Conversations on Worship

Chapter 2 Something More

2010-09-25T23:40:00.000-07:00

O.K. Obviously I am about a week behind with this post. I have read chapter 2 a week ago, just have not made it to the blog post yet, slacker that I am.

Anyhoo, this chapter unpacks the radical concept that, in our search for God, we discover the truth that God is already seeking us -- drawing us towards Him, if you will. Louie references the passage where apostle Paul seizes the opportunity to address the people of Athens about their altar to "The Unknown God." Back then, like today, people were still trying to cover all their bases, wondering if there was something more.

In Acts 17: 16 - 34, Paul used their openness and seeking attitude as a platform to present the Christian worldview that God has created us and appointed our lives and time on this earth for a purpose -- that people would seek Him. He doesn't need us, but He is God, and He knows we need Him like we need life and breath.

Can you relate to Louie's statament? "The journey to God isn't like hopscoth on a chalk-lined sidewalk. It's more like a continual reaching for someone our eyes cannot see."

What are the road signs in your life that are potential clues that God has been seeking you?

How aware are you of God's "internal magnet" at work inside you?

What rings true about the idea that God has placed eternity in our hearts?

And what does all that say about Louie's claim that we are all worshippers/chasers of something to scratch that eternal itch inside?

And how does that explain Jesus's mission on earth?

Chapter 1 - Worship is What we Value

2010-09-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

So Chapter One hit the idea that worship is mainly about what we value. The object of where we put most of our focus, energy, resources, and time speaks volumes about our worship. How did this perspective affect you? Agree? Disagree?

When you think of it that way, how do you eVALUate your worship?

Here's some questions to ponder: What would my friends observe? What does my checkbook say about my worship? If I tracked the last 48 hours, what got the most attention in my life? How much competition is God facing in my life?

Check out Colossians 1:15 - 17; John 1:1 - 3; and 1 Corinthians 8:5 - 6 for extra credit.

Let's Begin!

2010-08-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

O.K. The books have arrived. About half of them are still awaiting pick up. If you haven't been able to pick yours up, let me know and let's try to get everyone up and reading this week. We will begin with (drum roll...) Chapter One!

I will attempt to faithfully post a conversation starter or "think on this." type of thought early in the week (Sunday or Monday), and then follow up on Fridays with a "so what do you think?" kind of question or comment to digest what we've read in the past chapter. Hopefully everyone can keep up with one short chapter a week. My goal is not to sprint to the end of the book, but walk together through the garden and stop and admire the landscape of what God will show us about worship.

Before you begin reading, I would really like everyone to post a short comment on your current understanding of worship. What does that word mean to you? If you were trying to explain it to an alien from outer space, how would you define it?

Also, try this exercise: Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and clear your mind. Then focus on the word worship. Take a mental snapshot of the images that come to mind, and then try to paint me a picture of what worship looks like in your mind's eye.

It will be interesting, when we get to the end of this book, to look back and compare snapshots we started with to those we ended with.

Who's on the Throne?

2010-08-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

Worship is always the frontline of the battle. Always remember there is a spiritual war going on over who is on the throne. God says "I will not share my glory with another." Satan would steal the glory or distract people from God's glory. He is less interested in making us Satan worshippers, than lovers of ourselves. That is way easier for him to do. We are more than willing accomplices of the lie that "It's all about me." You expect to encounter this out in the world, but when we encounter it at "church," it's even more tragic. Especially in the American church, Consumerism is the religion of the day. There is a fine line among our congregations today between seeking religious entertainment on Sunday mornings vs. bringing the sweet aroma of self-surrender and sacrifice as we lay ourselves on the altar.

A prayer for today:

"God, as I go through my day, remind me of the eternal significance of my choices. Help me to recognize the false philosophies and attitudes (even religious ones) that would rob You of Your glory. Forgive me for the times I have made things all about me. You are the worthy One to sit on the throne of my life. I gladly move myself off the throne and onto Your altar as a living sacrifice."

"The Air I Breathe" - Join my online book study!

2010-08-19T07:48:00.000-07:00

I thought I had a pretty good handle on worship. Then I went to a Passion Conference in 1999 led by Louie Giglio and team. What I learned and experienced there along with 12,000 college students, and student leaders revolutionized my perspective on worship. In his book, "The Air I Breathe," Louie presents his simple and profound perspective on this thing called worship. It's an easy read, and potentially life-changing. My worship arts team at Neptune Baptist is going to read this together as part of our Fall Season. I'd like to invite you to join us. Here's the plan: 1) Get a copy of the book (available online at Amazon, etc.). Multnomah Publishers (2006) I also have a limited supply available for a discounted price if you want to contact me. 2) Register as a follower on my blog to be part of the online discussion. 3) I will post the reading plan and discussion questions and comments to get the discussion going each week. 4) Check in to the blog each week to be part of the conversation.

Our Reading plan begins Sunday, August 29.

Worship before Service

2009-08-06T22:47:00.000-07:00

This from A.W. Tozer in his book "I Talk Back to the Devil."

"Recall what happened when Jesus said to the disciples, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.' (Mark 16:15).

Peter jumped up right away, grabbed his hat and would have been on his way, but Jesus stopped him, and said, 'Not yet, Peter! Don't go like that. Tarry until you are endued with power from on high, and then go!'

I believe that our Lord wants us to learn more of Him in worship before we become busy for Him. He wants us to have a gift of the Spirit, an inner experience of the heart, as our first service, and out of that will grow the profound and deep and divine activities which are necssary."

PRAYER: "It's so easy to become busy, Lord, especially when I'm challenged with the vital task of evangelism. Quiet my heart first , that my evangelism efforts might spring from a heart of worship. Amen."

100 Pianos: Unity of the Church in Worship

2009-07-30T06:18:00.000-07:00

Jesus's prayer for those that would follow Him includes this statement:

"...that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." -- John 17:21

A.W. Tozer writes (from his book The Pursuit of God):

"Someone may fear that we are magnifying private religion out of all proportion, that the "us" of the New Testament is being displaced by a selfish "I." Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, allow me to be the answer to your prayer. Let this start with me, that I could have a closer walk with you today and then, as a leader, encourage others in their own unique pursuit of You, that we would see the Body of Christ made stronger and healthier, not all singing the same melody, but harmonizing together from every tribe, tongue and nation singing the same song to You, through You, and for You.

Can you worship God on a tractor?

2009-07-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

I got in touch with my agrarian side this past weekend. My wife's grandmother lives in the rural North Florida town of Live Oak. She is 86 and lives by herself in a little house on 40 acres.

Time moves real slow in Live Oak, Florida. You can actually see the second hand on your watch slow down. For me it is a place where I am forced to slow down and rest. The atmospheric entry is a little rough, but once I adjust, it is usually very therapeutic. Me cel phone doesn't even get coverage on the farm.

My wife's uncle lives nearby and takes care of the family's land in Live Oak. Since we were there for 3 days, I thought I would offer some manual labor this weekend to help out. I asked Uncle Marvin what I could do to help. He suggested driving the tractor and bush-hogging part of the back 40 (acres).

I said, sure. After a crash course from uncle Marvin on driving the tractor (a real live tractor with the big wheels), I got the hang of it and started mowing the pasture. I even took my 5 year old son for a couple of laps around the back 40.

For the better part of 2 days, I mowed about 15 acres. I don't think I will quit my day job anytime soon for farming. However, it was a good distraction, and I felt like I was making a contribution to helping out the family.

I actually think I experienced God as well. I've seen this quote before posted in homes of farmers or just people with green thumbs: "He who works the land, works hand in hand with God." I think they're on to something.

Farmers plant, water, and work the soil, but who makes things grow? (I can hear all the kindergartners giving the Sunday School answer) God does. Good answer. You get a gold star.

I know that sounds trite, but imagine being in the shoes, or boots, of the farmer. Your whole livelihood is dependent on that growth happening in the fields. You can do everything in your power to plant during the right seasons, and give the land the right nutrients, but ultimately the results are out of your control. Things like drought and storms can wipe out an entire crop for the season. You are utterly dependent on Providence for your results.

Apply that to our spiritual growth. Some things are our responsibility such as working the spiritual disciplines in our lives of prayer, Scripture reading/memory, participating in a community of faith, giving, service. But the results and growth in our lives comes from God. It is the Holy Spirit that accomplishes the ongoing work of salvation, justification, regeneration, and sanctification in us. Now there's some sunday school words for you. Salvation (receiving God's grace and mercy by trusting in Christ's sacrifice for us, and turning from our sin). Justification (Being made "right" in God's eyes). Regeneration (Living in the new life God gives through Jesus' triumph over sin and death). Sanctification (the ongoing process of growing in holiness and becoming more and more like Christ).

Here's a couple of scriptures that show this working partnership we have with God in seeing spiritual growth happen in our lives.

The apostle Paul writes:

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed -- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence -- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Phillipians 2:12,13

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Somehow, even in the uncomfortable seat of the tractor for 4 hours at a time with the smell of diesel fuel and keenly aware of the farmer tan/burn I was developing, I felt the presence of God. I saw Him in His created world. The beauty of the sky, the majestic oaks, and the sprawling land full of growing, living things. Even in hot, humid Live Oak during the July heat, there was a gentle breeze constantly coming my way. Several times storm clouds threatened, but there was never any lightning, and the only rain that came my way was a slight, windy drizzle that actually felt like one of those "misters" you see on the sidelines at a football game.

Working hand in hand with God is cool.

The Worship Trail

2009-07-13T23:45:00.000-07:00

"Everybody has an altar. And every altar has a throne. So how do you know where and what you worship? It's easy. You simply follow the trail of your time, your affection, your energy, your money, and your loyalty. At the end of that trail you'll find a throne; and whatever or whomever, is on that throne is what's of highest value to you. On that throne is what you worship." -- Louie Giglio

How do you love God?

2009-07-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

CHARLES COLSON, from his book “Loving God”

A few years ago, I was experiencing one of those periods of spiritual dryness we all encounter. So I gathered up contemporary books on the subject of discipleship – by the armload. Many were excellent, in particular, Jerry Bridges’ book “Pursuit of Holiness”, which I have come to regard as a classic. But many others dealt more with evangelism than discipleship; and most seemed concerned with how to get more out of the Christian life. I wanted to know how to put more into the Christian life.

The greatest commandment of all, Jesus said, is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” I’d memorized those words but had never really thought about what they meant in practical terms; that is, how to fulfill that command. I wondered if others felt the same way. So I asked a number of more experienced Christians how they loved God.

“Well … by loving him,” one stammered, then added by way of explanation, “with all my heart, soul, and mind.”

“By maintaining a worshipful heart, offering myself as an acceptable sacrifice,” another answered quickly. Halfway though his discourse, he stopped and shrugged. “Let me think about it some more.”

Faithful church attendance was a frequent response, and tithing ranked high on the list.

Several tried to explain “loving God” as a feeling in their hearts.

That did it. The cumulative effect on my survey convinced me that most of us, as professing Christians, do not really know how to love God. Not only have we not given thought to what the greatest commandment means in our day-to-day existence, we have not obeyed it.

What would happen if we were actually to obey God’s commands, and apply His truth for the glory of His kingdom? The result would be a world turned upside down, revolutionized by the power of God working through individual Christians and the church as a whole.

It is not what we do that matters, but what a sovereign God chooses to do through us. God doesn’t want our success: He wants us. He doesn’t demand our achievements; He demands our obedience.

=================
So, how do YOU love God?

Post your thoughts - Alan

A Lifestyle of Worship

2009-07-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

Colossians Chapter 3 is a comprehenseve picture of what a lifestyle of worship looks like. It covers everything in our life: relationships, family, work, our thoughts our motivations all lived under the sovereignty of Christ, and centered on living out the life of Christ in us. The culminating verse is Col 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Ever wonder about those "grey areas" in life? Should a Christ follower do this or that? Is it ok or not? Here's the test: Can you, without reservation, do or say it in the name of Christ, giving thanks to the Father?"

We are to live and think on a higher level as Christians. Our lives are "hidden in Him" until the day we will see Him as He is. This is a wonderful mystery as to what that means and how it works, but the application is to have our spirits and our conscious will quickened to this awareness that we are to live in this new reality: I am in Christ, and Christ is in me. How then shall I live? and think? and choose?

Would like to hear some feedback on this one... please jump in...

"7 Words of Worship" Book Study

2009-06-27T02:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry for my silence this week. I have been enduring a migraine / sinus infection and have not been able to do much. I meant to post our reading plan for the book on Monday. Here it is:

(5 chapters per section per week)

SECTION 1: Heart of Worship (June 28 class discussion)
SECTION 2: Creation (July 5 class discussion)
SECTION 3: Grace (July 12 class discussion)
SECTION 4: Love (July 19 class discussion)
SECTION 5: Response (July 26 class discussion)
SECTION 6: Expression (August 2 class discussion)
SECTION 7: Presence (August 9 class discussion)
SECTION 8: Experience (August 16 class discussion)

Whether you can make the class or not, please track along with the reading plan and feel free to comment or follow the posts as we read through these chapters.

Quotes

2009-06-22T06:19:00.000-07:00

"The whole import and substance of the Bible teaches us that the God who does not need any thing nevertheless desires the adoration and worship of His created children."

- A.W. Tozer, "Whatever Happened to Worship?"

"7 Words of Worship" Book Study

2009-06-20T23:10:00.001-07:00

I'm starting a book study through a book called "7 Words of Worship" by Mike Harland who is the Director of Worship for Lifeway Christian Resources. This is for anyone interested in building a Biblical understanding of worship and applying that towards a lifestyle of worship.
The book unpacks Lifeway's definitive statement on worship, focusing on 7 key words emphasized in the statement:

"Each of us was created by God for relationship with Him, but we can only enjoy that relationship by God's grace. God's great love for us, demonstrated in Christ Jesus, initiates our response. The only reasonable and adequate response is our expression of worship. As we worship, God has promised His presence. We can always experience God in worship!"

I am teaching it in a 1-hour class that meets on Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm at my church, Neptune Baptist in Neptune Beach. However, I want to open up the conversation to as many as possible through the blog.

If you would like to join in, just get the book (available at Lifeway Christian bookstores, or from me -- I have a few available for discounted price of $15), sign up on the blog, follow the reading plan that I will post, and join the discussion.

There are 8 sections of 5 chapters each, so we will tackle one section each week. That's only 5 chapters a week. The chapters are fairly short so it's an easy read and not time consuming.

I will attempt to get the discussion going by posting a comment, question, or idea to the blog and ask for responses. The reading plan begins on Monday, June 22 so don't delay!

Let me know if you'd like to get a book from me.

Going deeper,

Alan

The Pursuit

2009-06-19T01:48:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, everybody worships something. The human heart is wired for it. Worship is about placing value. Whatever we value most, that is what we worship. The more I get to know Jesus Christ, the more I realize that He deserves center stage in all of life's pursuits.

Speaking of pursuits, what are you chasing after? Success? Love? Money? Fame? Security?

Have you noticed how fleeting these things are? It seems the more we chase after them, the less satisfied we are. The more we pursue them, the more they seem to run away from us.

In the meantime, God is persistently pursuing us. Did you catch that? The God of the universe is pursuing you. How do you react to that thought? Fear? Joy? Relief?

In John Chapter 4, Jesus has a conversation about worship with a Samaritan woman. Among other things, He tells her, "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.: (John 4:23)

So that tells me that God the Father is seeking worshippers. He is seeking those who will recognize His claim to fame, as the Ultimate Value in the universe. The one who created it all, sustains it all, and created me with the capacity to acknowledge and respond to my Creator, pursues my worship.

Why? Because He deserves my worship, and He knows that is the only thing that will bring me ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment compared to all those other areas of life's lesser pursuits.

Religion, in all of its many forms, is our effort to reach God by attempting to cover up our sinful nature. Christ is God's way of reaching us by the covering of His perfect sacrifice. God pursued us by sending His Son, Jesus the Christ, to make a way for us to be rescued from the death sentence we were carrying because of our sins, and to be reunited and adopted into His family. When we realize who God is and what He has done for us, we have a choice. Believe and accept His great gift of grace and start living the life He offers, or reject the truth of God's way.

If we believe and accept, there is a turning point. This is called repentance. We turn from our old way of living in rebellion to God's way, and we turn our attention to Christ as our Savior and our ultimate example of how to live. As we change our focus, He changes our direction. Our status changes from enemies of God in rebellion to His way, to adopted sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. We turn from a destination of eternal seperation from Him to a destination of eternal life with Him.

We've all seen those epic scenes in a movie where 2 long-lost lovers are running towards each other across an open field, in slow motion, with the dramatic music playing on the soundtrack, until they finally reach each other and passionately embrace...

We've seen it so much that it's almost become sappy and cheesy. That is, until it's you in the scene and the emotions are real for the person on the other side of the field.

My 15-month old daughter has been learning to walk. It's more of an extended stumbling than walking really. She takes a lot of falls and has the bumps and bruises to show for it, but she never stops the pursuit of being upwardly mobile.

I love to recreate that sappy movie scene with her. I will call her from across the room, and she will lock on to me with those beautiful blue eyes, and then start walking / stumbling / falling towards me, and I will run to her with arms wide open, and we will crash into each other in a beautiful collision of hugs and kisses and swinging her around in daddy's arms, and it is the most beautiful, joyous moment. And my heart is so full it could just bust with how God has blessed me with my children.

And that is the picture of a Heavenly Father who is seeking His children to respond to His great love. He calls us. Will we turn, lock onto Him, and run/stumble/fall into His arms in a beautiful collision of love and mercy and grace and blessing and embrace this amazing thing that we call worship?

The greatest pursuit in life is pursuing the greatest thing.