EXPLORING WORSHIP: THE OLD TESTAMENT

John 4:23-24

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the

Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. [24] God

is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

This passage infers a few things:

1) That God can be known

2) That God is looking for worshippers

3) There is a way God wants us to worship.

(I) WORSHIP IS AN EXPRESSION. SOME DEFINTIONS

A) People responding to God

B) SHACHAH a Hebrew word used 158 times in OT:

1) To prostrate (especially reflexive in homage to royalty or God,) stoop

2) Bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat)

3) Humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence.

4) The first place the word “worship is used in the O.T. is Genesis 22:5

He (Abraham) said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy

go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

a) The first time the word is used it is used of sacrifice. This becomes a

picture of Jesus Christ and acting on faith.

5) Abraham the “father” takes his “only” Son to sacrifice him on Mount Moriah,

which also is Mount Calvary (Golgotha, the place of the skull)

a) They travel three days while the son is “dead” in his sight

b) The boy carries the mechanism of sacrifice on his back

c) “The Lord himself will provide a sacrifice.”

(1) Here we are introduced to the idea of substitionary death

d) Hebrews 11:19 “Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and

figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.”

6) Hence the first instance of Old Testament worship is wrapped up in the

substitionary death of the Son and the resurrection from the dead.

7) Our first introduction to worship in the OT features:

a) The Father sacrificing the Son

b) The submission of the Son even unto death

c) The substitutionary provision from heaven

d) The resurrection from the dead

C) PROSKUNEO a Greek word used 53 times in the New Testament

1) Meaning to kiss, (like a dog licking his master's hand)

2) To fawn or crouch to (literally prostrate oneself in homage)

3) Do reverence to, adore

4) The first place the word worship is used in the NT is Matthew 2:2

"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the

east and have come to worship him."

D) Both of these usages indicate an outward expression of an inward work, although

some of the expression is inward as well.

(II) EARLY WORSHIP

As Christians we understand that the Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to us. Through

the Bible He reveals to us things we would not know about Him unless He showed us or

told us. However before we have any written accounts of God’s directives for worship

we find people worshipping with some form of understanding. There are several

observations we can make about “early worship.”

A) Early Worship was Primarily Individual

B) Early Worship was Primarily Spontaneous

C) Certain concepts existed:

(1) Sacrifice (2) Altars (3) Pillars (Memorials) (4) Eating (5) Places (6) Forms

Genesis 8:20

Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and

clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it.

WORSHIP FORM: Built an altar.

Genesis 12:7-8

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he

built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. [8] From there he went on

toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the

east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.

WORSHIP FORM: Built an altar.

Genesis 13:4

and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the Lord.

WORSHIP FORM: Built an altar.

Genesis 13:18

So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron,

where he built an altar to the Lord.

WORSHIP FORM: Built an altar.

Genesis 22:5

He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there.

We will worship and then we will come back to you."

WORSHIP FORM: Obeyed God

Genesis 22:9

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there

and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of

the wood.

WORSHIP FORM: Built an altar, went to sacrifice His Only Son.

Genesis 22:13

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went

over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

WORSHIP FORM: Burnt Sacrifice (total) that indicated Substitutionary Death

Genesis 24:26

Then the man bowed down and worshipped the Lord,

WORSHIP FORM: Bowing

Genesis 26:25

Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent,

and there his servants dug a well.

WORSHIP FORM: Built an altar and called on God’s Name

Genesis 28:18

Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up

as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.

WORSHIP FORM: Building an altar and pouring oil (valuables) on it.

Genesis 28:22

and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give

me I will give you a tenth."

WORSHIP FORM: Setting up a pillar and tithing. Tithe means tenth. 10%

Genesis 31:13

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me.

Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.

WORSHIP FORM: God affirms he received these forms as true worship.

Genesis 31:45

So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.

WORSHIP FORM: Setting up a pillar.

Genesis 32:30

So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet

my life was spared."

WORSHIP FORM: Called the place Penial as a Remembrance and Memorial

Genesis 35:1

Then God said to Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to

God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau."

WORSHIP FORM: OBEDIANCE to God telling him to build an altar

Genesis 35:3

Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered

me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone."

WORSHIP FORM: Building an altar

Genesis 35:7

There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that

God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.

WORSHIP FORM: Built an altar and named the place as a memorial and

remembrance.

Genesis 35:14

Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured

out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.

WORSHIP FORM: Set up a pillar and poured out an offering.

Genesis 46:1

So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered

sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

WORSHIP FORM: Offered sacrifices

(III) THE FIRST USAGE OF MUSIC IN THE BIBLE

A) Genesis 4:21 “His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the

harp and flute.”

B) Although music finds it’s way into the early pages of the Bible and the flow of

civilization, music has a “neutral use” and is not used in worship until the book of

Exodus, 2,000 years later.

C) Exodus 15:19-21

When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the

waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.

[20] Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all

the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. [21] Miriam sang to them:

"Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the

sea."

1) They obviously had tambourines, unless they got these from the Egyptians, but

we have no record of them being used until this time in worship.

2) Miriam “sang to them” and encouraged them to “sing to the Lord”

3) In this instance it seems to only be women singing.

4) This seems like it is the song of Moses that she sang.

5) This was “spontaneous” in “response” to what God had done.

(IV) GOD DIRECTS THE ORGANIZATION AND SYMBOLS OF ISRAEL’S

WORSHIP (Exodus)

In the book of Exodus God organizes worship giving pictures and symbols to the children

of Israel. We will show how the whole Bible points to the person and work of Jesus

Christ. Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them

what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Luke 24:44

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be

fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

A) When God designed worship these are the main elements He instituted:

1) The Passover (Exodus 12)

2) The Tabernacle in the Wilderness (Exodus 25 - 40)

3) Festivals

(V) THE PASSOVER (Exodus 12)

In Exodus much of the worship moves from being “individual and spontaneous” to being

directed and organized by God for the “community or congregation” of Israel. Here we

have the introduction of Organized Congregational Worship as directed by God.

A) The Passover was the primary worship event that God instituted for Israel’s calendar.

B) The entire Passover account points to Jesus from beginning to end.

1) Lessons we learn about the Lamb that was slain at Passover in Exodus that

point to Jesus.

C) The Passover began a brand new calendar for them (New Beginnings)

D) The Passover involved telling your neighbors about it (Proclamation)

E) The Passover involved sharing with your neighbor (Evangelization)

F) The Passover involved a “Lamb without defect.” (perfect Son of God)

G) The blood was to be splattered in three places (two hands, once in feet)

H) The receiving the Lamb needed to be ready for the new life (Born-again)

I) Those who had the blood escaped judgment (the work of Christ on the cross)

J) The Lamb lived with the family (He dwelt among us)

K) The people were to examine the Lamb (He lived here on earth)

L) John the Baptist said Jesus “was the Lamb of God”

M) The entire book of Hebrews is about this..

N) Hence the Passover puts Jesus and His work at the heart of Hebrew worship.

(VI) THE TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS

A) The Tabernacle

1) Symbol of God dwelling among His people

2) God: “The center of our religious, social and business life

- John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have

seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of

grace and truth.

- Matthew 1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and

they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."

3) The tabernacle in the wilderness teaches us that Christ is the center of our

worship.

B) Ark of the Covenant

- Exodus 25:10-22

- Symbol of Christ’s Humanity and Deity

- Gold speaks of Deity

- Wood speaks of humanity

- The Throne and the Presence of God among His people

- The Mediator (vs 22)

Philipians 2:9-11; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:24

C) The Table of Shewbread

- Symbol of Communion / Fellowship

- Priesthood Fellowship

- Divine Food / Manna

- The People of God (Israel / the Apostles)

D) The Lampstand (Exodus 25:31-40)

- Pure Gold

- Symbol of Light

- Powered by Oil

- Symbols of Light-bearers (Christ and the Church)

E) The Priestly Garments, The Censor, The Laver

Rev. 5:8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the

twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and

they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of

the saints.

(V) DAVID INTRODUCES MUSIC TO ISRAEL’S WORSHIP

A) David, writer of many of the Psalms was a musician himself and he introduces the use

of musical instruments into the worship of Israel around the Temple in Jerusalem

B) Although it was David who instituted this, it really wasn’t until Solomon that it was

regularly practiced.

C) David first musical introduction in scripture: 1 Samuel 16:15-23

Saul's attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. [16] Let

our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He

will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better." [17]

So Saul said to his attendants, "Find someone who plays well and bring him to me." [18]

One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how

to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking

man. And the Lord is with him." [19] Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said,

"Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." [20] So Jesse took a donkey loaded

with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

[21] David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David

became one of his armor-bearers. [22] Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow

David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him." [23] Whenever the spirit from

God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to

Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

D) David’s Famous Worship Experience 2 Samuel 6

a) David brought the ark with the sacrifice of thousands of animals

b) David had shouts and trumpets blaring

c) David leaped and danced before God

d) This was a combination of spontaneous and organized worship

e) This was David’s doing and not by the direct command of God

E) Solomon organized the worship his father David prescribed (I Chron. 22:6, 23 – 26)

a) Solomon employed many professional musicians. Not congregational.

b) Solomonic worship (often called Davidic) seemed to stay in Jerusalem.

EXPLORING WORSHIP: THE NEW TESTAMENT

In the New Testament we see worship in at least three areas:

1) Access

2) Obedience

3) Communication / Communication

A) ACCESS “Outsiders” are invited to worship. First mention of “worship” in the NT

Matthew 2:2-11 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We

saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." [3] When King Herod heard this

he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. [4] When he had called together all the

people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be

born. [5] "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

[6] " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers

of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

[7] Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star

had appeared. [8] He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search

for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship

him." [9] After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had

seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

[10] When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. [11] On coming to the house, they saw

the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they

opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Mark 11:17

And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called

a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'

1) A HOUSE OF PRAYER

B) OBEDIENCE:

Worship is in obedience to the Exclusive Word and the Exclusive God in an Inclusive

Age

1) What if after the Magi came and “bowed down” they then went home the same

way after being warned not to?

a) New Testament worship is not simply form, nor is it dependent on

form.

2) Matthew 4:8-10; Matthew 15:8-9; Matthew 21:28-31

C) COMMUNION (eucharistis = giving of thanks)

1) 1 Corinthians 11: 17 – 34

2) This is the only explanation of a worship service in the New Testament

D) INSTRUMENTS AND MUSIC AND THE NEW TESTAMENT

1) There is no evidence that instruments were used in NT worship

2) Restoration Movements have picked up on this and prohibited the use of

instruments in worship.

3) There are references to songs however

a) Matthew 26:30 “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the

Mount of Olives.” (one the psalms from Psalm 115 – 118)

b) 1 Cor. 14:15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will

also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with

my mind.

c) 1 Cor. 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come

together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a

tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the

strengthening of the church.

d) Ephes. 5:19-20 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual

songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, [20] always giving

thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus

Christ.

e) Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and

admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns

and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

f) James 5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone

happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

4) There is no hint of what kind of organization New Testament worship had, if it

had any organization or leadership at all. There is evidence to suggest that it was

mostly non-instrumental and lead spontaneously by those in the meetings. There

is not enough information to really know.

5) Some have suggested that New Testament worship followed the worship

pattern of the synagogues with an opening prayer, a reading from the scriptures,

an exposition and a song. We just don’t know. Many of the early New Testament

churches were Gentile and would have no connection to a synagogue tradition.

EXPLORING WORSHIP: FUTURE WORSHIP

FUTURE WORSHIP

1) Rev. 4:8-11

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around,

even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."[9]

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne

and who lives for ever and ever, [10] the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits

on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before

the throne and say: [11] "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor

and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their

being."

2) Rev. 5:8-14

And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down

before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of

incense, which are the prayers of the saints. [9] And they sang a new song: "You are

worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your

blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

[10] You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will

reign on the earth." [11] Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering

thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the

throne and the living creatures and the elders. [12] In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is

the Lamb, who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and

honor and glory and praise!" [13] Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth

and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on

the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and

ever!" [14] The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and

worshipped.

3) Rev. 7:9-12

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count,

from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of

the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their

hands. [10] And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits

on the throne, and to the Lamb." [11] All the angels were standing around the throne

and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before

the throne and worshiped God, [12] saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and

thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

4) Rev. 11:16-19

And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their

faces and worshiped God, [17] saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the

One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to

reign. [18] The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for

judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those

who reverence your name, both small and great-- and for destroying those who destroy

the earth." [19] Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen

the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder,

an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

6) Rev. 15:2-4

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea,

those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his

name. They held harps given them by God [3] and sang the song of Moses the servant of

God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God

Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. [4] Who will not fear you, O

Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and

worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."

EXPLORING WORSHIP: CHURCH HISTORY

(I) EARLY CHURCH HISTORY: 100 – 1500

A) There is little evidence or history available to tell us what worship may have looked

like in the early centuries of the church.

B) What we do know

1) The Didache. Probably the earliest document of church history beyond the NT

gives us no clues whatsoever about what we would call the order of a worship

service.

2) Most historians agree that the early Christians sang during worship, but that

they most likely did it without instruments for centuries after the NT.

3) We do know that daily prayer was a common practice of the early church from

both the NT and early church documents.

a) Morning Prayer of thanks and praise

b) Evening (known as vespers or evensong) closing the day reflecting on

the good and reconciliation of wrongs done.

4) Psalms were sung at meals with an Alleluia response

5) After the year 70 AD any links the church had with Judaism would never be

the same.

C) Early church documents tell us there was singing in the churches up until 400 AD, but

much of it seemed to be either “appointed singers” all music was unison melody.

“Harmony came in later, but not without argument…” (RW)

D) From 400 – 1500 the Catholic Mass set the standard for the worship service and we do

know quite a bit about that. (RW)

E) At the end of the 6th century, Pope Gregory attempted to centralize the authority of

the church by specifying what music could be sung in churches. It was characterized by a

unison melody with little rhythmic emphasis, embodying attitudes of awe, beauty, and

transcendence. We know it today as Gregorian Chant. (RW)

F) Over time, the Mass became the approved liturgical pattern and most of the singing

was delegated to trained choirs. Songs became more complex and foreign to the

congregation. (RW)

1) By the 15th century organ music by professionals had been admitted into the

Catholic church, but not in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

2) Coptic Churches used a percussion based tradition.

G) While church music was professional and stale the common people found much

enjoyment in “secular music” by traveling musicians and others. (RW)

H) ENTER THE REFORMATION (1500s forward)

1) An attempt to “reform” the church

2) One of the most visible breaks of the reformers with the Catholic Church was

seen in the “worship forms” or as some have called them the “worship wars”

3) One of Martin Luther’s liturgical reforms was guided by the principle that, “if

the scriptures did not expressly reject a particular practice the church was free to

keep it.” (RW)

a) This sounds good up front, but it also meant that Luther kept many

practices of the Catholic that had no base in scripture at all.

b) It also meant that he very much incorporated music and is said to

almost single-handedly have been the father of “congregational singing.”

c) Luther wrote a load of hymns himself

d) The three staples of a Lutheran Service were:

(1) Music

(2) Preaching

(3) Communion

I) JOHN CALVIN THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR OF THE REFORMATION argued that

ONLY practices explicitly taught in scripture could be used in worship.

1) Hence Calvin allowed for much music, but no instruments

K) THE ANABAPTIST TRADITION

1) Everybody hated these “re-baptizers” and sought to kill them

2) They became the Mennonites, Hutterites, Amish

3) They looked for a “pure church”

4) Radical personal discipleship

5) Only worship practices that could be established in NT scripture

(a) Hence responsive readings / singing

(b) Non-instrumental worship

L) THE PURITANS

1) Name tells who they were. Wanted NT purity.

2) Sought to reform the Reformation

3) Stressed head and heart (sort of anew or renewed idea)

a) Took lots of notes and drilled the kids at home

4) Replaced chants with Metrical Psalm singing

M) THE BAPTISTS

1) Grew out of the Puritan Movements

2) Usually one person would sing, but they started allowing congregational

singing.

3) Usually had one preacher.

N) CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP

1) Grew out of the Puritan Movements and stressed Biblical Worship

2) Stripped it down to two essentials: The Word and the Sacraments

3) They revolted against the “high church”

4) The “Free Church” movement. Means free from government control and

funding and free from outside bishoprics controlling local affairs.

5) One hour sermons were often followed by one hour prayers.

O) JOHN WESLEY AND THE METHODISTS (1750 ff)

1) Wesley was huge on communion

2) Established a network of small groups called “Holy Clubs”

3) The Wesleys wrote 1000s of hymns

4) The were teachers and revivalists

P) THE SALVATION ARMY (William and Catherine Booth)

1) Use any thing available to get people to listen to the message

2) When Booth was asked why he used that big drum he said, “To make the devil

deaf!”

3) They took secular songs and “converted them”

“Here’s to good old whiskey…. drink it down”

BECAME

“Strom the forts of darkness…. bring them down.”

4) Lots of testimonies and congregational participation

5) Established church thought them uncouth

6) Wesley’s theology and Practical Philosophy (if it worked, do it!)

Q) AMERICAN REVIVALISM

1) After War for Independence people weren’t too interested in Christianity

2) The move west was more attractive, so preachers took to the road and started

“sawdust” or “camp meetings”

a) This is still an American tradition (conferences)

3) Most of the meetings were conversion focused including music

R) RESTORATION MOVMENTS AND ALEXDER CAMPBELL

1) Looking for the pure NT church

2) “Restoring NT patterns of doctrine, worship, discipline and government”

a) A big order, especially considering there seems to be quite a bit of NT

leverage for the last three.

3) Non-instrumental Singing.

S) THE HOLINESS MOVEMENTS

1) A lot of “Gospel Songs” calling sinners to repentance

2) They were always calling everybody to repentance in messages and songs

T) THE PENTECOSTAL REVIVAL (December 31, 1900)

1) Topeka Kansas

U) POST WWII EVANGELICALISM

1) The Praise and Worship Movement 1960s

2) Bill and Gloria Gaither (He Touched Me; Let’s Just Praise the Lord!)

3) Get rid of the verses, let’s just sing the choruses

V) THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT

1) The Pentecostal Movment in the mainline churches

W) THE JESUS MOVEMENT

1) Chuck Smith

a) Maranatha Music and Mike MacIntosh

b) Danny Daniels (we’re the choir)

c) John Wimber and Calvary Chapel Yorba Linda

d) Kenn Gulliksen and Vineyard Christian Fellowship of West Hollywood

X) SEEKER SENSITIVE MOVEMENT

1) Bill Hybels

2) Makes a distinction between outreach services and believes worship

3) Creates a safe atmosphere that confronts and challenges seekers about their

need for salvation

EXPLORING WORSHIP: WHO WE ARE

(I) WE GROW OUT OF THE LATTER “TRADITIONS” BUT THESE

TRADITIONS DO HAVE ROOTS

A) OUR DEFINING STATEMENT OF FAITH FROM DAY ONE

B) Our place in the spectrum

1) You may be able to be all things to all men, but not at the same time

2) We love the whole body of Christ, but fill a particular niche

3) The spectrum goes from highly structured liturgical services to spontaneous

anything goes meetings. We’re neither.

3) We are a bridge between the Pentecostal Church and the Baptist church

1) We believe in all the gifts of the Spirit, but insist there are Biblical guidelines

for their use.

4) There are various kinds of flows for meetings.

from the “Sound of the Harvest”

5) All you need to know about the worship service philosophy of a church is found in its

architecture.

a) A Catholic Church

b) A Protestant Mainline Church

c) A Baptist Church

d) Our Church

RESOURCES:

* Christian History Magazine (a publication of Christianity Today)

* Robert Webber’s “The Complete History of Christian Worship”

(several hundred scholars contributed to this amazing work)