Worship Part One

Okay, I do recognize the fact that it is still Wensday . . . but since what I am about to say is totally unrelated to pink Sobes . . . I thought I would go ahead and start a new post. So here goes.

This is something that I would like to try and keep up with. What it is, is basically the notes from an ACE (Adult Christian Education) class I am now taking. Anything in orange, is what I have added.

Pastor Marv starts out by giving some definitions of some basic words that we use. He gave these simply so we would all be on the same page when we were defining worship. I have ommited a few of his points just to try and keep it to the point.

Worship -- Part One

Terminology:

A. Praise -- Approbation, Commendation, Esteem Point being, we praise our kids (theoretically -- I don't have any . . . you get the idea) but we don't worship them.

B. Bless -- To speak well of Yes, when God blesses us or we say "God Bless" to someone that is asking God to do you a special favor etc. But we are not able to do that to God. How can we?

C. Fear -- Phobes This is the Greek word. It means more than just respect. It means a literal fear. God is a "fearsome" God.

D. Glory -- Weightiness, Splendor

E. Sacrifice/Offering -- To bring to, or Give

F. Majesty -- Great, Greatness

G. Splendor -- Great lustor, or brightness, briliance, magnificent, etc.


Seeking a Right Definition

A. Record your own definition of worship -- Worship comes from our heart through our mouth/body and up to God. It is an expression of our love for God.

B. The Bible never -- Defines worship it does define faith and many other major words in a Christian's vocabulary but it leaves the definition of worship open.

C. Worship is not

1. Attending a church service -- EVEN FOR A SAVED PERSON -- that is something that I need to remember at times. Just because I am there and I am saved and participating does not mean I am worshiping!

2. An emotion -- don't use an emotion as evidence that you are truly worshiping. It is quite likely that you will get a chill when you are truly worhiping. But some people get chills when they puke so don't hold that one up as a standard.

3. Necessarily about feeling good -- Many times we have to come before Him with a broken heart. When my heart is broken I have a hard time standing up and smiling and singing loudly. But I can still manage to crawl to God and give Him some praise.

D. Psalm 29:1-2 -- "Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

The Two Parts of Worship

A. Praise -- Vocally giving Him adoration

B. Life -- Obedience in every part
we are supposed to worship God all of the time. I know I sure can't sing while I'm trying to figure out a problem at work or something. But I can try to solve that problem for God's glory!!

Nailing It All Down

A. Worship is all about -- God

B. Most people worship God for one of two reasons:

1. He told me to -- Duty -- This is right!! God has told us to worship Him. We need to do that even when we don't want to.

2. Because I want to -- Love -- This is what I typically think of as worship. Singing along with Scott Krippayne when the sun is shining and I have the windows rolled down. But God has told us to worship Him on the worst of days.

C. We should be motivated to worship God because of:

1. Who He is.

2. What He's done -- Even if He did nothing we still owe Him praise.

D. Recognizing that God is the initiator, worship is:

1. Relinquishing self to God

2. Responding to God

3. Relating to God

Pretty cool stuff uh? Anyway I will try to remember to post next week's lesson. If I forget one of my readers (God bless all three of them) will have to leave a comment or send me an email or blow my house up or something. (Preferably one of the first two)