Defining Worship

This week we began a discussion of how we might all go about trying to define WORSHIP. I have been on this journey as both a worshiper and a worship leader for about 10 years now. And I continually fall back on a definition I learned through a series of cassette tapes (no snickering) by Louie Giglio that my Pastor Mike gave to me to help me learn and grow. (And I have to say, before I say anything else, how blessed I am to have a pastor who came along side me as a mentor, a friend, and brother to encourage me and help me find God's calling for my life.) Back to Louie. Louie's definition was...

Worship is our response (both personal and corporate) to God
for who He is and what He has done, expressed in and by
the things we say and the way we live.

But I was coached this last year by a new friend Byron Spradlin, I was challenged to sit with God and wrestle through defining worship in my own words, words that have meaning for me, words that are rooted in God's WORD and born out of my own experiences of worship life and leadership. That process was profound for me. When you put your own words to defining worship, it foces you to wrestle what you really believe about divine encounters with Christ through His word, prayer, music, and living life in obedience to His will for you and His Body the Church.

I hoping we will all have a similar experience as we journey through this process together. Take some time before we get together again and consider these statements I made on Wednesday

Worship is INITIATED by God
Just like the relationship between a parent and a child, there is no relationship until the parent makes the decision to bring life to a child. The only reason we are able to talk about worship is because birthed it in us.

Worship is an ENCOUNTER with God
We do not worship a God who is aloof or distant. He took of the splendor of heaven to dwell among us. ANd He didn;t do that so that he could then leave us to our own ends again. He initiaded the relationship in a very personal way. Becuase we worship a God who is here, within reach.

Worship is a RESPONSE to God
When we come face to face with the living God we cannot help but react in some way. Abraham's response was faith, Jonah's response was to run and hide, Isaiah's response was to fall flat on his face and wish he were dead, David's response was repentance, the sinful woman's response was to wash his feet in her tears, Peter's response was to jump out of a boat, Paul's response was to not speak for 3 days. What's our response?

Some suggestions for deepening your worship.

1. Book – Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship by David Peterson
2. CD (available on iTunes) – Michael Gungor Band: All I Need Is Here
3. Podcast – North Point Ministries: Andy Stanley, The Sinai Code (5 part series)