Worship-Driven (p2) Sermon Discussion

Robert Webber said it best, "Worship is a verb."  He points out that Hebrew & Greek do not have a word for worship but only words to describe what we do when we worship.  The meaning of the two primary words are, "to bow down" and "to serve."

This means that the majority of our worship will happen away from the church house.  In the midst of the minute and mundane tasks of life.

For me, I need something to remind me that all of life is worship--a chance to bow down and serve my king.  The towel and basin helps me.  In order to use it one must bow and be ready to serve.

What helps you to remember that all of life is meant to be worship?

Comments

[Alan Baumbach]

Is it possible the "frozen chosen" may be worshipping just as much as the "happy clappers"?

[Bob Agard]

Robert,
I am so happy you mentioned your blog today. You are so important to Colleen and me. Now we can learn from you more often than just on Sundays!

[Carla Elam-Floyd]

What I've done to remind me that every breath I take and step I make should be focused on worship is to put a reminder in a place where I can't miss it - my license plate! My plate reads "Zamar" which is a Hebrew praise word meaning that everything I am and everything I do is for the Glory of God. Even if I forget to actually look at it, I'll usually get a question from someone, "Is that your name?" which gives me another opportunity to voice it to them and to myself. Of course - I always add that it's not a boast, it's an aspiration. Everyday it has to be a conscious act on part to remember my purpose!

[Bradley Graham]

Something that's been helpful for my wife and me is to wake up and go through our "Morning Checklist", which is inspired by the Fruit of the Spirit. I printed it out and put it on our refrigerator. Here's a link if anyone else would like to print it out and use it (PDF file/Adobe Reader required):

http://www.bradleygraham.com/pdf/morning-checklist.pdf

[Rebecca Schaefer]

The parable of the sheep and the goats helps me prioritize sacrifice of praise and acts of worship: Matthew 25:31-46, especially verses 35 & 36, "For I was hungry and YOU gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and YOU gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and YOU invited me in, I needed clothes and YOU clothed me, I was sick and YOU looked after me, I was in prison and YOU came to visit me."

If a need comes across the radar that fits under one of those categories (tangibly or figuratively, i.e. spiritually hungry) I take a serious look at what small part I CAN do in meeting that need, instead of focusing on why I cannot spend time doing ________. Typically, when I actually go & welcome, visit, feed or clothe it automatically works worship up in my soul and I praise God for the job, home, clothes, food, liberty and health He has provided for me & my family...

It dawned on me today on a walk that I have a nephew in prison, I've written but never visited. My children have visited, but I have not. It's a challenge.

[Kim]

I always try to see God's hand in everything around me and in all circumstances I am in. This helps me to stay focused on how great a presence He is in our daily lives and it helps me to think before I speak and to choose carefully how I act. No one but God ever knows the choices I make in how I behave but by striving to worship and honor Him in all I do, I get so many blessings in return.

[Al Pangelinan]

Worship-As you gave your sermon on this subject, I paused many times to think how it is applied in my life. What reminders do I have or use in my life that identifies how I worship. So I thought Pastor and I thought, and then it dawned on me and the first thing that came to mind was my passion for prayer. Each day that I hold prayer, whether it is in my private space or with my lovely wife and kids, this is my way of worshipping our Lord.

Pastor-thank you for your inspirational and powerful teachings. The passion and faith that you share through your messages have and will continue to influence and bless our lives.

[FizixGeek]

What helps you to remember that all of life is meant to be worship?

I’ve struggled with this question for most of the week. Partly, I think, because the idea of organized group worship has always been a little unfamiliar to me. I don’t relate quite as well to it as I probably should and I sometimes feel a sense of awkwardness when I try to close my eyes and participate in a typical praise and worship service.

But when I look up; when I look out at the vastness of God’s creation- the sky, the mountains, the storms sweeping across the plains to the east I find that my heart fills with praise, worship and adoration that I can rarely articulate. I am awestruck and humbled by his love for me that he would create such an amazing dwelling place for his beloved humanity- for us.

I think that God’s love for us is mirrored in the beauty of His creation. And as often as I can look out and make myself aware of that creation, I can make myself aware of love for me. This reminds me that all of life is meant to be worship.