Comments on: True Worship

By: dan

dan — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:19:33 +0000

hi lorna, thanks for your comment. worship services are usually bookended by songs, which is generally a good idea i think. i’m just interested to see what would happen should we make the “end” singing the main singing, and not vice versa. i wonder how profound our singing can become if it’s truly a response to the truth of God’s word as preached through the morning sermon.

By: Lorna Laister

Lorna Laister — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:23:22 +0000

I have been involved wityh a worship team for many years. We use songs before and after the sermon. The song session before the sermon opens the right side of the brain so that when the word is preached your whole self can ‘enter-in’ more effectively. And hey! Music is only one form of worship. There are many others.

By: Worship Blog Round-Up | Musicademy

Worship Blog Round-Up | Musicademy — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:29:38 +0000

[...] on how the Jews worshipped differently, singing in response to what they heard about God. What would happen if instead of [...]

By: Thelma Bowlen

Thelma Bowlen — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:23:16 +0000

(I’ve known Magoo since he was a kid!)

Love your blog. Didn’t realize the Abbey’s were now at CCF. We used to go to VCF Alabang together. I’m in Nashville now!

Love to Chame and the kiddies. :-)

By: May

May — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:15:47 +0000

Worship is a lot of things, but never about the routines. This is a great, insightful blog that makes me think and rethink about the things that I do.

I was raised (as a Christian) to put worship ahead of everything because when we worship, we take our minds off on all other things and refocus on God. Only then, when we rest all our mind and soul and heart to God, that we hear Him clearly. And what I mean by worship, is that it’s in everything we do, whether in song or in the way we live our lives. Everything must be worship. Sadly, though, I have my own share of failures in the other areas of my life when everything about our life must be lived worthy of the calling we have received. I pray that I will be victorious and bring Christ glory in all that I do

In terms of the songs before the preaching, I’d say, we should also really sing praises to God after He has revealed Himself to us through the Word shared us. It can sometimes get frustrating when in our culture, people just walk out after the preaching….the Praise & worship at the end is treated like a movie’s closing credits!

By: Rulita Wells

Rulita Wells — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:57:20 +0000

Having worked in the music ministry for years, I always think music has the power to set my heart in tune with God. Just as an appetizer being served prior to the main entree.

We often heard about ACTS [adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication]. Why I brought it up? This is what I think is missing. Dedicating time and prayer in choosing songs and music for worship. Not just anything. Not based on the rythmn or the beat, whether church favorite or isn’t. “ACTS” webbed and incorporated throughout the worship music.

An eye opener to church workers as well. Teach church people that music is not a time filler or a chat-stopper.

By: dan

dan — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:34:53 +0000

Hi Bill, thanks for commenting. My lack of knowledge regarding church practices ouside my own sphere of experience limits me to speak only about my congregation (and others from my denomination). It’s nice to know how things are done where you are and the mere thought of a church actually approaching Sunday worship that way refreshes my spirit :)

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:45:13 +0000

In the Lutheran church this has always been the pattern. It goes back to the ancient church. The pastor speaks God’s words and the congregation responds. Sometimes the pastor sings the liturgy and other times it is spoken. The words the pastor speaks are from Biblical passages, not just made up on the spur of the moment. The people’s response then, is always towards God’s Word.

By: dan

dan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:17:25 +0000

hi luke,

oh i agree – all too often singing ALONE is considered worship. we forget that, as you said, “silent contemplation, prayer, singing, or sharing” as well as service and giving are all valid forms of worship.

i just wanted to point out the fact that praise and worship, although wrongly considered by many as the only avenue of worship, is fast becoming nothing more than a “going through the motions” thing. my friend lamented that in some churches, P&W was treated more a like a gig, a show, a performance.

what we need, and this is why i wrote the post, is a real, Godly response to Truth – and our corporate singing should be a big part of that.

i’m also an orderly guy and would probably freak out if the service was
changed so dramatically without someone explaining to me why. but again, the idea is not to d
isrupt the service structure; rather, i think we might be able to retool it, keep the orderly way of doing things, but put everything in it’s right (or perhaps more appropriate) place :)

dan

By: Luke Holzmann

Luke Holzmann — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:42:53 +0000

I’ve heard that as well, and I think there is much good in having worship be a response.

On the other hand, I think we would need to start to move away from equating singing with worship. Worship can be done through singing, but if we are hoping to respond to a message, I don’t think a song is always the best way to do it. We may need to have a time of silent contemplation, prayer, singing, or sharing.

And as much as I am for mixing things up, there are people who do very well with routine and structure–because God is an orderly God as well [smile]–and so would not be benefited by changing things up.

Just a couple jumbled thoughts.

But for me? Yeah: Let’s cut a few songs from the start.

~Luke