.
Worship is not sin though for God hates sin but He loves righteousness.
Check out my web site, dannywhite.net

Danny:)