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Worship is our response, both personal and corporate,
to God's glory for who He is and what He has done, expressed
in and by the things we say and the way we live. During our
weekly service of worship here at FBCMaud, we, the worship team,
seek to lead people to renewed passion for God and fresh encounters
of worship. We desire to see all people worship God in spirit
and truth. As Ephesians 5:19 says,"
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord." We are
considered by many as having a "blended" worship.
Because we have worshipers of all ages, from small children
to senior adults, we worship with ageless hymns and new or "contemporary"
songs that are being written by this generation. Our worship
team is made up of many musicians (Psalms 150)
and singers to lead the congregation in a time of worship and
intimacy with our Heavenly Father.
Here are just a few ways Scripture admonishes
us to respond to Him:
Intellectually.
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened
in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you,
the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His
incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephes.
1:18-19
Emotionally.
"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though
you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with
an inexpressible and glorious joy." 1 Peter
1:8
Spiritually. "Yet
a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind
of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers
must worship in spirit and in truth." John
4:23-24
Verbally and Corporately.
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give
you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ
Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans
15:5-6
Behaviorally. "Therefore,
I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your
bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this
is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1
"Man looks on the outward appearance but
the LORD looks on the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7) There are many
different opinions when it comes to worship practices and form,
but God is looking for people who will worship Him in spirit
and truth. He is not as concerned with which songs we sing as
He is about us "making melody with our heart to the LORD."
(Eph. 5:19) There are many biblical constants and principles
that we really can agree upon. Then we need to have the grace
and maturity with each other to allow for the flexibility that
God Himself seems to allow. "Bearing with one another in
love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond
of peace" (Eph. 4:1-3).
So whether you feel led to sit quietly and
meditate on the Lord or sing, clap and lift your hands, or shout
to the Lord in worship (Psalms 134:2, 47:1) feel free because
the Lord our God is with us and “where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor.
3:17 NIV) .
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