FIVE IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF WORSHIP

What do you think about when worship is mentioned? Is music the first thing you
think about? Is it the message?

Most of the time, the focus in worship is toward the music portion. There are
various pieces that make up a worship service. Music is only one part of a bigger
picture. There are a number of methods in which we express our worship to God.

In this article I will examine five special elements that gives the worshipper a
fuller experience in the worship service. These items include the following:
Singing, Praying, Preaching, Giving and Communion.

To get going we will address singing.

Singing

Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and

spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

One day Bob who was a new Christian attended a weekend retreat. As with most
events of this nature it started with singing. Bob was very intimidated with singing
out loud. However he sings more confident now.

He sings louder. That is because of this weekend retreat. At this retreat the song
leader encouraged everyone to do more than mumble the words to the songs.
The worship leader at this retreat taught everyone to do more than mutter the
lyrics. He said, "The Lord has given you a voice to sing praises to Him. It's now
time to give it to Him. If you sing well that is fantastic, but if not it's time to get
even!"

These words encouraged Bob to sing terrible! After many years he began to
improve his singing. The problem was the only place he could practice was
during the church service.

It took a while for Bob to gain confidence by focusing on the One he sang to.
Instead of thinking about how he sounded. This switch in view made him worship
better.

After a while, Bob got a songbook and began singing during His devotional time.
The absence of music only highlighted his vocal weakness. But again, taking the
focus off of His singing voice he was able to concentrate on offering the songs to
God.
The amazing thing is that Bob enjoys singing more than ever. He discovered that
by elevating his voice to the Lord and listening others do the same is a most
beautiful experience.

Most would agree that worship incorporates the act of singing. This is a physical
action that provides worshippers to express though songs what is their heart.
Even though singing is using our voice, it is quite different than just talking.
Perhaps the most unique thing about singing is the ability for a group of people to
let know their worship in unison. It is singing as a group that we can express
praise, gratitude, and thanksgiving. Everyone can at the same time communicate
to God. An offering can be made by the church as a whole. Singing can provide
the worshipper with a greater ability to use emotions. Music has the most unique
property to make moods and emotions though the various combinations of
melody, tempo. Music is a language all its own.

Praying
Matthew 6:7-15 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the
heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye
have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our
Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not
men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

A man took his young son with him one day to a diner for a meal. They went to
the counter to sit on the stools. The dad lifted his son up to the seat at the
counter. They ordered lunch, and when the waiter brought the food the father
said, "Son, we'll just have a silent prayer." Dad finished praying first and waited
for his son to complete his prayer, but he just sat with his head bowed for an
unusually long time. When his son finish he asked him "What took so long?". The
son replied "I don't know". "It was a silent prayer."

Sometime our prayers are like that. We don't say anything to the Lord. We call
words to mind, but they are repetitious on insincere. Prayer is simply
communication with God. One thing you must realize; God likes it when you
speak to him. He loves the interaction. It is by Prayer that you are able to have a
discussion personally to God. Prayer is also an component of worship. It is by
prayer that an open door of communication is established with God.
Prayer can be silent; it can be said aloud so that others can agree. You can even
sing a prayer. To help me remember important area to pray I like to use the word
ACTS to help me. Each letter represents an important part of prayer. Let me
share with you those four elements:

A = Adoration

C = Confession

T = Thanksgiving

S = Supplication

Adoration in Prayer

Adoration is a great way to begin praying. It is at this time you tell God how much
you appreciate and love Him. Affirming your love to him is important. Many time
our prayer start by asking for things. The best way is to begin your prayer is to
declare God in what ways you love Him.

Confession in Prayer

When you pray your heart needs to be in the right place. By nature we are sinful
beings. Confession is a form of acknowledgement of what is truthful. Most often
we confess our sins. God already know our sin. However we still need to confess
them. If we confess our sins he is faithful to forgive us. But I also want to add
another view to confession. This is something that can add another dimension to
the attitude of confession. That is to confess the greatness of God. You can
confess your faith. How about confessing the truth!

Thanksgiving in Prayer.

God has abundant resources available to every Christian. God is in the business
of showering you with blessings. The polite thing to do is to thank Him for all the
good things he does in your life. No matter the condition it is a good idea to thank
God/

Supplication in Prayer

As I said before it is usual for Christians to pile on requests to God. God give me
this, God give me that. When you make a supplication you are making a petition
for something. Prayer needs balance. Often times it is the supplication that
Christians spend a majority of time. It is fine to solicit. The Bible says to ask. But
this should not be the focus. You prayers should be according to God's will.
Thinking these areas of prayer - Adoration, Confession and Thanksgiving before
you request anything will put you in the proper attitude. Your supplication to God
needs to be bold. God has unlimited resources. Ask for things beyond yourself.
Let me close this section on prayer with the following story...

Preaching

1 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is

profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished
unto all good works.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,
having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall
be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work
of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

We need to learn the word of God. Preaching is a significant form of worship.

God what's you to know him. It is God's passion that you understand him. He
wants you to understand who and what he is. This is key to His relationship with
you. If you don't know God, then how can you worship Him? Preacher are a part
of the whole package.

To learn more about God you need to get into God's word. This can be done
through preaching. Discover how God works. In regards to worship the music, is
not the warm-up to the message. Both are vital to the whole worship experience.
One complements the other as do all the other areas we are discussing in the
section.

Giving

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap
also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Okay, with all your heart mind and soul you are to give. Giving is one of the prime
objectives of the Christian life.
Growing up at Christmas time it was our family tradition to get gifts for everyone
in the immediate family. I would acquire gifts for mom, dad, brother and sister.
Trying to locate the right gift was difficult at times. First, because I was young, my
resources were very limited. So I had to pass on any gifts that were too
expensive. This did leave the choices down quite a bit. To top this off, my parents
already had a lot of stuff. There was only a small number of things I could
actually get. It is like that with God. God owns the universe and everything in it.
But one thing that we can give is our worship to Him. He really relishes worship
from his people.

Money is the first thing most thinks about when the topic of giving comes up.
Giving money to the church is a honor we all can do. However it goes way
beyond this. God wishes you to give your total life to Him. You have the
awesome opportunity to give all your resources to God. This encompasses your
time, your body, your mind and all your possessions.

When you give to God all the resources available to you, it is at that time a true
sacrifice of praise and worship.

Communion

Matthew 26:26-29 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and
blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat;
this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to
them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament,
which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will
not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it
new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Christians experience one of the greatest privileges during Communion. This is a

time for true intimate relationship with Jesus. This is a occasion of oneness. It is
time for the worshipper to bond with their Savior. It identifies the believer with
Christ. Communion allows us to focus on the greatest gift ever given to humanity.
It is a time to remember that Jesus death on the cross is the ultimate and final
sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Bringing it all together

As you can see there are numerous facets to the worship experience. Each is as
important as the other. The key for rich and fulfilling worship is balance. As you
balance these five components in your worship service, you offer more
opportunities for the worshiper.
This article is written by John Pape author of the eBook Building a House of
Worship. A book that teaches and encourages worship leaders to build their
church music ministry so they can better serve their congregation.