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Growing as a Worshiping Congregation

Randall Bradley


October 10, 2009

Session I:

"Worship: What's the big deal?"

What is the ministry of the church?

o Worship (Ministry to God)

o Nurture (Ministry to believers)

o Outreach (Ministry to the world)


Which is the priority? Why?


What have Baptists often thought about these priorities?


What are examples of influences which have most shaped worship in the Free Church tradition?

o Camp Meetings
o Evangelism
o Charleston/Sandy Creek Tradition
o Praise and Worship


A corporate worship model based on dramatic action

o God
o Congregation
o Worship Leaders


What is worship?

What are the problems with worship definitions?

A look at key scriptures

Isaiah 6

• Revelation "I saw the Lord."
• Adoration/Praise "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts."
• Confession "Woe is me for I am ruined."
• Forgiveness "Your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven."
• Proclamation "I heard the voice of the Lord."
• Dedication "Here am I, send me."
• Commission "Go and tell this people."


John 4: 20-24

Worship in Spirit and truth.


John 12: 1-3

Costly perfume.


Psalm 24: 3-6

Worship with clean hands and a pure heart.


Malachi 1:6-14

Give God your best gifts.


Remember:

• Worship should be the priority of the church.

• Our local and denominational history influences our worship.

• God is the object of our worship.

• Worship is defined differently by different people; however, there are aspects of worship that should always be present.

• The Bible is clear about the importance of worship.


Listen: (MP3; 13 MB, 1:29:47)

October 11, 2009

9:00-10:30

Session II

"Worship: Pulling Back the Curtain"

"Our biggest obstacle to experiencing God is the way we experienced God fast time."
             Richard Rohr


Worship Priorities: What are some aspects of worship that need to be considered?

• Worship is an objective/subjective experience.

• Worship is foremost for and about God.

• Worship is communal - God designed it to be.

• What we believe about God is ultimately most accurately reflected in our worship, i.e., worship is embodied theology.

• Worship must have a prophetic dimension.

• Worship is within a given context.

• Worship is both local and global.

• Worship is both personal and communal.

• Worship is cross-generational.

• Worship should reflect the biggest view of God we're capable of accepting.

• There seem to be some aspects of worship that should not be overlooked, i.e., Isaiah six.

• There are many ways to worship God.

• There are lots of ways to plan worship.

• Worship should represent all those who are present.

• We cannot separate our worship from our individual preferences

• Our learning styles, personality traits, and our strengths will influence our worship preferences.

• Churches have personalities, and these characteristics affect the way in which the community of faith shapes its corporate worship.

• Buildings have personalities, and the building affects the worship that occurs in that space.

• Worship leaders/planners should attempt to live among a people and discern the ways in which they view God (their music, their language, their communication, their art, etc., and involve these in worship).

• Worship is not immune to power.

o The power of music
o The power of education
o The power of commerce
o The power of culture
o The power of money
o The power of age
o The power of influence


Listen: (MP3; 13 MB, 1:26:07)

October 11, 2009

1:00-2:00

Session III:

"From Memory to Imagination: A Better Future"

Worship has an eschatological dimension.

"If our worship is oriented by the present and future reign of God, it will form us to be dependent on him - in contrast to our culture, which always wants to be in control. We will be formed to be churches that are humble, instead of competing to be successful"
Marva Dawn, A Royal Waste of Time

"How will we reteach our congregations that worship is not intended to accomplish anything?  How will we learn again simply to stand in the presence of God and to bask in the immensity of God's reign over all of life and the future?  Furthermore, by God's grace our future will be perfect and lived fully in the presence of God; consequently, all our present worship is inadequate and a waste of time. It won't change God's opinion about us at all. It won't earn us any points with God; he will gift us anyway with the kingdom."
Marva Dawn, A Royal Waste of Time


Our worship is connected to God, i.e., our worship is a part of God's eternity



If you could draw a line/connection between your memory and your imagination what would be along that continuum?

If we were to imagine worship with absolutely no limits - no budget constraints, no musical constraints, and no artistic constraints -- what would worship look like in this community of faith?

What would you dream or imagine worship might be like in this place?




Which of these dreams might be most easily implemented?


Listen: (MP3; 9 MB, 1:04:00)
 
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