Developing a sound Developing a sound theology of worshiptheology of worshipShallow streams or deep rivers of

life? By

Dr Dion Forster

Equipping all people for the Ministry of Healing and TransformationEquipping all people for the Ministry of Healing and Transformation

A Theology of worship…A Theology of worship…""Yet a time is coming and Yet a time is coming and

has now come when the has now come when the true worshipers will true worshipers will worship God in spirit worship God in spirit and in truth, for they are and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the kind of worshipers God seeks. God is God seeks. God is spirit, and His spirit, and His worshipers must worshipers must worship in spirit and in worship in spirit and in truth.truth.” John 4:23-24” John 4:23-24

A Theology of worship… A Theology of worship… What do we hope to achieve?What do we hope to achieve?

1. An understanding of different definitions of worship.

2. Misunderstandings about Christian Worship.

3. Some necessary elements for a sound theology of worship.

4. A simple method of theological reflection.

What is true Christian What is true Christian Worship?Worship?

Please could you write a brief definition of your understanding of Christian worship.

What is true Christian What is true Christian Worship? A few definitions…Worship? A few definitions…

EEvery definition is very definition is dangerous.dangerous.

Desiderius ErasmusDesiderius Erasmus

What is true Christian What is true Christian Worship? Two definitions…Worship? Two definitions…

WWorship is a way orship is a way of seeing the world of seeing the world in the light of God.in the light of God. - - Abraham Joshua Abraham Joshua HeschelHeschel

WWorship is the orship is the response of the response of the creature to the creature to the EternalEternal - - Evelyn Evelyn UnderhillUnderhill

What is true Christian What is true Christian Worship?Worship?

Worship is love Worship is love one it’s knees.one it’s knees.

Mission is love Mission is love on on it’s feet.it’s feet.

What does the Bible say?What does the Bible say? Two basic ideas, Two basic ideas, surrendersurrender

and and sacrificesacrifice.. The verb ‘The verb ‘wworshiporship’’ [ [barakbarak] ] in in

Hebrew means Hebrew means to surrender, to surrender, to fall down in submissionto fall down in submission. It . It is the way one humbles one’s is the way one humbles one’s self before a mighty King (Ps. self before a mighty King (Ps. 95:6) 95:6)

Paul says that worship is the Paul says that worship is the offering of our whole ‘body’ offering of our whole ‘body’ [[somatasomata - - the complete the complete personperson] as a sacrifice ] as a sacrifice (Romans 12:1)(Romans 12:1)

Why do we worship?Why do we worship? Why do we worship? God is looking for Why do we worship? God is looking for

worshipers! (worshipers! (Luke 19:40Luke 19:40). ).

God desires to manifest God’s self TO God desires to manifest God’s self TO worshippers, and THROUGH worshippers! (worshippers, and THROUGH worshippers! (II Chronicles 16:9II Chronicles 16:9, , John 4:23-24John 4:23-24, , Psalm 95:6Psalm 95:6). ).

When we worship, we minister to the Lord (When we worship, we minister to the Lord (Ezekiel 44:15-16Ezekiel 44:15-16, , I Peter 2:9I Peter 2:9). ).

As we worship, we draw near to God, the source As we worship, we draw near to God, the source of all life, and God draws near to us (of all life, and God draws near to us (Hebrews 10:19-25Hebrews 10:19-25, , James 4:8James 4:8) )

Worship leads to a true response to God’s Worship leads to a true response to God’s presence (presence (Luke 19:35-40Luke 19:35-40).).

Please list some Please list some misunderstandings of worship.misunderstandings of worship.

Worship is rubbing God’s Worship is rubbing God’s ego.ego.

Worship is about creating a Worship is about creating a fuzzy feeling in God’s fuzzy feeling in God’s presence.presence.

Worship is about a particular Worship is about a particular place, situation, or context.place, situation, or context.

True worship only has one True worship only has one expression (God’s taste is expression (God’s taste is my taste)my taste)

So, why did God send Jesus So, why did God send Jesus among us?among us?

Jesus came to establish the Kingdom of God [Βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ - Basileia tou Theou] (Mark 1 : 15 )

Please list some elements that you think would Please list some elements that you think would be necessary for Worship to be a ‘Kingdom be necessary for Worship to be a ‘Kingdom

building’ activitybuilding’ activity

So, true Christian Worship should:

1. Be rooted in God’s reality and truth.

2. Aware of the worshipper’s context (contextually relevant).

3. Life transforming (bringing heaven to earth) (Matt 6:20, Lk 11:2)

A simple approach to Theological reflection.

What is Theology?What is Theology?

‘‘Faith seeking understanding’Faith seeking understanding’ Anselm Anselm (1033-1109)(1033-1109)

to seek to know and understand to seek to know and understand God’s truth God’s truth to seek to know and understand truth to seek to know and understand truth about ourselves and all creation in about ourselves and all creation in relation to Godrelation to God

Why is theological reflection important for your ministry?

Does God have a will?

Do you know what God’s will is for YOUR life?

Do you know what God’s will and desire is for your WORSHIP MINISTRY?

What are the sources for doing theology?

List a few sources….

The primary source is….

GOD’S REVELATION

Stumbling blocks to good theology?

Not Not feeling feeling • Good theology stems from a relationship with God and Good theology stems from a relationship with God and

others! God primarily reveals God’s self in a PERSON and others! God primarily reveals God’s self in a PERSON and PERSONS (neither the incarnation, nor the community of the PERSONS (neither the incarnation, nor the community of the Church, are accidents or afterthoughts)Church, are accidents or afterthoughts)

Not Not thinking thinking • Reason, thought, reflection, using the insights of others. Reason, thought, reflection, using the insights of others.

These all enrich our understanding of God, and are ALSO These all enrich our understanding of God, and are ALSO sources of God’s revelation.sources of God’s revelation.

Not Not doingdoing• Send us TRACTORS, not TRACTS [Leonardo Boff]. All Send us TRACTORS, not TRACTS [Leonardo Boff]. All

good and true theology leads to the DOING of God’s will.good and true theology leads to the DOING of God’s will.

How does one do theology?We learn through EXPERIENCE… !?!We learn through EXPERIENCE… !?!

NO!!!

We learn through REFLECTION upon experience

How does one do good How does one do good theology?theology?

we only learn through reflecting upon experience

oHow did this experience make me feel?

oWhat do I think about this experience?

oWhat does this experience tell me about myself?

oWhat does this experience tell me about others?

oWhat does this experience tell me about God?• What does this experience make me want to do?

Let’s do an exerciseLet’s do an exercise

From the movie From the movie ‘Yesterday’‘Yesterday’

Some ways of facilitating Some ways of facilitating Theological ReflectionTheological Reflection

JournalingJournaling Group discussionsGroup discussions Site visitsSite visits RetreatsRetreats Involvement in ministry Involvement in ministry

and Missionand Mission Incident ReportsIncident Reports DebriefingDebriefing Creative activities Creative activities

(drawing, sculpting, (drawing, sculpting, writing)writing)

What are the PRINCIPLES of this method?

Experience, reflect, input, actionExperience, reflect, input, action

What are the PRINCIPLES of this method?

Experience, reflect, input, adaptExperience, reflect, input, adapt

• Experience - How does this make you FEEL?

• Reflect - What do you THINK about this?

• Input - What does this TELL YOU about yourself, others, and God?

• Adapt - What does this make me want to DO?

A simple method of A simple method of theological reflection:theological reflection:

What are the most pressing What are the most pressing NEEDSNEEDS and and CONCERNSCONCERNS in my community? in my community?

What do I What do I THINKTHINK about these needs and about these needs and concerns?concerns?

What do these feelings and thoughts tell me What do these feelings and thoughts tell me about about MYSELF, OTHER PEOPLEMYSELF, OTHER PEOPLE, and the , and the WORLD AROUND MEWORLD AROUND ME??

What do these feelings What do these feelings TELL ME ABOUT GODTELL ME ABOUT GOD?? What does What does GOD WANT ME TO DOGOD WANT ME TO DO??

Any Input or Questions!?Any Input or Questions!?