Godward Worship, Part 2

Hi all;

We’ve been talking about three aspects of worship that we, at PCC, would like everyone to experience.
The first was inward.

Today lets talk about another aspect, outward.

Outward expressions of worship can be a very difficult thing for people. We tend to worship in ways that are suitable to us culturally or denominationally but I think that we sometimes forget that, rather than culture or denomination, the Bible should be our only influence for how we express ourselves in worship. So, instead of trying to make a case for everyone to outwardly express themselves in worship, I’ve have done some serious homework! I have researched 6 forms of worship. Below are those forms and several Scriptural references for each. I encourage you to dig into the Bible for yourselves. See what God has to say about expression in worship. You may be surprised or affirmed. Either way I hope that you are challenged and that the next time you attend a worship service, you will stretch yourselves in your expression of love to our Father.

Standing – 1 Ki. 8:22, 19:11; 2 Ki. 3:14, 5:16; 1 Chron 23:30; 2 Chron 7:6; 9:7, 29:11, 35:5, Neh 9:5; Ps. 24:3, 124:1, 135:2, Jer. 7:10, Rom 5:2

Kneeling – 1 Ki 8:54; 2 Chron 6:13; Ezra 9:5; Ps. 95:6; Is. 45:23; Dan 6:10; Matt 17:14; Mark 1:40, 10:17, 15:9, Luke 5:8, 22:41; Acts 7:60, 9:40, 20:36; 21:5; Rom 14:11; Eph 3:14; Phil 2:10

Bowing Down – Gen 18:2, 19:1, 24:48; Ex 4:31, 12:27, 34:8; Num 22:31; 2 Chron 20:18, 29:30; Esra 8:6; PS 95:6; Is 45:23; Micah 6:6, Matt 27:29, Lu 24:25, Rom 14:11

Dancing – Ex 15:20-21; Judges 11:34, 21:21; 1 Sam 18:6-7; 21:11, 29:5; 2 Sam 6:1,4-16; 1 Chron 15:29, Ps 30:11, 149:3, 150:4; Jer 31:4, 12-13; Matt 11:17; Lu 7:32,10:21,15:25

Lifting Hands – Ps 28:2, Lam 3:40-41, Ps 63:4, Neh 8:6, Ps 134:2, Ps 44:2, Ps 143:6, 1 Tim 2:8; 1 Ki 8:22, 8:38, 8:54; 2 Chron 6:12, 6:19; Ps 141:2; Is 1:15

Clapping – Ps 98:8, Is 55:22, 2 Ki 11:12, Job 27:23, 34:37; Lam 2:15, Ps 47:1; Nahum 3:19

Now, that isn’t a complete list of Scripture that support these forms of worship, nor is this the complete list of forms of worship described in the Bible, by far! There are over 120 different referenced in the Bible to singing. There are 2 references to whistling! There is shouting, laughing, running, the use of instruments, banners, flags and of course silence. The point is that these are all acceptable ways to express our love for God.

I challenge you to explore them all.

And if I hear a whistle from the congregation this weekend I’ll shout out a big ‘Amen’!