Worship

The Importance of Song Texts

Bible As a worship pastor, I make it a matter of priority to read through the texts of songs planned for upcoming worship services. Even if I know a song well, I usually read through the text to make sure there isn’t something I haven’t caught before. Believe it or not, it’s easy to gloss over things in songs we’ve sung many, many times. There are several reasons I do this, but the main reason is that I want to make sure the text is theologically solid and declares the truth of the gospel. The music we sing in corporate worship gatherings is far more than a “warm-up” for the sermon. It–and everything else we include in the worship gathering–must proclaim truth just as fervently as the sermon does. If any component of worship does not “preach,” it does not belong in worship.

At The Blazing Center, Stephen Altrogge has a post entitled “Why Words Matter in a Worship Song.”

Truth matters. Sound doctrine matters. Our songs should be saturated with truth. It doesn’t please God when we sing false things about Him. It pleases Him when our songs are packed with Biblical truth.

Thanks, Stephen, for reminding us of the importance of this concept.

Impacting the Kingdom Through Worship,

Worship as a Tool for Church Growth

By Gregory Pittman Leave a Comment

Worshiper My seminary colleague and friend Brian Patrick posted an article on his blog Pursuing Yahweh discussing worship as a tool for church growth. His conclusions are similar to those I offer in this article. [Read more...]

Spirit and Truth

By Gregory Pittman 1 Comment

John’s declaration that “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth,” renews the idea that worship is not confined to a specific place or time. God himself is not limited to a specific place and time because he is omnipresent; therefore, our worship of him can take place in our homes, in our offices, in our vehicles, or in any other place where we quiet our hearts and listen for his “still small voice.” Worship can take place in the difficult times when we want to cry out to God, [Read more...]

Worship is about the Seeker

By Gregory Pittman 3 Comments

“True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” We don’t hear the phrase “seeker sensitive worship” much anymore. It was a fad a few years ago where churches attempted to make church enjoyable for those who might have never been to a church or those who might have been turned off by church. [Read more...]

The Hour Is Coming

By Gregory Pittman Leave a Comment

The Samaritan woman showed that she had preconceived notions about what worship is. In fact, until Jesus began his public ministry, the idea of worship was rather restricted. “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you [the Jews] say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus was about to make yet another alarming statement; he would challenge the prevailing thoughts on worship. “The hour is coming [Read more...]

I Perceive That You Are a Prophet

By Gregory Pittman Leave a Comment

The woman at the well was clearly not understanding the message Jesus was sending. Despite his having explained the concept of living water to her twice, she still didn’t get it. So he tried a different tactic. He brought the conversation down to her level by asking her to go call her husband and come back to the well. Now, all of a sudden, she started to get the picture. “I have no husband,” she answered. Jesus said, “You are right… You have had five husbands, [Read more...]

Never Be Thirsty Forever

By Gregory Pittman 1 Comment

Sometimes when God allows us to see a little bit more of his glory, we still don’t get it. Jesus had just radically altered the Samaritan woman’s life and she didn’t see it yet. He told her about the “living water” he could give her and she asked him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?” (John 4:11 ESV). Another blind question followed by another incredible answer. [Read more...]

The Question That Changed Everything

By Gregory Pittman Leave a Comment

In the fourth chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman at a well while his disciples go into town for food. Notice that Jesus was the first to engage in conversation. Two things about this passage are striking. First, Jesus was Jewish and the woman was Samaritan. Neither culture liked the other; in fact, there was a great deal of disdain for one another. The second issue here is that they are of opposite genders; [Read more...]

Authentic Worship

By Gregory Pittman Leave a Comment

“Authentic worship can only be in Christ. It is not driven by a liturgy or a call to worship, a change in style or a methodology. Redemption does not signal the beginning of worship. Instead it marks its once-and-for-all cleansing. It is washed in the blood of the Lamb and turned into a following after the example of Christ and into continued deliverance from the intrusions of fallen worship.”

Harold Best, Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts