Blue Water Christian Church

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT WORSHIP IN OUR CHURCH:

Why do we worship God?
How should we worship God?
Why do we stand to sing?
Why do we clap our hands?
Why do we lift our hands?
Why do we have audible praise unto God?
Why are musical instruments a part of worship?
Why do we sing choruses as well as hymns?

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORSHIP:

What is worship?
How does God command us to worship Him?
What is the order of worship that pleases God?
Why does God only want spiritual worship?
How do we enter into God's presence?
What are various expressions of worship to God?
How does God receive true worship?
What does true worship do for us?
How do we learn to praise God?
The different styles of worship in our church.

WHY DO WE WORSHIP GOD?

"Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve."
(Matthew 4:10; Psalm 95:6; Revelation 15:4)
HOW SHOULD WE WORSHIP GOD?

"...God is a spirit, and they that worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and truth."
(John 4:23-24; Psalm 96:9)
WHY DO WE STAND TO SING?

"And the Levites...of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high" (II Chronicles 20:19)

WHY DO WE CLAP OUR HANDS?

"O Clap your hands all ye people; shout unto God with a voice of triumph." (Psalm 47:1)
WHY DO WE LIFT OUR HANDS?

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord." (Psalm 134:2; 63:4; I Timothy 2:8)
WHY DO WE HAVE AUDIBLE PRAISE UNTO GOD?

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name." (Psalm 103:1; Revelation 19:1-6)
WHY ARE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS A PART OF THE WORSHIP SERVICE?

"Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet...with the psaltry and harp...with the timbrel and dance...with stringed instruments and organs...upon the loud cymbals." (Psalm 150:3-5; Revelation 14:2)
WHY DO WE SING CHORUSES AS WELL AS HYMNS?

"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:18-19)

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

Worship is a ministry of giving to God spiritual offerings and sacrifices.

The Hebrew word forworship, shachah {shaw-khaw}, means to depress, i.e. prostrate (espec. Reflex. In homage to royalty or God): - bow (self), down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

The most commonly used Greek word translated as worship is proskuneo {pros-koo-ne'-o}.

It literally means "to kiss, like a dog licking his masters hand", also to fawn down or crouch to, i.e. (Lit. or fig.) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore).

Another Greek word translated as worship is latreuo {lat-ryoo'-o}.

This word means to minister to God by rendering religious homage.

It also means to serve, do the service and worship.

Scripture reference: 1 Peter 2:5

HOW DOES GOD COMMAND US TO WORSHIP HIM?

God is a Spirit; therefore we must worship Him in SPIRIT (we, by the Holy Spirit within us, worship God) and in TRUTH (according to the Word of God).

It is essential to be baptized with the Holy Spirit so we can worship Him in the Spirit. [read Ephesians 5:18-19]

WHAT IS THE ORDER OF WORSHIP THAT PLEASES GOD?

We must not simply be spectators expecting that a certain few will meet the requirements of God in performing acts of worship on our behalf.

We are called upon to participate as a body of believers, with each individual contributing that which the Lord has blessed him with.
WHY DOES GOD ONLY WANT SPIRITUAL WORSHIP?

Natural man cannot please God.

He has given us the gift of His spirit to give us a spiritual language and an entrance into His presence.

Scripture reference: Romans 8:6-8 / 1 Corinthians 2:14

HOW DO WE ENTER INTO GOD'S PRESENCE?

We come into the presence of God with songs, hymns and psalms of thanksgiving.

As the Spirit of God moves upon the service, the worship becomes a spontaneous expression of high praise to God.

Scripture references: Psalm 100:4 / Hebrews 2:12 / Psalm 22:3

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS OF WORHIP TO GOD?

A. Singing - Psalm 9:2,11; Psalm 40:3; Mark 14:26; Psalm 68:4
B. Audible Praise - Psalm 103:1; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Revelation 19:1,6
C. Shouting - Psalm 47:1; Isaiah 12:6
D. Lifting hands - Psalm 63:4; Psalm 134:2; 1 Timothy 2:8
E. Clapping - Psalm 47:1
F. Musical Instruments - Psalm 150:3-5; Revelation 14:2
G. Standing - 2 Chronicles 20:19; revelation 7:9,10
H. Bowing - Psalm 95:6; revelation 7:9-10
I. Rejoicing and Laughing - Philippians 4:4; Psalm 126:2
J. Extravagant Giving - Matthew 26:6-13; Luke 21:1-4

HOW DOES GOD RECEIVE TRUE WORSHIP?

God loves true spiritual worship and lives in the midst of it.

When we worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth, He reveals Himself to us. [Read Psalm 22:3 and Acts 13:2]
WHAT DOES TRUE WORSHIP DO FOR US?

A. Brings the revelation of God's presence - Acts 13:2
B. Causes us to be strengthened - Psalm 8:2; Matthew 21:16
C. Brings Deliverance - 2 Chronicles 20:22; Acts 16:25-26
D. Brings healing - Romans 8:11
E. Brings Joy - Psalm 46:4; Psalm 71:23; Philippians 3:3
HOW DO WE LEARN TO PRAISE GOD?

We learn to praise the Lord as we join in blending our voices in a great chorus of praise to God. Scripture reference: Colossians 3:16

THE DIFFERENT STYLES OF WORSHIP IN OUR CHURCH

Hymns
Integrity Hosanna Praise & Worship