A lot of folks work really hard in our worship ministries. From AV techs to choir members, worship team vocalists and instrumentalists to soloists, our sacrifice of corporate praise is expressed in many ways. But what is the point of all this labor? What are we trying to accomplish?
Each year as we begin again together I like to remind us of the vision God has given for our worship ministries.
Our Worship Ministries exist to nurture worship as a lifestyle
characterized by sincere responses to God's self-revelations.
This is a daunting task, one that is truly beyond our ability to accomplish, for we are far to ordinary. I am reminded on this on a daily basis. However, the God we serve is far from ordinary; He is extraordinary. As we yield to the Lord, He empowers us to fulfill His purposes in our lives, individually and corporately.
Near the end of last year I was reading two different books which provided solid reasoning for the vision we share: Facedown by Matt Redman (opening words) and Worship - A Way of Life Patrick Kavanaugh. I would heartily recommend both to you as you continue to grow in your pursuit of a life of worship. I want to share a few words from each to continue to expand our understanding and expression of worship as a lifestyle.
Matt Redman’s book opens like this.
When we face up to the glory of God, we soon find ourselves facedown in worship. To worship facedown is the ultimate outward sign of inner reverence.
Every posture in worship says something of both the worshipper and the One being gloried in. The raising of hands tells of a soul stretched out high in praise and the worth of the One being exalted. Joyful dancing interprets a grateful heart and points in adoration to the source of that joy. When it comes to expressing our worship, what we do on the outside is a key reflection of what’s taking place on the inside. Out of the overflow of our heart we speak and sing, we dance, and we bow. God reveals and we respond. [emphasis mine] God shines and we reflect. In the very same way, facedown worship is the overflow of a heart humbled and amazed by the glory of God…
Patrick Kavanaugh offers a very reasoned development of this response that is worship. In the last page of the book he shared this analogy which I thought was a wonderful picture for us to consider.
A true relationship does not limit expression merely to certain times and preplanned places. Suppose I kissed my wife only once each week in a specific place in our house. If you observed such an odd ritual, you would surely conclude that the relationship between my wife and me must be rather formal and cold.
Of course I kiss my wife when she wakes up, and when she walks down the hall, and when she is working in the kitchen, and when she sits at the table. There is no “standard time and place” for a husband to kiss his wife. If they truly love each other, then he delights in giving her a kiss and she delights in receiving it.
So it is-even more so!-in our relationship with the Lord…
This analogy is strengthened with the knowledge that the most common word translated for worship in the New Testament is proskuneo, which means “to kiss toward.”
This is our goal, individually and corporately. Each of us is growing in this discipline of worship. Some of you have resolved even this year to pour your energies into your pursuit of God, and may find yourself frustrated. Kavanaugh offers this words near the close of his book as an encouragement to the individual worshipper in their worship of God, but I believe we can receive these words as a ministry as well. “Like any new habit or discipline, there is a need for persistence-but not guilt.”
Persist in your worship my friends, and it will become your way of life. As we persist together, it will also characterize the ministry we share. To God alone be the glory.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
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