PULSE--GO PUBLIC

In the absence of our fearless leader (who is skiing quite well, by the way), I’ll share some of what we studied in tonight’s worship small group.

Our discussion was based on Chapter 11 of our book and the DVD by LaMar Boschman, who is just the most DARLING man! (This is obviously my writing style, not Mark’s!)

OPENING QUOTE--
“Worshipping churches seek to develop a worship open to the supernatural, aware of mystery, and committed to participation.”

We’ve talked a lot in previous lessons about being open to the Spirit and entering the mystery, but this lesson really addresses our commitment to FBC!

Ephesians 2:22 says we “are being built TOGETHER for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit,” and Paul exhorts us in Hebrews 10:25 about “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves TOGETHER.”

WE’RE BETTER TOGETHER!

LaMar said there is a divine mandate and blessing in the act of coming together in public worship. We are CALLED to congregate with our fellow brothers and sisters for the purposes of celebrating God in worship, communicating his story, communing with him, edifying each other, and witnessing to the world.

WE BELONG TOGETHER!

I’m not the only one in the group who has LONGED for her church family while she was away (right, Spring and Laura?). And we all miss Mark terribly while he’s off gallivanting, although we don’t begrudge him his vacation time. (Well, not much, anyway!)

JESUS IS HERE!

When we meet together in worship, an amazing thing happens—Jesus joins our gathering! He said “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).

The word "midst" means "middle." LaMar said that when Jesus comes, he doesn’t go to the platform, sing with the worship team, or sit with the pastors. He joins the congregation, the family of believers! He blends in, mingles and becomes ONE with us. And what does he DO there? Joel read Hebrews 2:12 to us, and it clearly said that Jesus sings to the Father, modeling vertical worship!

HUMAN LEADERS

LaMar said that leading worship is, after all, "just the helps ministry, helping people get vertical with God." Worship leaders are facilitators of worship only. They aren’t there to force, demand and exercise their will on the Lord’s flock. As shepherds following the leading of the great Shepherd, they lead the Lord’s flock to the still waters and green pastures of God’s presence through their example, care and encouragement.

LaMar said that worship leaders are atmospheric engineers, and like greenhouse gardeners who maintain the right atmosphere (temperature) in the garden (the gathering), they must be careful not to create the environment of a performance or a concert, which would fail to prepare a spiritual atmosphere of worship. He said that if the focus is too much on the art, the music, and the planned program, then Jesus may not be as welcome to join the gathering!

Another good point he made is that the congregation should never focus on members of worship teams. The team's purpose is to simply lead God’s people into his presence and then get out of the way!

Worship leaders, for their part, should only care about looking good in the eyes of the Lord, not in the eyes of the congregation.

It's an awesome responsibility to be a worship leader! Lord, help each member of the FBC praise team, band, and choir do it right!