The Grace Notes - Grace Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO

Home Page Grace Notes About Us Calendar Day Care Ministries Personal Testimonies How to Get to Grace Baptist Links & Resources E-mail us	From the Pastor: August 16, 2004 What Is Worship? How would you define worship? Dr. Ron Allen, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, writes, "Worship is an active response to God whereby we declare His worth. Worship is not passive; but is participative. Worship is not simply a mood; it is a response. Worship is not just a feeling; it is a declaration”. I might also add that worship is not an option. It is a command of God. Worship demands an investment of our whole self and our whole life. We should come to church ready and eager to worship Him, not waiting for Him to move on us, fix our problems or pacify our weak spirits. Our goal should be to turn the focus towards God and let worship expand us as we magnify God. We miss it when our focus becomes horizontal -- riveted on people and things, rather than vertical -- riveted on God. Charles Swindoll wrote an article wherein he asked, "Do you worship where you go to church?" "Yes," you say, "I just love the Bible teaching at our church." That's not his question. "Oh, yes, the singing is wonderful." That's not his question either. He asked, "Do you worship?" He goes on to say this: My great concern is that we tend to play the game of "church." We learn how to dress, learn how to sit, learn how to look. We even learn the words of the songs. But what about our focus? While we sing, "A mighty fortress is our God," we're thinking, "Why did she wear a dress like that?" "A bulwark never failing." "Did I turn the lights off on my car?" We can do that and not even change our expression. That's not worship — that's playing the church game. Author Gordon Dahl penned convicting words when he wrote, "Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, to work at their play, and to play at their worship." Stop and think: Is that me? Many of us come together hundreds of times a year in order to worship God, but do we really worship? The heart of worship is our inner thoughts and attitudes. So many times we look for the praise team or the choir or the preacher to draw us into worship but they cannot change our hearts. Only we can do that. Let us come before Him with hearts hungry to worship. In His Grip, Jennifer O'Brien, Worship Committee Chair To view past issues of the Grace Notes, click HERE.

From the Pastor: August 16, 2004

What Is Worship?

How would you define worship? Dr. Ron Allen, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, writes, "Worship is an active response to God whereby we declare His worth. Worship is not passive; but is participative. Worship is not simply a mood; it is a response. Worship is not just a feeling; it is a declaration”. I might also add that worship is not an option. It is a command of God.

Worship demands an investment of our whole self and our whole life. We should come to church ready and eager to worship Him, not waiting for Him to move on us, fix our problems or pacify our weak spirits. Our goal should be to turn the focus towards God and let worship expand us as we magnify God. We miss it when our focus becomes horizontal -- riveted on people and things, rather than vertical -- riveted on God.

Charles Swindoll wrote an article wherein he asked, "Do you worship where you go to church?" "Yes," you say, "I just love the Bible teaching at our church." That's not his question. "Oh, yes, the singing is wonderful." That's not his question either. He asked, "Do you worship?" He goes on to say this: My great concern is that we tend to play the game of "church." We learn how to dress, learn how to sit, learn how to look. We even learn the words of the songs. But what about our focus? While we sing, "A mighty fortress is our God," we're thinking, "Why did she wear a dress like that?" "A bulwark never failing." "Did I turn the lights off on my car?" We can do that and not even change our expression. That's not worship — that's playing the church game. Author Gordon Dahl penned convicting words when he wrote, "Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, to work at their play, and to play at their worship." Stop and think: Is that me?

Many of us come together hundreds of times a year in order to worship God, but do we really worship? The heart of worship is our inner thoughts and attitudes. So many times we look for the praise team or the choir or the preacher to draw us into worship but they cannot change our hearts. Only we can do that. Let us come before Him with hearts hungry to worship.

In His Grip,

Jennifer O'Brien, Worship Committee Chair

To view past issues of the Grace Notes, click HERE.