Sunday, October 15, 2006

W O R S H I P

I had the opportunity to Lead the Singing and play keyboard at a Ladies Retreat. I tried to think of this as Worship as opposed to Performance. I was less nervous this time. I prepared this document for the ladies. (Thanks to Andrew for his example of Worship in Youth Group.)
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WORSHIP
What does worship mean to you?
Singing? Praying? Loving? Listening? Giving? Offering? Reading? Surrendering? Repenting? Forgiving? Listening? Resting? Sharing? Caring? Adoring? Praising?

Matthew 2:1-3 (CEV)
When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem 2and said, "Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

Psalm 100:1-3 (CEV)
Shout praises to the LORD, everyone on this earth. 2Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the LORD! 3You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture.

Psalm 96:8-10 (NLT)
Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts. 9 Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him. 10 Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!” The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. He will judge all peoples fairly.

Hebrews 12:28-29 (CEV)
We should be grateful that we were given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And in this kingdom we please God by worshiping him and by showing him great honor and respect. 29Our God is like a destructive fire!

John 4:23-24 (The Message)
"It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."

Psalm 95:5-7 (Contemporary English Version)
The ocean is the Lord's because he made it, and with his own hands he formed the dry land. 6Bow down and worship the LORD our Creator! 7The LORD is our God, and we are his people, the sheep he takes care of in his own pasture. Listen to God's voice today!