http://www.stevenfurtick.com/leadership/two-pet-peeves-in-worship/

6) We Worship  With Physical Expressions

The list below is by no means exhaustive. Nor is this list prescriptive (you must do these things . . .) This list is meant to be descriptive (here are some things you can do . . .).

• Kneeling (Phil. 2:9-10)
• Bowed heads (Micah 6:6-8)
• Lifted hands (Lamentations 3:40-41; Psalm 63:3-4)
• Dancing with joy (Psalm 149:3)

7) We Worship With Our Lives

This is taught in Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies [entire lives] as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

“If you are not a private worshipper, you will not likely be a public worshipper. You may go to church, and go through all the motions. But you will not likely really worship. Trying to worship publicly, not having worshipped privately, is like the dry heaves: You are trying to bring up something you don’t have in you.” – Paul Faulkner

4) We Worship God With Our Emotions

I wrote about this point a lot at my personal blog, www.adamdiehl.com on this post.

This point can be explained simply with some scriptures. As you read this, I challenge you to imagine these worshipful commands without emotion.

Romans 12:11-12 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Psalm 47:1
Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Habakkuk 2:20
The LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.

Now remember, we do not worship God because of emotion – but we do worship God with emotion.

5) We Worship With Our Body

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

‘Nuf said there.

2) We should Worship With our Spirit, and . . .

3) We should Worship With our Mind (Understanding)

1 Corinthians 14:15 says, So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.

This distinction between worshiping with Spirit and Mind is, contextually, speaking about tongues. When we worship with our mind, its “God I praise you because . . .” and then we declare why God is awesome. When we worship with our spirit, it is not an intellectual operation, it’s something . . . deeper. Yes, this absolutely means worshiping by speaking in tongues. But at the same time I think it also is a “heart cry” out to God.

My church does the song, “From the Inside Out” from Hillsong. The chorus ends with the lyrics, “From the inside out Lord my soul cries out” and then is immediately followed by several measures of a musical interlude. That musical interlude is not a chance for the congregation to notice how wonderful we all sound (although, we do sound pretty good if I can that…wink wink nudge nudge). The musical break exists for a chance for our heart to cry out to God – however that may look. So we sing with our understanding, “From the inside out, Lord my soul cries out” and then we have a musical break to leave space for our soul to cry out to God.

1) We should worship with the “S” Word:  Sacrifice

I call sacrifice the “S Word” because nobody ever likes to talk about it. When people discuss worship they often paint a picture of a bright sky with fluffy clouds – as if Christianity was always perfect and honky-dorey. If we want to worship rightly, we need to offer God a sacrifice of worship (this has little to do with music). Worship is about humbling yourself before God; breaking your pride. Jesus did not die on a cross just so that we could be comfortable – he expects a sacrifice of worship back to Him. Let’s see this in scripture:

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies [entire lives] as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Pslams 51:17
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.

The answer to this question comes from CMI Pastor Joe Chiarelli who leads worship at Calvary Christian Center in Pennsylvania. Check out their church here.

With Christmas Day falling on Sunday this year, here at Calvary Christian Center, we are planning to have our 1 hour, “traditional” Christmas Eve Service – Carols, Candles and Communion. This family-oriented service gives us an opportunity to sing traditional carols, alternating with appropriate Scripture passages, and it allows us to incorporate either a vocal solo or a special song presented by our Kids’ Ministry “Stick Team.” The candles create a solemn, yet relaxed mood for celebrating communion, and the Pastor closes with a brief encouraging word for the family.[The time frame is: 6:00 pm to 7:00 or 7:15 pm]

I realize this may not help to answer what to do to give the Christmas season more impact, but our direction is to slow down the pace from the hectic shopping and planning and parties that fill many people’s schedules during the season, which cause them to hardly realize what they’re celebrating. This change of pace gives our Christmas Eve service the “de-stressed” atmosphere we want to give to our congregation.

This year, however, with Christmas Day falling on Sunday, music ministers are faced with finding appropriate music and “elements” to add to the service to make an impact. May I suggest that the greatest impact is to stay true to the Incarnation message. After all, it’s not the style of music or what video you incorporate into the service that matters. We want to connect with God, corporately AND individually. We need to focus on Him, giving Him the honor, the thanks, and adoration that He truly deserves. When that happens, our Christmas season will be impacted by God Himself!

What would you like to add? What are you doing to make this Christmas season extra special in your church?

God wants to dwell among us

In Exodus 25:8, God said, “‘Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.’” (NIV)

The first “point of awesomeness” from this verse is that when God said “I want to dwell among you” – He didn’t mean it in an “atmospherical” sense. He meant literal. God was like, “Build me a physical house!” (much of this chapter and subsequent chapters describe how that house was to be built).

The second “point of awesomeness” from this verse is that God STILL wants to dwell among us – and STILL its not in an atmospherical sense. John 17:24 shows this quite clearly. The difference between then and now (the testaments), is that now God lives inside us. Our spirits are the tabernacle of God. When we worship, God is glorified!

God wants to meet with us

Exodus 25:22 specifically states that God wants to meet with us. Again, this is a good spot for a link to John 17:24. In my bible, next to that verse I have written in pen, “Holy Crud! God WANTS to be with me!?”

This seriously blows my mind.

God wants to speak to us

Also in verse 22, God said that he wanted to meet with us, to give us his commands.

Now let’s be honest… that kinda sucks – at least on the surface. To say that God wants to be with us is awesome. But then to find out that He wants to just tell us what to do? Let’s not have a sense of false-righteousness – nobody likes to relinquish their choices for someone elses. That’s not fun for anybody. But it’s what’s best for us. It’s just like a good father will make a kid who fell asleep with candy in his mouth get up and brush his teeth (or else his teeth will fall out!), our good Father will instruct us in how we should go as well.

I want to have the same joy that the Psalmist felt when he wrote about the word of God: “I rejoice in following your statutes / as one rejoices in great riches. / I meditate on your precepts / and consider your ways. / I delight in your decrees; / I will not neglect your word.” (119:14-16).

God, when we lead people towards you – we ask for Your presence to infiltrate our room. Meet with us, Father. And may we delight in Your commands – speak Your will to Your church.