Quiet Time Repertoire

Repertoire - the entire stock of skills, techniques, or devices used in a
particular field or occupation: a musician's repertoire.

Dear Worshipers,

Over the last few weeks we have been looking at the vision statement of our Worship Ministries. We looked at some different perspectives on worship as a lifestyle and the character of our responses to God. We also considered how corporate worship prepares us for our life of worship. Today I want to consider our private worship prepares us for our life of worship, but first let us remind ourselves of our vision.

Our Worship Ministries exist to nurture worship as a lifestyle
characterized by sincere responses to God's self-revelations.

I am borrowing a list from a book I have been reading, worship-a way of life by Patrick Kavanaugh. He takes care to develop the role of the Bible and prayer in our private worship. He states that the key to quality in this discipline is consistency. He takes a pretty hard line saying that if something is important to you, you make time for it. I would agree. I have struggled at different times in my walk with Christ to prioritize time with God, but have always found a way to make it work. It has always required sacrifice and flexibility on my part, but I believe that is part of the sanctifying process.

After outlining some key aspects to these previous pillars (Bible and Prayer), he offers a list with suggestions to help develop Worship as a part of the quiet time. This is his list: speaking praise to God (Psalm 71:8), singing songs to God (Ephesians 5:19), singing spontaneous praise to God (Psalm 96:1), physical activity (Psalm 95:6), adoration Psalm 46:10), communion with God (Luke 22:15), meditating on the Word (Psalm 199:97), and waiting on God (Psalm 27:14). [pp. 184-187] This is quite a list!

Before you become overwhelmed with this list, remember that they are suggested things to ADD to your quiet time repertoire. Kavanaugh, an orchestra conductor, used the analogy of a concert pianist adding to their repertoire to illustrate the approach. These artists have a list of pieces that they have at their disposal to use at any time they have the opportunity to play. Beyond this list, they add one piece at a time so as to diversify and compliment their repertoire. Remember the definition of repertoire above.

As you desire to continue to grow in your worship lifestyle, one essential component will be to develop your quiet time repertoire of worship. This will enable and empower your worship as you go through the “noisy” time of your day. It will give you an expression of worship for every setting quiet or noisy, essential repertoire for the life of worship.


In Christ,

Pastor Scott