Holy Habits Session 7 - Worship
Think back to the last service of worship you attended. What do you
remember about it? What inspired you and what annoyed you?
What does the word ‘worship’ mean to you? Brainstorm your ideas onto a
piece of paper.
The holy habit of worship is a prominent theme in Luke’s writings. The
first story he tells in his Gospel is set in the context of worship. In the
midst of this, Zechariah receives the news that his prayers have been heard and
that he and Elizabeth are to have a son.
The Gospel concludes with the story of Jesus’ ascension, with the disciples
worshipping him before returning to Jerusalem where “they were continually in
the temple praising God.”
Luke’s second volume – worship at the heart of the infant church – spirit
filled exuberant praise offered in the home, the temple and on the streets – in
public and in private. In his writings, Luke presents people praising God in
response to experiencing God’s loving help or saving grace. Praise and worship
flow from gratitude and thanksgiving for who God is and what God has done.
Here are some definitions of worship. Which do you think are most
appropriate to Christian worship?
a. The expression of
one’s devotion and allegiance pledged to a deity
b. Religious rituals which
salute, revere or praise a deity
c. Human response to the
holy in our midst
d. Something else that you
came up in discussion.
The word ‘prostrate’ is sometimes used to indicate an act of worship.
A person would prostrate (or bow down) themselves in response to the
presence of God or in honour (in the presence) of an official or someone given
great respect. Look up the following
references and discuss what it was about the situation that caused the
individuals concerned to prostrate themselves/bow down and worship
Abraham (Genesis 17:1-4)
Job (Job 1:18-21)
Jairus (Mark 5:22-23)
Mary (John 11:32)
The Wise Men (Matthew 2:11)
Spend a moment in silence imagining what it would feel like to come
face to face with God. What would you do? Would you ask God to help you with a
particular problem or dilemma? Or would you drop to the ground in fear and
worship?
When, if ever, in an act of worship are you (or have you been) aware
of encountering God?
Read Psalm 95:1-7a. In your opinion, why did the psalmist think that
God was worthy of praise and worship?
The Shema
Jesus reminds his followers of God’s law in Deuteronomy 6:4 Shema (“hear”) is the Hebrew
word that begins the most important prayer in Judaism. The whole Shema prayer,
which includes verses 4-9, is spoken daily in the Jewish tradition. Later Jewish tradition developed a three-part
Shema prayer that also included Deuteronomy 11:13–29 and Numbers 15:37–41.
Tradition states these three parts cover all aspects of the Ten Commandments.
The Shema prayer was so influential and important that Jesus used it
as the beginning of His answer to the “greatest commandment” question in Mark
12:28–30. When Jesus began His answer with the Shema prayer, He acknowledged
the Lord God as most important and that complete devotion to Him is the most
important of the commandments. It is no surprise that the scribe replied this
way in verses 32–33:
Think back to the last time you were in church: how, if at all, did
the service help you to express each of these four areas? For example, heart
might mean feelings, soul might be things you care about deeply, strength,
things you do.
If God is with us all the time, how does/could worship make us more
aware of God’s presence? What responsibility do we have to make that happen?
“There is, however, equally great incentive to worship and love God in
the thought that, for some unfathomable reason, he wants me as his friend, and
desires to be my friend, and has given his Son to die for me in order to
realise this purpose -not merely that we know God, but that he knows us.”
(J I Packer, Knowing God (3rd edition, Hodder & Stoughton, 2005)
How does it make you feel to think that God wants you as a friend and
gave his Son to die for you?
Worship as an expression of devotion
Most common translation in NT for worship is “proskyneo.” The root
meaning of this word is “to come towards and kiss the back of the hand.” An act
of devotion, humility, intimacy and reverence. It also speaks of an amazing
grace and generosity on the part of a Holy God that not just permits but
encourages ordinary everyday people like you and me, struggling to be holy, to
worship in this way.
Read Mark 14: 3 – 9
What does this story say about the nature of true worship for you?
Does it serve as a reminder not to criticise how others worship? I might like choral evensong and not
charismatic hand waving vibrance, you might be opposite! Does it matter how we
do it as long as we do it?
Do we have to be in church to worship God? Discuss the differences between worshipping
God in church and elsewhere. Do you make
a point of worshipping God during the week?
Consider these two statements about worship. Are there words that
stand out for you?
I think worship should help us, as people in community, to sustain and
deepen our relationship with the Divine, so that we become more open to God’s
healing and transforming grace. Forms of worship may range from solemn
gatherings using ancient liturgies to informal services aimed at toddlers and
their caregivers, and from making a joyful noise to waiting for God in silence.
Worshippers may express gratitude or sorrow, feel awestruck, comforted or
challenged. Indeed we may leave at the end of a service without having felt
very much at all – as in any relationship, there may be patches which lack
passion and require perseverance instead.
Yet, I believe there are certain common threads which run through this
diverse tapestry. To begin with, worship has both a personal and a collective
dimension. Even in the largest gathering, each of us is intimately known and
loved; we are never mere extras on a set. Yet no act of authentic worship is a
purely private matter in which individuals pursue our salvation in isolation,
if that were possible.
We are connected at a profound level with the worldwide Church, past,
present and future.
What is more, we invite God into the midst of our neighbourhood and
world, filled with beauty but also sorrow, sin and the shadow of death, so that
we and our communities may be refashioned and God’s kingdom come on earth as in
heaven.
------------
The Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1647 declares that the “chief end
of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever”. Worship is the very purpose
of our lives.
John’s vision in Revelation 4-5 paints for us a wonderful picture of
worship and its importance. We see that worship is about centring ourselves on
God. Everything in heaven is centred on God sitting on his throne. Worship
centres us on God’s authority, power, beauty and love. Worship realigns us to
God’s plan and purposes. Worship gathers us, for it is not something that we do
on our own. Instead, we are gathered around God’s throne as brothers and
sisters in Christ. Unlike so much of our lives, worship is not about us and our
wants or desires, musically or otherwise, it’s about joining with the rest of
creation to glorify and enjoy God.
Worship also reveals God to us. You cannot truly look to God, without
responding in awe and adoration. You cannot look to God and not be humbled. God
is the only being in the universe worthy of eternal worship. Consequently, the
four living creatures around the throne cannot stop from saying: “Holy, holy,
holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come,”
(Revelation 4:8). They are so centred on God, circling the throne, that their
response can be nothing else. They cannot not worship. They cannot be
distracted. They cannot not give God their all. Similarly, the 24 elders cannot
stop themselves from falling down in worship before the throne, taking off
their crowns, and declaring God’s praise (Rev, 4:10-11). Worship reveals God’s
beauty and love to us afresh and draws us deeper into God…
During the week, how do you reflect on the past Sunday’s worship?
If you are a member of a congregation what would you like to say to
preachers or worship leaders?
If you are a preacher or a worship leader what would you like to say
to a congregation?
Susan J White – Groundwork of Christian Worship – Worship as service
to God, leading us to be sent out to live and work to God’s praise and
glory.
Link to the last Holy Habit of evangelism with some words from the
Archbishop of Canterbury: 2015 Lambeth Lecture:
“I want to start by saying just two simple sentences about the church.
First, the church exists to worship God in Jesus Christ. Second, the church
exists to make new disciples of Jesus Christ. Everything else is decoration.
Some of it may be very necessary, useful, or wonderful decoration – but it’s
decoration. “
Do you agree with his comment?
Should worship and evangelism (the last two Holy Habits) be at the
heart of our church life?
No comments:
Post a Comment