One of the most important questions facing our churches today is one you wouldn't expect. The question is simple but for some the answer seems illusive. Many pastors explain the answer in theological terms but cannot apply it. Many worship leaders pretend to understand, but struggle to explain it. The current worship resurgence in America is roughly 20 years old and as it matures we are all growing in our understanding of worship. But one question still remains difficult for many to answer. We should all know the answer, but we don't. We should all find the answer because it has profound implications for our lives and our churches. The question is, "What is worship?"
I've heard it said that "worship defies definition, it can only be experienced." While this is true, we cannot shirk our responsibility to understand and articulate what we have already experienced. God came to us. He presses in on us and we as humans are overwhelmed by this interaction. We don't just have experiences without knowledge, and we don't get experiences simply as a result of studying. We need both. We are believers who have experienced God in a tangible way and because we believe the Bible is our textbook on worship, we must strive for both sound doctrine and the mystery-the phenomenon of meeting with God.
This is the goal of looking into the Scriptures-to understand what God-encounters were really like. The Bible is the timeless story of people interacting with and experiencing the God of all eternity. They've left a trail for us to follow. They've supplied clues for our search. And there are secrets to be revealed in each of their stories. They have what we all long for-an encounter with God.
One of the first references to worship in the Scriptures was hidden from me until I noticed it one Sunday while Pastor Ted (my pastor) was teaching through Genesis. It is the story of Cain and Abel. See if you catch it as you read the story.
Genesis 4:3-16
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
8Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"
"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
10The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
13Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. 14Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
15But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16So Cain went out from the LORD'S presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
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Experiencing Worship, The Study