Worship Principles 1 & 2

Worship Principles/Convictions (1)

Jesus said: “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24

“A faithful worship leader magnifies the greatness of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, by skilfully combining God’s Word with music thereby motivating the gathered church to proclaim the gospel, to cherish God’s presence, and to live for God’s glory.” (Bob Kauflin - Worship Matters publ. by Crossway)

Much has been written on worship but allow me to suggest some convictions and grounding principles that have formed in my mind over the years and also in my recent reading and experience. These will guide the worship ministry in High Kirk.

We have been created by God for his glory and to worship him (Isaiah 43:6-7 “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”; Ps.96:2 “Sing to the Lord, praise his name…declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples”; 1 Chronicles 16:28-29 “Ascribe to the Lord O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness”. )

We worship God because he is our creator and he commands us to worship him (Ps.95:6-7; Ps.100:2 “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs” Mt.4:10 “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”) We worship him also because he is worthy of our worship “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name.” 1 Chron.16:29

We worship him out of thankfulness and gratitude for all that he has done for us and especially in our salvation through Jesus Christ. God has given us “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. (2 Cor.4:6) Our access to God and our worship is offered “in Jesus’ name”. Apart from Jesus Christ we cannot approach God. (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Our worship is cross centred: “For Christ died for our sins once for all, the righteous fro the unrighteous to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18) “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor.2:2)

Our worship is also Trinitarian. Unto God the Father, through Jesus the Son by the power and enabling of the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor.13:14 1 Peter 1:2

We are all priests offering worship to God - “…you are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) Through Jesus we have access to God and worshipping God is not an exclusive preserve of an elite. We can worship God as individuals or corporately.

We are to worship “in spirit and in truth” (Jn.4:23). This is one of the most significant statements of Jesus on worship. This short statement incorporates a lot of rich ideas:

worship is internal (of the heart) more than external (having to happen in a particular “holy” place); under the NT there are no holy places, just holy people (Acts 7:48 “The Most High does not live in houses made by men”)
worship is made possible by the gift of the Holy Spirit; God is Spirit and we connect to him by means of the Holy Spirit indwelling us;
as we come to know Jesus who is “truth” personified we come to know God.
we come to know Jesus through the Word of God applied by the Spirit.
true worship occurs when the essence of a believing, trusting heart connects with God. Eugene Peterson tries to get behind the meaning in his translation when he says “It’s who you are and the way that you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is looking out for those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself – Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits their true selves, in adoration.” We see this also in the heart cry of our generation for authenticity. Our worship needs to be authentic and genuine (seen through real engagement in corporate worship and holy living the rest of the week in all of our lives).

Worship is expressed both corporately (as we gather as church in our normal services/meetings) and as individuals (in our private devotions). It is expressed in prayer, praise, teaching etc and in the normal aspects of our lives at home and work. Rom.12:1 “…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship”. 1 Cor.10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Our corporate worship should equip, inspire and encourage us to live our individual God exalting lives. Corporate worship therefore is one of the most important occupations for the Christian.

Corporate worship is about adoration, education and edification. In corporate worship there is both a vertical (God) emphasis and a horizontal (fellow believers) emphasis. We sometimes talk about an audience of One. This emphasises a great truth – what God thinks of our worship is the most important thing. But it can obscure another truth – that we sing and preach to each other and we build each other up through worship also. (Eph.5:19 “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs”. 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.”)

Our worship should be Word saturated. “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” Mt.4:4 “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and trembles at my word.” Is.66:2 (“Our churches cannot be Spirit led unless they are Word fed” - Bob Kauflin)

Worship Principles / Convictions (2)

1. Our worship should be prayerfully prepared and Bible based.

2. We are committed to involving a team of worship leaders.

3. Both of the morning services offering the same so far as possible.

4. Rehearsals for morning and evening services (Friday evening/Sun.afternoon)

5. The main choir is the congregation

6. Seeking Spirit led, fully engaged worshippers

7. Style is subservient to substance, form to the Spirit, words to The Word.

8. Like other ministries it is more important to give than receive (although in giving we do also receive)

9. Spiritual and emotional harmony enhances musical harmony

10. We will nurture a team spirit and care for each other.

11. Variety can help people to engage. Too much variety can disorientate and distract.

12. A high degree of commitment is necessary but we will aim to build in creative rests for people.

13. Our musical style could best be described as blended.

14. Aim for services to be

powerful (in and of the Spirit)
passionate (engaged as true worshippers - John 4:23)
priestly (every member contributing of differing ages)
prophetic (ministering to each other)
productive (employing the creative talents of the congregation in worship)

15. Those who are worship leaders need to have a good grasp of overall picture and attend services they are not necessarily leading.

16. Worship leaders need to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and to the needs of the congregation. Need to be musically, theologically and pastorally astute.

17. We will aim to be on the look out for new talent and gently nurture it.

18. While we can use people (especially younger ones) who are not communicant members ideally we will require those involved in leading worship to be committed Full members.

19. We will emphasise the need for strong relationships, love and accountability.

20. Our ministry is more about facilitating and leading than entertaining or performing (though there will be aspects of the latter).

Norman Cameron

March 2009

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