Lifestyle of Worship

Definition
Worship is the act and attitude of wholeheartedly giving yourself to God – spirit, soul, and body.

Beliefs
I. We believe that worship is ascribing worth and honor to Who God is and responding to Him with trust, obedience, and thanksgiving.

 

1 Chronicles 16:29 – ...ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. (NIV)

Psalm 84:1‐4
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
       O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
       for the courts of the LORD;
       my heart and my flesh cry out
       for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
       and the swallow a nest for herself,
       where she may have her young—
       a place near your altar,
       O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
       they are ever praising you.
       Selah

Psalm 100:4 – Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (NIV)
 


II. We believe that the Kingdom of Heaven is near at hand.

Matthew 10:7 – As you go preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ (NIV)


III. We believe that we are created to worship God and enjoy Him forever.

 

Romans 11:36 – For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 6:20, 10:31‐20 – ...you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (NIV)

Revelation 4:11 – “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (NIV)

Psalm 144:15 – Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. (NIV)

Isaiah 12:2 – Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. (NIV)

Luke 2:10 – But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." (NIV)

Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (NIV)

Revelation 21:3‐4 – And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (NIV)


IV. We believe that God is near.

Deuteronomy 4:7 – What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? (NIV)

 

V. We believe that we experience God’s presence most closely when He is honored and acknowledged.


Psalm 22:3 – Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. (ESV)


James 4:8 – Come near to God and he will come near to you. (NIV)


2 Chronicles 5:13‐14 – The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, 14and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God. (NIV)


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. (NIV)


Hebrews 4:16 – Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV)

VI. We believe that God commands, deserves, and enjoys our worship.

Matthew 22:37 – Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (NIV)


Matthew 4:10 – Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (NIV)


VII. We believe that worship helps us to see God for who He truly is and see ourselves as we truly are.

Psalm 8:1-9

1 O LORD, our Lord,
       how majestic is your name in all the earth!
       You have set your glory
       above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants
       you have ordained praise
       because of your enemies,
       to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
       the work of your fingers,
       the moon and the stars,
       which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
       the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
       and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
       you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
       and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
       and the fish of the sea,
       all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
       how majestic is your name in all the earth!

 

VIII. We believe that Communion is the celebration and commemoration of the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross.

Corinthians 11:23‐26 – For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (NIV)


IX. We believe that any act of obedience to God in faith is an act of Worship.

Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (NIV)


Values
I. We value intimacy with God
II. We value humility in the way that we relate to God
III. We value authenticity in our relationship with God
IV. We value Spirit‐led preparation and execution in worship
V. We value passionate worship
VI. We value competency in those who lead us in worship
VII. We value engagement in worship by all
VIII. We value a safe worship environment
IX. We extend grace to other worshippers
X. We value acceptance of different worship styles and different expressions of worship
XI. We value worshipping in a manner that demonstrates love toward one another
XII. We value liberty in our expressions of worship
XIII. We value order in our worship environments
XIV. We value a Biblical foundation for worship
XV. We value the celebration of Communion as commanded by the Lord


Practices
Thanksgiving
Sacrifices of Praise
Acts of kindness
Prayer
Singing
Instrumental music
Lifting hands
Bowing down
Dancing
Clapping
Offerings and tithes
Acts of obedience to God
Flags and banners
Humility
Dependence on the Spirit
Truthfulness
Gratitude
Reverence
Purity
Focus
Joy
Love for justice