1. What Is Christian Worship?

2. Old Testament Worship
There is no general term for “worship” in the Old Testament. Instead, many words are used to describe the actions of worshiping the Lord.
Bow down, confess, know, trust, fear, seek, draw near, wait on Yahweh, intercede or make supplication to, be still, sing praise, exalt.
The worshiper comes to God as a part of a larger community bound to the Lord in covenant.
The worshiper is called on to praise God specifically for his great deeds of salvation, in history. These deeds are remembered and celebrated in Feasts and holy days.
Sacrifice and offering were a part of Israelite worship, as well as specific places for meeting God.

3. When we can’t even…
Luke 22:31, Jesus to Peter, “Satan has sought to sift you out as wheat, but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.”
Romans 8:26- “We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
Romans 8:34- “Who is to condemn? Jesus Christ is the one who died- more than that, who was raised- who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

4. When we can’t even…

5. Christ Fulfills OT Worship
Matthew 1-4: Christ is the Messiah, the new Davidic king, the shoot from the stump that was dead. He responds, where Israel did not. He restores not only Israel but all the nations.
John 14-15: Christ fulfills the Father’s promises, doing the Father’s works, keeping the Father’s words and commands. He bears the fruit of that relationship.
Hebrews 8-9: Christ is our high priest, present with the father, mediating and interceding on our behalf, offering himself once and for all.

6. Christ Draws Us Into True Worship
Gal 4:4-7 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

7. Christ Draws Us Into True Worship
John 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

8. Christ Draws Us Into True Worship
“It is he (Christ) who leads our worship, bears our sorrows on his heart, and intercedes for us, presenting us to the Father in himself as God’s dear children, and uniting us with himself in his life in the Spirit… God has already provided for us that response which alone is acceptable to him- the offering made for the whole human race in the life, obedience and passion of Jesus Christ…The gift of sharing in the intercessions of Christ is that when we do not know how to pray as we ought, the Spirit makes intercession for us. Whatever else our faith is, it is a response to a response already made for us and continually being made for us in Christ.”- Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace, James Torrance.

9. Response to a Response…
Row, Row, Row your boat…
Pray, pray, pray for us,
When we cannot pray.
Draw us in, draw us in, draw us in, draw us in
To your perfect way.

10. Two movements
Father
Son
Spirit/Us

11. What is Worship?
Worship is, at its core, participation in a relationship. There are two movements taking place in this relationship.
The movement from us to God proceeds to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.
The movement from God to us proceeds from the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.
The Spirit convicts and we confess, with the Son, our dependence on the Father.
We participate in Christ’s sacrifice
Return the gifts he has given us
We give thanks, to the Father, with the Son, in the Spirit.
We remember God’s faithfulness and praise him
He gathers us, drawing us into this relationship
The Spirit empowers us to serve
He assures us of his love and acceptance of us, in the Son
He reveals himself, in his Son, in his Word, through the Spirit
He raises us, with the Son, to new life

12. How We Worship Four Fold Worship Model:
Gathering: God calls us to gather in his presence and we do so by singing his praise.
Word: God speaks to us through his word and we respond by inviting the Spirit to search our hearts.
Thanksgiving: God offers us his Son in the symbols of the bread and cup and we respond with thanksgiving.
Sending: God sends us to proclaim and embody his mission and we go forth.

13. Our Lenten Journey Worship Practices/ Corporate Disciplines Prayer
Confession/Assurance
Scripture
Communion and Response
Sending
Evenings/ Corporate Disciplines in Small Groups
Community Groups
Our Families
Masculinity/ Femininity in Worship