Worship
People of His Presence
Meaning & Purpose
To acknowledge object’s and/or persons
worth
To express reverence
To have a sense of awe
To bow low before
Biblical Beginnings
Worship 1
st
mentioned in
Genesis 22:5
Abraham tells his servant
to stay at the bottom of
the mountain while Isaac
and he goes to worship the
Lord – they will return
Obedience + Faith +
Sacrifice
The Tabernacle
Genesis 25 – 40, God uses
Moses to establish a
mobile place of worship
Genesis 40:34 – 38, “Then
the cloud covered the
Tent of Meetings, and the
glory of the Lord filled the
tabernacle…the cloud of
the Lord was over the
tabernacle by day and fire
by night in sight of all…”
The Ark of the Covenant
Held the 10
Commandments, Aarons
budding staff, and pot of
manna
When Israel was not
obedient – their enemy
would steal the Ark
The Mercy Seat of God –
middle of the top of the
Ark – light from heaven
David’s Tabernacle
II Samuel 6 – 7: David
brings the Ark of the
Covenant to Jerusalem
Notice – how open the
Ark is – in view of all the
people of Israel
A type of worship through
Christ.
The Temple Curtain Torn
Matthew 27: 50 – 51,
“And when Jesus had
cried out again in a
loud voice, He gave
up His Spirit. At that
moment the curtain
of the Temple was
torn in two from top
to bottom…”
Three Temples
Solomon’s Temple: 2 Samuel 6 – 8, destroyed in
586 bc by the Babylonians
Zerubbabel’s Temple: The Book of Ezra, built in
520 bc, destroyed between 400 – 300 bc
Herod’s Temple: built around 20 bc, destroyed in
70 ad by Romans (Nero) – this is the Temple that
existed when Jesus ministered physically on earth
As a believer – You are His Temple
“Don’t you know that
you yourselves are God’s
temple and that God’s
Spirit lives in you?”
I Corinthians 3: 16
A Royal Priesthood
“But you are a chosen people, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people belonging to God, that
you may declare the praises of
Him who called you out of
darkness into His wonderful
light.”
I Peter 2: 9
Why do we worship/praise Him?
We are commanded to! “Praise the Lord! Sing to
the Lord a new song, and praise in the
congregation of saints/believers.” Psalms 149:1
“Then a voice came from the throne, saying, ‘Praise
our God, all you His servants and those who fear
Him both small and great.” Revelation 19: 5
Because He is worthy! “I will call upon the Lord,
Who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved
from my enemies.” I Samuel 22: 4
Why continued…
Because it is good to praise the Lord! “It is good to
give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to
Your name, O Most High; to declare Your loving
kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness
every night.” Psalms 92:1 & 2
Strength comes when we praise Him! “Do not
sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is my strength”
Nehemiah 8:10
Why continued…
Brings fulfillment! “Delight yourself in the
Lord, and He shall give you the desires of
your heart.” Proverbs 37: 4
Invites His presence! “But You are holy,
Who (You) inhabit the praises of Israel/
Your people.” Psalms 22: 3
What blocks praise?
Sin: “But your iniquities/sins have separated you
from God; your sins have hidden His face from you,
so that He will not hear you.” Isaiah 59: 2
What do? “If you confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.” I John 1: 9
Condemnation: false guilt brought by satan – Not
God.
What do? “There is now no condemnation to those
who are in Christ Jesus…” Romans 8: 1
Blocks continued…
Don’t care (indifference): “I have this against you,
that you have left your first love.” Revelation 2:4
What do? “Return to Me and I will return to you!”
Malachi 3: 7
Rebellion: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft/
worshiping evil and stubbornness is as iniquity
and idolatry…” I Samuel 15: 22 & 23
What do? “If you obey my commands, you will
remain in My love…” John 15: 10
Blocks continued…
Anger: “Therefore, let everyone be…slow to
anger; for anger does not produce the
righteousness of God.” James 1: 19 – 20
What do? “ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger…and
evil speaking be put away…forgiving one another,
just as Christ also forgave you.” Eph. 4: 29 - 30
Fear of people: “The fear of people brings a snare/
trap, but whoever trusts the Lord shall be safe.”
Proverbs 29: 5
Difference between Praise and
Worship???
Worship – defined earlier as giving –
demonstrating someone or thing is worthy of
adoration – songs tends to speak directly to
the Lord
Praise is a form of worship – a call to give
thanks for Who He is and what He has done, to
rally worshippers’ attention, and tends to be
“fast” – “up-beat”
Hebrew words for Praise
Halal = to make a show; to boast; to celebrate, to
rave about; to glory in; and to shine. Used 160
times in the OT… to play with joy before Him
Tehillah = to sing a clear song of praise; to
celebrate Him in song; to boast about Him in
song. Used 57 times in the OT…emphasis is a clear
song to Him… the focus is now directly to Him.
Shabach = to shout with a loud voice; to shout in
triumph; to glory in victory. “Deaf shout”
Hebrew words continued…
Zamar = to touch or play strings; singing with
instruments (drums, etc.)
Yadah = to give confession of thanksgiving; to
extend hands toward the Lord – mimetic form of
praise
Todah = hands raised in adoration, reverence and
submission
Barak = to kneel in adoration – to be caught-up in
silence
Summary…
Praise is a more demonstrative form of worship; it
includes your hands, feet, shouts, claps, dance,
jump, sway, hands waving, hands straight up in
surrender… etc.
Adoration form is more focused on Him alone, the
romance of being alone with Him, reverence of
being in the presence of the Holiest of Holies…
God Himself…
Two Thoughts…
Worship Him in spirit and in truth = “God is a spirit.
Those who worship Him must worship Him in
spirit and in truth.” John 4: 24
Songs from the Spirit = “…Instead, be filled with
the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms,
hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make
music from your heart to the Lord, always giving
thanks to God the Father for everything, in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20
Worship Leaders
Were appointed by the leadership after prayer: I
Chronicles 16: 5, Asaph was appointed by David to
lead the worship team
Were anointed of God: I John 2: 20 & 27, “But you
have an anointing from the Holy One…which you
have received from Him Who abides in you…”
Were spiritually mature and able to lead: Psalms
78: 72, “So he shepherded them according to the
integrity of his heart, and guided them by the
skillfulness of his hands.”
Worship Leaders continued…
Committed and Faithful: I Corinthians 4: 2,
“Moreover it is required in stewards/workers that
one be found faithful.”
Respectful and sensitive to God’s presence:
Habakkuk 2: 20, “But the Lord is in His holy
temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”
Arranging the Songs…preparing yourself
spiritually is always first… then…
The Actual Service: Arrange Your
Songs and Lead Us!
Remember you are calling us into His presence…
Start with a Halal or Yadah – something playful
and full of praise. Calling us to tell each other
about the goodness of God – we are
singing/talking about God
Move towards talking to God – the focus now
changes to talking/singing to Him…You are
leading us to His throne and leaving us to stand
face to face with our Savior – Now your task is
done!
Example:
Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him in the
morning…
What a mighty God we serve, what a mighty God
we serve
His name is wonderful…
Your Name is wonderful…
I need you, O, I need you…
Now what did you bring?...
Is it a praise
song/poem/psalm?
Or
Is it a song/poem/psalm of
adoration?
Your Turn!
Get in groups of 2 or 3
Design a worship service of 4 – 5 songs
Practice
Present