There is a revolution in how we worship sweeping across Christian churches. This is leading congregations, denominations and clergy to face new and powerful forces of change—forces that bring renewal to some churches and fear to others. Churches are carefully examining what they are doing in worship hoping to somehow create an atmosphere of worship.
During recent years at First Baptist Church we have progressed in the use of new elements of worship and different genres of music. While these changes do not automatically elicit the response we might all hope, it has allowed us to experience different facets of worship. We have sought to be a multi-generational body of believers worshipping together using a blend of various types of music, drama, and multi-media.
We are once again embarking on an expansion in how we prepare for worship. There are many changes taking place in our society that are transitioning us from worship as an “event” to worship as a “lifestyle.” During the “40 Days of Purpose” we learned that worship is carried out and experienced in all of life. No longer is worship just a weekly service but is represented in a life surrendered to the Lord in the praise of His glory. If worship is not happening for you on Sunday, there is a good chance it is not happening during the daily routine of living.
So how do we make the transition, as a congregation, to daily live a life of worship? Christians are already inundated with devotional books, discipling materials, and other necessary information so now what more must we do to live a life of worship. We are able to see in King David a life of worship that brings honor to God and is fully given to His lordship. We also see in David a culmination of his daily worship in the corporate event we typically call the “worship service.” David begins his worship in the places where he lives his life, outside the local sanctuary, walking with God. He exclaims, “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.” (Ps. 89:15).
We also see in David’s life a worship that was uncompromising. He held nothing back and was willing to wholeheartedly express his devotion to the Lord. It was David who removed his outer royal garments so he could dance before the Lord as he led the Ark of the Covenant back to the temple. This was not the typical worship format of the day and his unabated expressions certainly ruffled some royal feathers.
Finally we see in David his desire for worship to be a witness of the transforming power of Almighty God. When David worshipped it was authentic. We have all benefited from someone we observed in church who was clearly worshipping the Lord. What a witness this was to the power of the one true God as David proclaimed, “I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples” (Ps. 57:9).
David’s life is a wonderful picture of worship. Despite his failures and sinful ways we find a heart seeking to glorify the Lord. My desire is for you to also come to the place where your worship will bring honor to the Lord and you will want to wholeheartedly express your devotion to the God. The outcome of this “life-worship” will be a clear demonstration to others as they see a genuine heart, offering genuine worship, unto the Lord. Worship is not a spectator activity you must become involved. Robert Weber says, “Worship is a verb. It is not something done to us or for us, but by us.” Let’s worship the Lord!
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Good words Mark! 'Speaking mainly for myself' - I fear that the reason we stuggle so with our corporate worship is because we don't realize our need to fight, the natural tendancy/desire/need of the flesh to pay the price ourselves rather than to be a "living" sacrifice. Too often when I think of the word sacrifice I automatically think of physical and material things - "What can I do" rather than "What can I be". When we read the words "faith without works is dead" do we jump straight into the "works" as if to somehow convince ourselves of our faithfulness rather than jumping into our faith with both feet and allowing the works to be the 'result'? And when David said he would sacrifice nothing that wasn't costly, do we again automatically think of physical/material sacrafice rather than that which is actually neither physically inconvenient nor financially costly - but is actually that thng which we 'covet' the most - CONTROL?
There's a bumper sticker that's popular among Christians that I find incredibly ironic. It reads: "God is my co-pilot". It's saying: "I (the driver) am in charge and God is plan B". I'm thinking of the popular and wonderful song titled "Jesus Take The Wheel". Isn't it so typical that the the words of the title don't come within the song until a wreck is in progress. Only then is the concept of giving up control and being a "living" sacrifice introduced. Not to suggest that we physically close our eyes and take our hands off the wheel when we drive, but one of my fondest childhood memories (before the days of seatbelts and yet more of man's protective laws) was when my mother or step-father would sit me in their lap while driving and let me put my hands on the wheel. Even then I knew I wasn't really driving and I would freak when they would take their hand off the wheel for just a second. I didn't want to "really" drive myself, but what a thrill it was just to be in the lap of someone I loved - and trusted (faith) - with complete confidence in their ability to handle the situation while I experienced a glimpse of life, at that given moment, from their perspective. This is EXACTLY what I believe Jesus meant when he said we are to be as little children and this is what I believe defines the core of our "personal worship". Just "be" in the Spirit before the throne of God while you're washing dishes or on the pot. Do this and those other things will be done by God with your little hands on the wheel.
I think this is where our "personal" worship has to begin - and then when it comes into line, our corporate worship will also.
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