Worship Foundations Worship Articles by EXW Staff March 08, 2007
By Debbi Barnett and John White
As worshippers, we want to know all we can about worship; not only how to worship but what worship is all about. The problem is that beside a few scriptures indicating some of the physical reactions to a worshipper’s motivation like singing, dancing, raising your hands, jumping for joy and clapping your hands, the Bible does not give an explicit list of what worship is or how a non-worshipper can become worshipper. We believe that this is intentional. If God gave 7 steps to worship, you could bet that worshippers would do nothing more or less - worship would become mechanical obedience. So God said little more than, “Worship me and none other.” Most of us are not burdened with understanding the command to worship God but we do suffer an ignorance of how to worship God in ways that adequately expresses our love, thanksgiving and adoration. We know that the most important thing is not proper theology (although it is important), a good voice, or the right kind of songs; a heart filled with love for God is the key that unlocks worship in all its forms. Fortunately, the Bible is complete with many expressions of worship that can serve as a guide to unlocking our own creativity.
Below you will find a Greek and Hebrew etymology on worship. If this is the first time you’ve studied the words of worship, you will be surprised at the number of words and the breath of their description of worship. If you have studied the words before, we recommend that you read through the list again and these words of worship fan to flames the creative gift of passion and commitment in you. These words, coupled with your heart’s devotion to God and worshiping Him, will expose unplowed depths of expression.
We are convinced that studying these words of worship will not only lay a Biblical foundation of worship, but it will release a new power for a deeper and more intimate worship. We encourage you to read interactively. By that we mean read the words and reflect on how you might worship in the way the words describe. Imagine yourself worshipping and dancing with David, consecrating the temple with Saul, being with Isaiah and John when they saw themselves with the throng of heaven hearing the angles cry “Holy, Holy, Holy…” Imagine yourself seeing the elders laying down their crowns saying, “Worthy is the Lamb…” Imagine that you just crossed the red sea and you’re with Israel when they sing “The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.” What would it be like to hear Mary extol the Lord ending with “From generation to generation God’s favor is on those whom He loves.” Imagine the walls of Jericho falling with the shout of praise. In other words, the bible is not written to entertain us or to simply gain spiritual knowledge. No, each word tells a story, a story about worshipers and how they communicated worship to the God they loved. And the “how” is more revealing to worship than the “what”. Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord!
I sure hope you are kidding?
Please see Psalm 150 as just one example of where you have missed it. Worship certainly is about words but it is so much more. Genesis 24:48 says "and I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD". Ex 23:24 gives us a slightly different...more
Submitted by: Bill Location: Chesapeake, VA
Only Two Words Translated Worship
The authors said ,"The problem is that beside a few scriptures indicating some of the physical reactions to a worshipper's motivation like singing, dancing, raising your hands, jumping for joy and clapping your hands, the Bible does not give an expli...more
Experiencing Worship, The Study
Used by churches all over the world to help teach worship, the Experiencing Worship study can help your worship team too.
Your team will learn why we worship and gain a better understanding of how to worship.
One user said..."Your 5 week study course has made a tremendous impact on my life in the study of worship... I would like to express my thanks for a well written study course that leads into a higher realm of praise and worship."
The Paul Langford Project
This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.
Used by churches all over the world to help teach worship, the Experiencing Worship study can help your worship team too.
Your team will learn why we worship and gain a better understanding of how to worship.
One user said..."Your 5 week study course has made a tremendous impact on my life in the study of worship... I would like to express my thanks for a well written study course that leads into a higher realm of praise and worship."
This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.