In Spirit and In Truth
The Fundamentals of Biblical Worship
The Nature of Biblical Worship: Communication
Teaching Strategy
The focus of this lesson is communication, the core activity of public worship. Of special note is how this activity can be enhanced by learning the language of communication with God.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Know: Understand the role communication plays in our worship.
- Feel: Value the essential nature of communicating with God.
- Do: Seek to regularly communicate with God.
Body of the Lesson
Discussion Questions
Below are suggested questions to use during the guided discussion portion of the lesson. There are also suggested responses to questions to help students grasp the various concepts. These are provided to assist the discussion and are not considered as “right or wrong” responses.
1. How do you understand worship?
This question is looking more at intent than process. Look for responses related to offering respect, love, adoration and honor to God. Also look for how we express our faith.
2. How is communication the essential nature of worship?
We are communicating with God. We see in the action and words we use while worshipping. We sing, pray, discuss scripture and physically present ourselves to God. All of these are forms of or involve communication of some sort. Therefore, whether involved in formal or informal worship, we are communicating with God.
3. How does Paul's statement in Colossians 1:9-13 relate to worshiping in spirit and truth?
Paul expresses how he offers prayers that they will have wisdom and understanding of God's will and that their lives will be pleasing to God. Furthermore, we give thanks to God for our salvation. All of this is contained in our worship activities.
In Christ we gain the ability, wisdom and knowledge to not only live in a way that pleases God, but also to worship (communicate) with Him.
Note: Not "to" Him as in pagan worship, but "with" Him. The basic communication model includes feedback from our communication efforts. We see God's response to our communication with Him as we learn to communicate more and effectively. That is part of our inheritance, true communication with the true God.
4. Discuss the two common mistakes made concerning public worship.
Making the means the end – This is focusing on process. This leads to losing sight of communication with God being lost in our efforts to perfect the method of worship we use. We see this when the focus is skewed heavily towards external concerns such as place, equipment, order, process, etc. This does not guarantee we actually communicate with God. In truth, these things often interfere with our communication.
Make up one's own method – We are given specific instructions of why and how to worship. We cannot add or remove any part and still claim to worship as God wills. This is often done based on our feelings rather than God's will. Inventing our own worship method is as counterproductive as focusing too much effort on the method or process of worship. Both extremes lessen our ability to actually communicate with God in worship.
5. What does communicating with God really require?
Realization that communication with God must exist personally before it can exist corporately.
We first must establish a relationship with God individually. If we do not communicate (worship) God privately then we will not be able to do so correctly or effectively in public. This also involves our leadership first having a relationship with God before they can effectively lead us in worship.
In Psalms 51:6, David said to God, "Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart." In verse 10 he pleads with God to, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Of course, the context of this psalm was David's repentance for his sin with Bathsheba (II Samuel 11).
Peter recognized this in Acts 6 when he would not relinquish his ministry of prayer to resolve food distribution issues. His focus was on his leadership role of worship and teaching God's word.
Recognition of God's presence in worship.
A common reason for boredom in worship and the losing of focus is that we do not fully recognize that God's presence is with us. This leads to a failure to actively as well as mentally participate in the church's worship activities. To truly communicate with God, we must first acknowledge and respect that His presence is with us.
A sense of ourselves.
Getting a true sense of ourselves and our need for God leads to helping us focus our minds on God. When we truly examine ourselves before God we recognize our desperate need for Him. This leads to intense communication (worship) and praise of God for His grace and forgiveness. The more we see of God in our lives, the more of His glory is revealed. This leads us to further communication with Him.
We need to know the language of communication.
(See Nehemiah 1:4-11) Worship (communicating with God) has a language of its own. It is a spiritual language that includes, but is not limited to praise (vs 4-5), supplication (vs 6a), confession (vs. 6b-7), confirmation (vs. 8-10), protection and mercy (vs. 11). These elements of communication are effective in having God answer our prayers.
6. How can we apply this information to grow spiritually and help others do so?
Worship is communicating with God. When we do so by His will we are blessed through His acceptance. If we are not gaining spiritual satisfaction, we should examine our worship to ensure that we are truly communicating with God as He wishes. Always remember, "Thy will, not my will."