Part 1 The Essence of Worship

Exercise Reflect on Worship definitions Exercise Reflect on Worship definitions Definitions of Worship

Defining Worship The English Word Anglo Saxon: weorthscipe Recognising the Worth of God The Biblical Words OT: Shachah - Bow Down Adobah - Serve NT:Proskuneo - Adoration Leitourgia - Serve

Defining Worship A Dual Aspect (1) Attitudes of Heart (2) Actions of Service Worship is the dramatic celebration of God in his supreme worth in such a manner that His worthiness becomes the norm and inspiration of human living. (Ralph Martin)

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. Isaiah 6:1-8

3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.

7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Exercise Draw the Movement in Isaiah 6:1-8

Awareness of God (vs 1-4) Response to God (vs 5-8) Movements in Worship

A Vision of God (v 1-4) Journey Upward A Vision of Self (v 5-7) Journey Inward A Vision of Others (v 8-9) Journey Outward A Vision of God (v 1-4) Journey Upward A Vision of Self (v 5-7) Journey Inward A Vision of Others (v 8-9) Journey Outward Worship as Vision/Journey

I Saw - Awareness of God I Cried - Confession of Sin I Heard - Gods proclamation I Said - Dedication to service Active Participation

Worship is becoming aware of God's presence and responding to His presence with verbal or active expressions of love and devotion.

Creation The Presence of God In the Bible

In the beginning God created...

God separated the water and sky...

God called the dry ground land...

God said, let there be light...

God created sea and sky creatures...

God created animals and man...

On the seventh day, God rested...

Gods Name The Presence of God In the Bible I am Yahweh! The God who is present among his people

The God who is present among his people Symbolised by:

Localised The Presence of God In the Bible

The Presence of God Tabernacle - Exodus 25:8,22

The Presence of God Jerusalem - Deuteronomy 12:4-7

The Presence of God Temple - 2 Chronicles 6:1,2

Universal The Presence of God In the Bible Psalm 139 Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens… If I make my bed in the depths… If I settle on the far side of the sea… If I say the darkness will hide me… YOU ARE THERE!!!

Universal The Presence of God In the Bible All of God is everywhere present all of the time. Everything in the universe is immediately in the presence of God.

Promised The Presence of God In the Bible I Will Be With You

The Hebrew Word The Presence of God In the Bible Before the eyes of… Under the gaze of…

In The Gospels The Presence of God In the Bible Emmanuel (God with us) - Matthew 1:23 There am I - Matthew 18:20 I am with you - Matthew 28:20 The Word became flesh - John 1:14

In The Believer The Presence of God In the Bible Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you.

In The Church The Presence of God In the Bible We are the temple of the living God.

In The New Jerusalem The Presence of God In the Bible Now the dwelling of God is with men and he will live with them. Revelation 21:3 Now the dwelling of God is with men and he will live with them. Revelation 21:3 Yahweh Shammah - The Lord is There! Ezekiel 48:35 Yahweh Shammah - The Lord is There! Ezekiel 48:35

The Presence of God The Problem of Unawareness Why??? God is invisible God is crowded out We dont discipline ourselves

The Presence of God The Problem of Unawareness Sometimes I envy the Catholic priests. They carry a crucifix around all the time. I need a reminder of the cross of Christ because I forget so easily what Jesus did for me through his death for us. James Denney, The Death of Christ Sometimes I envy the Catholic priests. They carry a crucifix around all the time. I need a reminder of the cross of Christ because I forget so easily what Jesus did for me through his death for us. James Denney, The Death of Christ

The Presence of God The Problem of Unawareness Biblical Examples Were there any Bible characters who were unaware of the presence of God?

Jacob - Genesis 28:10-17

Jesus Disciples - John 21:4-7

Emmaus Disciples - Luke 24

The Presence of God The Rewards of Awareness What would happen to us if we lived with an awareness of the presence of God?

Intimacy

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Security

Do not fear, for I am with you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Holiness

If Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. Romans 8:10

The Presence of God Praise: Tuning into Gods Presence I have set the Lord always before me. (Psalm 16:8) To Keep in Prominence

The Presence of God The Goal Raising our level of awareness of Gods presence. How???

Practising the Presence Remind yourself God is with you What reminders can you think of?

Practising the Presence Remind yourself God is with you Decide to talk to God Confess and continue Do everything for the Lord Take control of your senses

Practising the Presence How can we use our senses to experience Gods presence?

Practising the Presence Remind yourself God is with you Decide to talk to God Confess and continue Do everything for the Lord Take control of your senses Aim to experience God more

The Presence of God Worship: Responding to Gods Presence Praise: Express what God has done Worship: Respond to who God is Praise: Tune into Gods presence Worship: Respond to Gods presence Praise: Express what God has done Worship: Respond to who God is Praise: Tune into Gods presence Worship: Respond to Gods presence

The Presence of God What is the role of the worship leader?

A Description of Worship (1) Response All of our life is a festival, being persuaded that God is everywhere present on all sides, we praise him as we till the ground, we sing hymns as we sow the seed, we feel his inspiration in all we do. Clement of Alexander

A Description of Worship (2) Dialogue

God speaks to us Two-Way Communication We respond to him

Spectator Sports A Description of Worship (3) Participation Worship is not a Spectator Sport!

Involvement in Worship What do people do in worship?

Altar of Incense Goldern Lampstand Table of Shewbread Basin Bronze Altar Bronze Ark of theCovenant The Holy Place The Holy of Holies Worship is a Verb Take the Tour

Step 1 At the Bronze Altar Dedicate Yourself to God Offer your body as a living sacrifice...

Step 1 At the Bronze Altar Dedicate Yourself to God Offer your body as a living sacrifice...

Step 2 At the Bronze Basin Confess and Ask for Cleansing If we confess our sin he is faithful...

Step 3 At the Golden Lampstand Meditate on the Word of God Your word is a lamp to my feet...

Step 4 At the Table of Shewbread Reflect on the Unity of the Body How pleasant it is when brothers live...

Step 5 At the Golden Incense Altar Offer Prayers of Intercession The prayers of saints ascend like incense

Step 6 At the Ark of the Covenant Express Devotion to God I will meet with you above the mercy seat