Last week we talked about getting here early, engaging with people, and then praying for the service. Now let’s talk about how we enter into worship.
Entering into worship begins with that first “call to worship.” Before a single song is sung, during the welcome, worship has begun. There is a misunderstanding in our culture that worship is only music. But in truth, in all the words we discussed that are translated as worship, hardly any of them have to do with music (psalmos, aineo, hymneo). Most of them were relational (sebomai, doxa, eucharisto, megaluno, agallio, chairo, kauchaomai, prokeneuo, therapeuo, yare, darash), some were service oriented (caged, abad, shacah, atsolo, pipto), and others were sacrificial (leiturgio, latereuo, thusia). But the weight of these words points toward what we do to others more than what we do for ourselves or what we get out of it. The real thrust of worship is serving God and people, and only a small portion of that is about what we sing. Let’s go back to the beginning and discuss when the call to worship is made, when we welcome our guests, and share news: these things too are worship. They are inclusive because you chose to to engage the people around you. After the call is when we pray and begin to sing songs of praise, give thanks in communion, spend time in the the Bible, and minister to the body. Being present through all those elements is part of worship, not only for the sake of others, but it is part of your offering to God. To be present, to engage with others, to say that everyone matters.
Next week we want to talk about the role of the songs and the words we sing.
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