Christian Worship: What Is It?

What is worship?

Before we even try to scratch the surface, you should know that this is merely the surface. 

• It is Christian, Christ-centered
• It is sacrificial
• It is Trinitarian (by the Spirit, through the Son, to the Father)
• It has been going on since before we were born
• It is participatory; we get to join in the worship Jesus already offered up to the Father
• It is corporate: it includes others 
• It involves our whole bodies and minds: 
• Romans 12:1-2 states, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
  

• we are also called to use our mouths
• Ephesians 5:18-20 says, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
• Colossians 3:15-16 says, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
   

Several thoughts on why Psalm-singing is important:

1. We're commanded to in Ephesians and Colossians
1. Sing to one another in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
2. Why would we not sing 150 Spirit-inspired songs that stand at the center of the Word of God?
1. They should be the bedrock of all other Christian music
2. Our new songs should be informed by the Psalms
3. They're totally Godly - The Psalms are Christo-centric: 
1. Jesus quoted from them all the time (Ps 22), specifically from the cross
2. The early church used them in preaching to speak about what God was doing in Jesus
4. They're totally human - They cover the entire range of human emotion 
1. They teach us "how to feel" in various circumstances 
5. They help us identify with much of the historical church
6. They allow God's Bride to sing His own language to one another and back to Him

A little personal background and then we'll sing ; )

http://classy-shakey.blogspot.com

Here is a list of the Psalms we will try to learn today:

1. Psalm 100 - All people that on earth do dwell (a call to worship)
2. Psalm 22 - Be not far off for grief is near (messianic Psalm about Jesus' crucifixion)
3. Psalm 2 - Why do the heathen nations vainly rage? (a messianic Psalm about Jesus' resurrection and enthronement)
4. Psalm 6 - Chide me, O Lord, no longer (the Psalmist laments his enemies' persecuting of him and rejoices in God's victory over them) 
5. Psalm 130 - Our of the depths of sadness (lamenting one's sin before God; appeal to God's grace to forgive; admonition for the nation to hope in God to save them from their sins and its consequences)