New Sermon Series begins this Sunday.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Worship Objective 4
The North Park worship ministry (team) exists to to provide and facilitate a regular weekend worship experience for the North Park family of believers which will - 4. hold true to Biblical standards and definitions of Christian worship.
Sure. Everyone knows that worship must be "biblical." But what does that mean exactly?
Should our worship be about -
...singing to the Lord?
...giving God glory?
...exalting the name of Jesus?
...giving tithes and offerings?
...reading and hearing scripture?
...preaching the good news?
...prayer?
...bowing in humility before the Lord?
...experiencing and enjoying God's presence?
...lifting holy hands?
...confession and repentance?
Yes, yes, and yes! And I'm sure that I've left some out. But what happens when we emphasize one aspect or element over all the others. We must go back to scripture and reexamine our practices and principles.
As humans, we tend to overdo the things that we enjoy or need. But when we get out of balance, we must consult "the whole counsel of God." God's Spirit gave us the scriptures and he will not contradict himself. The Spirit and the Word work together. We must work in tandem with both for a healthy worship life.
Sure. Everyone knows that worship must be "biblical." But what does that mean exactly?
Should our worship be about -
...singing to the Lord?
...giving God glory?
...exalting the name of Jesus?
...giving tithes and offerings?
...reading and hearing scripture?
...preaching the good news?
...prayer?
...bowing in humility before the Lord?
...experiencing and enjoying God's presence?
...lifting holy hands?
...confession and repentance?
Yes, yes, and yes! And I'm sure that I've left some out. But what happens when we emphasize one aspect or element over all the others. We must go back to scripture and reexamine our practices and principles.
As humans, we tend to overdo the things that we enjoy or need. But when we get out of balance, we must consult "the whole counsel of God." God's Spirit gave us the scriptures and he will not contradict himself. The Spirit and the Word work together. We must work in tandem with both for a healthy worship life.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Worship Objective 3
The North Park worship ministry (team) exists to to provide and facilitate a regular weekend worship experience for the North Park family of believers which will - 3. be motivated, informed, and directed by the Holy Spirit.
The role of the Holy Spirit in Christian worship is much debated. There can be no doubt, however, that without the aid of God, the Spirit, we cannot properly worship God the Father, and the Son.
First, our worship must be motivated by the Spirit. On our own we cannot hear from, or respond to God. It is only through the blood of Jesus and the New Covenant with God that we can approach the heavenly throne.
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. Phil 3:3
Our worship must also be informed by the Spirit. On our own, we don't even have the capacity to plan worship. The Spirit (most often using scripture) tells us how we are to approach God. He gives us the substance of our worship.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26
Finally, worship must be directed by the Spirit. He is the "worship leader." He provokes us to express our praise and adoration both vocally and physically. He even helps us when we are weak and can't express ourselves.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Rom 8:26
It is easy to let some of our more charismatic brothers and sisters scare us away from embracing the Spirit in our worship. But that should not be the case. We should embrace all aspects of the Triune God as we worship "in Spirit and in truth."
How do you embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in our corporate worship times?
The role of the Holy Spirit in Christian worship is much debated. There can be no doubt, however, that without the aid of God, the Spirit, we cannot properly worship God the Father, and the Son.
First, our worship must be motivated by the Spirit. On our own we cannot hear from, or respond to God. It is only through the blood of Jesus and the New Covenant with God that we can approach the heavenly throne.
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. Phil 3:3
Our worship must also be informed by the Spirit. On our own, we don't even have the capacity to plan worship. The Spirit (most often using scripture) tells us how we are to approach God. He gives us the substance of our worship.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26
Finally, worship must be directed by the Spirit. He is the "worship leader." He provokes us to express our praise and adoration both vocally and physically. He even helps us when we are weak and can't express ourselves.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Rom 8:26
It is easy to let some of our more charismatic brothers and sisters scare us away from embracing the Spirit in our worship. But that should not be the case. We should embrace all aspects of the Triune God as we worship "in Spirit and in truth."
How do you embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in our corporate worship times?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Worship Objective 2
The North Park worship ministry (team) exists to to provide and facilitate a regular weekend worship experience for the North Park family of believers which will - 2. be pleasing to, and within the perfect will of, our Heavenly Father.
As we've discussed before, worship is a dialogue. It is a two-way conversation that must be kept in balance. It is initiated by God, but requires a reply from us. It is in this Revelation and Response dichotomy that true worship takes place. And it is our proper and appropriate responses which are pleasing to God.
God reveals himself in his - 1. Presence 2. Person 3. Power 4. Purposes 5. Plans
The key for us is to respond to each rightly (or righteously). In what ways to do you respond to God in worship? Do you think it is pleasing to Him?
As we've discussed before, worship is a dialogue. It is a two-way conversation that must be kept in balance. It is initiated by God, but requires a reply from us. It is in this Revelation and Response dichotomy that true worship takes place. And it is our proper and appropriate responses which are pleasing to God.
God reveals himself in his - 1. Presence 2. Person 3. Power 4. Purposes 5. Plans
The key for us is to respond to each rightly (or righteously). In what ways to do you respond to God in worship? Do you think it is pleasing to Him?
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