Pre-reading Questions
For the Glory of God
The time is coming-indeed has arrived- when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for worshipers who will worship him this way. John 4:23
Chapter One: Toward a Holistic Understanding of Worship
Worship through time:
Worship
(why?) (emphasis?)
Authentic Worship
...is the glory of God rather than the pleasure of human beings.
...should conform to the will of God rather than to the whims of fallen humanity.
...is learned from Scripture. ~p. 6
Scriptural Basis for Worship
Regulative Principle: True worship involves components only found in Scripture.
Normative Principle: Incorporating forms and practices not forbidden in Scripture but not contradicting scriptural principles either.
Let’s not discount the First (Old) Testament, as a rich resource for Christian worship.
New Testament
Does not give a lot of instruction on corporate worship.
Has much to say on ordinances like The Lord’s Supper and Baptism.
Paul is concerned with daily conduct and character of believers and those who lead the church than daily worship (liturgy)
~
Sacrifices, Levitical priesthood, temple (aspects of worship in F.T) are not obsolete but fulfilled in Jesus.
John 4:24 Worshipping in Spirit and in Truth
Were the Israelites truly worshipping YHWH if they did not have the Holy Spirit given to them yet?
If we say no, then we ‘rob the church of a rich resource for establishing principles that should guide our worship’.
If we go to the Psalms for worship, we must go to the books of the Bible that inspired the Psalms, the Torah (first 5 books of Bible) because the psalmist would have wanted us to.
Our Approach to the First and New Testaments:
UNLESS THE NEW TESTAMENT EXPRESSLY DECLARES FIRST TESTAMENT NOTIONS OBSOLETE, THEY CONTINUE.
3 Dimensions of Worship (“worth” & “ship”)
Worship as attitude (dispositional) fear: for that which is unknown- terror, fright; for that which is known- reverence for trusting awe of a superior. Our worship is rejected without proper disposition. Psalm 96:9 , Proverbs 1:7
Worship as gesture (physical) expression of homage before a superior: bow down, to the ground, with nose to ground. NT does not do away with this...the place simply changes Psalm 95:7
Worship as ritual (liturgy) involves “service” to Christ daily with righteous actions and committed to the peace and building up of saints.
WORSHIP IS A HUMAN RESPONSE TO GOD
IT IS
MANY THINGS FROM CELEBRATION TO DIALOGUE, TO OFFERINGS AND MORE.
OUR RESPONSE TO A GRACIOUS GOD AND INVOLVES ALL OF OUR LIFE.
ALL OF OUR LIFE.
IT IS NOT
WHAT WE DO SO GOD WON’T BE ANGRY AT US.
WHAT WE DO BECAUSE WE FEEL OBLIGATED TO.
SEPARATE OR COMPARTMENTALIZED FROM OUR LIFE.
Archbishop William Temple 1942-1944
“Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God.
It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness,
Nourishment of mind by His truth,
Purifying of imagination by His beauty,
Opening of the heart to His love,
And submission of will to his purpose.
And all this gathered up in adoration is the greatest of human expressions of which we are capable.”
Chapter Two: The Object of Worship
TRUE WORSHIP
“ involves REVERENTIAL human acts of SUBMISSION and HOMAGE before the DIVINE SOVEREIGN in RESPONSE to his gracious REVELATION OF HIMSELF and in accord with HIS WILL.”
Idol Worship
IDOLS
Are illegitimate objects of worship.
Are a part of Animism: objects inhabited by supernatural beings that govern human existence.
Animism > Polytheism (many) > Henotheism (one of many)> Monotheism (one) > Humanism
YHWH’s command to have no other gods before Him was unprecedented.
See process for how an idol comes to be on page 31.
Idols in the Bible
Do not see, smell, walk, talk, and are the work of human hands: Psalm 115: 4-8
Are linked with immoral and social evils I Cor. 5: 9-13; Gal 5:20
The Prayer to Every God found in Nineveh, circa 668-633 BC demonstrates that the gods are angry, for something done by me, but I don’t know which god or what I did or what he/she wants me to do.
But the God of Israel reveals Himself, shows how to be forgiven, and shows proper conduct.
YHWH deserves worship because:
He showed favor
He redeemed his people
He protected his people
He secured a homeland for them
He called them into a covenant relationship
He revealed Himself
He called Himself Israel’s Judge
Reflections on why YHWH is worthy of Worship
Seven reasons:
See pages 42 -44
The Triune God
The Holy Spirit is most honored:
when we accept his conviction of sin, his transforming and sanctifying work with us, and his guidance in life and ministry, and
when he leads us to bow down before Jesus.
when we give thanks and honor the Father and Son.
Chapter Three: The Subject of Worship
Worshippers before The Fall
Worship in Ancient Israel
7. Explain the understanding of all things, places and people as Abominable, Unclean, Clean, Holy.
8. Why does YHWH spend so much time telling the Israelites how to be pure of amoral defilement?
~~~
As we begin to understand what worship is, compile a list of worship practices you don’t understand either in the First Testament or in the the Church today.
List the kinds of worship you enjoy here or elsewhere. How would you refine John Knox worship?
Abominable
https://www.openbible.info/topics/abomination
Us as subjects worshipping the object of our affection
REVIEW CHAPTERS 3 (cite pages and paragraphs)
Page 73: first paragraph:
Christ eliminated sacrifices, the temple was irrelevant (worshipping in spirit and truth not in Jerusalem), got rid of the need for a priest, did away with clean and unclean.
2. What does our Heavenly Father consider to be acceptable worship?
Page 75, first and second paragraph
Put God first, serve your neighbors, believe in Jesus.
3. Where did the Jews get it wrong regarding holiness?
Page 74; bottom paragraph
They believed righteousness means sticking to regulations and
‘man-made’ rules. But doing this tends to make us feel superior
To others: we can ‘stick to the rules’ and others can’t. It allows
us to look down on others and be full of spiritual pride.
It also eliminates our care for others.
Hosea 6:6
4. If Jesus' death justifies us as righteous what must we be careful NOT to do?
Page 77, bottom half
Sin, put ourselves before others, stop pursuing holiness
5. Do we still need to practice the purification rituals of the first testament? Why or why not?
Page 80, last paragraph
No. We only need to continually purify our hearts.
REVIEW: CHAPTER 4 Daily Life as Worship
The Decalogue
The 10 Words do not begin with Commands but with Grace!
Chapter 4: pages 90-100 Review
Leviticus 19 = 1 Peter 1:13- 2:12
Instructions on holiness
YHWH’s covenant is very detailed, but non-negotiable; Israelites had to commit to the covenant without hesitation and accept YHWH’s mission to be the agents of grace in the world.
“You shall be holy for I am Holy.”
“I am YHWH your God, who brought you out of Egypt, so do my ordinances.”
Continued
Leviticus chapter is made up of:
Commands and prohibitions similar to the ‘Decalogue’
Reminders who is talking “I am YHWH your God”
Holiness is defined by observable actions= people are what they do.
Fear (reverence and awe) is necessary for a holy life and true worship. Without it, we lose our sense of accountability and self-discipline.
Taking the Lord’s name in vain, misrepresents him and makes you contradict yourself as a believer.
Continued
Cultic practices: Israelites must be mindful to observe the Sabbath.
Theological practices: They should not mix things that God has ordered as separate because He established order and distinction. Draining blood properly before eating meat is important because life is in the blood. Its sanctity (holy, sacred) must be protected by spilling the blood on the ground and not eating it.
Taboo and pagan practices: The point of not getting tattoos, cutting hair a certain way, worshipping other gods is to reflect that Israelites were children of YHWH and as His holy people must look and behave different than those around them.
Continued (p 95)
Leviticus 19: to maintain order in society and protect the weak.
Important to guard normal family relations: holiness and true worship begin at home.
Treat your neighbors with honesty and integrity do not steal or take advantage of them and settle your disputes fairly with them.
The poor, the hired hands and the foreigners were to be treated as God treated the Israelites.
The way we treat others reflects our attitude toward the One in whose image we are made.
The Importance of Leviticus 19
Life as worship comes from knowing the character of God and His grace towards us.
To be holy should not be viewed as a burden but as a privilege involving a grateful heart for God’s grace.
Worship is actions driven by love of God and love for our fellow man.
Holiness involves every area of our life.
Remember that God is a Triune God, imitatio Dei (imitate God), worship comes from a sense of gratitude for divine grace.
Deuteronomy
The Shema: “Who is our God?” He is YHWH and Him alone. This confirms the first commandment: “You shall have no other Gods beside me.”
We are to love God with all our HEART, SOUL, STRENGTH.
HEART: emotions, intellect, mind,
SOUL: entire self
STRENGTH: resources, physical and economic and social strength
What does the Lord ask of you?
Love YHWH your God
Walk in His ways Serve Him with your
whole being
Fear YHWH your God Keep His commands
Chapter 5 Family & Work as Worship
Journal Topic 1: Holiness and True Worship begin at Home
Define the family dynamic of worship in your home. How has your homelife been helpful or harmful in the development of your faith? Is worship and holy living present in your house? How so? If not, what can you do from today onwards to cultivate a house of worship.
Chapter 5: Family Life and Work as Worship
Fathers, Mothers, and Children in Worship
Work as Worship
Ruth and New Testament references to work
A-N on pages 135-136
A-H on pages 136-137
Work versus Sloth
Work
Idleness or Sloth
Chapter 9: Music as Worship
Can Christian musicians play secular music for God’s Glory?
What are the motives?
Does secular mean anti Christian?
Does all Christian music have to tell in detail the full Gospel?
Vocabulary of Music in First Testament
Stories that tell of Songs
Tabernacle: the manual of YHWH is silent about music
David and Solomon’s Temple: Music and Levites
Examples of Music
2012, Australia 9th and 10th C Europe 3000 years ago in the temple, on the lyre
What should worship songs emphasize?
Scripture p. 233
The story of Redemption
Sound doctrine
Glory of Christ
Teach
Transform
Correct and Challenge
Prayer as Worship
Reminders on Prayer
Four Specific Words for PRAYER
The English word TO PRAY means to ask a favor or an act of grace:
I pray you, in your letters, When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am. Othello 5.2. 556-567
Further Expressions of Verbal Utterance to God
Physical Gestures of Prayer
*3. Raised hands
To swear oaths, to pronounce blessings
Examples of raised hands Exodus 9:29, Job 11:13, Psalms 44:20, Ezra 9:5
Journal Topic #2: Lasting Value
Which chapter after the quiz: Music as Worship, Sacrifices and Offerings as Worship, or Prayer as Worship, has been the most beneficial to you? Provide several reasons. Hand in when done.
Page 198
Outlines five features of this prayer to demonstrate what makes it an exemplary personal prayer.
Those who have prayed intercessory prayers include, Abraham for Sodom & Abimelech. Hezekiah and Daniel for their people. Moses for the Israelites. Moses’s prayers shows that God can change his mind. This notion of a changed mind raises an interesting discussion on how this can be possible of a God who ‘changes not’ (Malachi 3:6). Ultimately, God can relent from punishment when people change their actions.
Example provided is David’s prayer at the end of his term of King before he transfers power to Solomon. David blesses the people and God. Note that Solomon, too, publicly prays but it is a ‘a prayer about prayer’.
Let’s Finish this Chapter Today! Pages 210 -220
Work together to complete these questions: