Introduction 1. Whole spiritual life is based on relationship or interaction personally with God—The Person is the core 2. The core of the person in the spiritual life 3. The core of the spiritual life is worship 4. Thus the core of the core of the core is worship

Biblical Evidence 1. The Bible makes worship the most common spiritual practice—over 400 times 2. Prayer is the second most common 3. Examples of Biblical characters: Cain and Abel Gen. 4:1-5, Noah Gen. 8:20, Abraham Gen. 12:7,8. The apostle Paul’s letters often begin with praises to God

Biblical Evidence cont. 4. Several key books of the Bible and sections of the Bible concern worship. Note Leviticus, Psalms, Revelation and the whole sanctuary/tabernacle system 5. This should be especially true for Adventists i.e. the first 4 commandments all deal with worship (see also Matt. 22:34-40), the book of Rev. and especially the 3 angels messages in 14:6-12, and the heavenly sanctuary

Definition of Worship 1. Most common O.T. word is “Shachah” which means to “prostrate. (used over 150 times) 2. Most common N.T. word is “proskuneo” which literally means to “draw near to “kiss toward” with a ring or hand etc. in mind Extremely wide vocabulary—worship, adore, magnify, glorify, praise, lift up, bless, bow down, fear, extol, be in awe, honor, reverence etc.

Definition continued Based on these words and examples we may define worship as: A wholistic response to or seeking of God’s presence or action which assumes personal interchange

Definition cont. By wholistic is meant: 1. Physical as well mental 2. Emotional, affective as well as rational and cognitive

Why is worship so important? Because it is a response to God’s grace, love and power To not worship in to not know grace in the deepest sense Examples

Barriers of Worship Because true worship is so crucial Satan has worked over time to bring misunderstanding, conflict, and neglect to the area Problems and barriers exist on 3 levels: 1. the surface level, 2. the intermediate level, and 3. the deep world view or philosophical level

Surface level barriers/misunderstandings 1. Worship is about my comfort level “I don’t feel comfortable with _____” 2. Worship and music are equated 3. Music appreciated means true worship Aesthetic appreciation is not worship and neither are “camp” songs

Surface level cont. 4. Good worship music depends on musical expertise Expertise is good but we need something more 5. Most worship is corporate 6. Type of music is key to worship Music change does not mean worship renewal

Mid-level barriers: Models There are 4 worship models which are not all wrong but miss the core: 1. Classroom model: worship is learning 2.Evangelistic Tent model: worship is a call to decision for Jesus

Models cont. 3. Psychologist couch: worship is helping people with problems 4. Spectator sport: worship is performance Worship is worship!

Deep level world view barriers 1. Many because of world view/cultural issues do not take seriously the presence of God—the numinous 2. Dominant culture values cognitive above the emotional

Deep level cont. 3. Examples: personal and Matthew Elliot, “Faithful Feelings: Rethinking Emotion in the New Testament” Brazilian response—”you are releasing us from the European captivity of the church

Call to respond 1. Remember there is a process Thomas’ experience and John 20:27, 28 2.Start individually—You can share best what you can personally testify to 3. Accept it as a priority—Make it your first response to God

Call to respond cont. I will be calling for a specific response in relationship to your practice of the devotional life. It will concern God’s grace and worship. I am deeply convicted-- we say many good things but often take no action in life