WE GLORIFY CHRIST

EPHESIANS 3:7-117 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,

EPHESIANS 3:7-119 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

EPHESIANS 3:7-1111 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

One driving passion in our worship, is our

desire for the glory of God in Christ.

Five BiblicalNon-

Negotiables In Our Worship

HUMILITY

God is theabsolute centerof our worship.

Humility

GOD DESIRES OUR WORSHIP

• He orchestrates history to display His glory

• He ordains the church to enjoy His glory

God deservesour worship.

Humility

God draws usto Himself in

worship.Humility

HONESTY

God requires that we worship Him in Spirit

and Truth.Honesty

MISDEFINING WORSHIP THROUGH EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES

• God is more pleased with our purity than our professionalism.

• God is more pleased with our attitude than our appearance.

• God is more with our substance than our style.

REDEFINING WORSHIP THROUGH INTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES

• The reality of His presence.• The responses of our hearts.• Jesus desires to cover our sin.• Jesus desires to comfort us in sorrow

CLARITY

Worship is a rhythm of revelation and

response.Clarity

God reveals Himself clearly in the world

and in His Word.Clarity

WHEN THE WORD ISABSENT IN OUR WORSHIP

• Our response is manufactured.

• The result is pleasing to self.

WHEN THE WORD ISAPPARENT IN OUR WORSHIP

• Our response is authentic.

• The result is pleasing to God.

COMMUNITY

We are not just individual worshippers; we are a community of

faith. Community

TWO PROBLEMS IN CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP

• The individualistic attitude.

• The spectator approach.

THE POINT OFCOMMUNITY WORSHIP

• We encourage each other.• We express our unity.• We establish continuity with the

church throughout history.• We engage together in spiritual

battle.

DIVERSITY

Worship reflects the unity and diversity of

heaven.Diversity

We need to get in on a global perspective of

worship.Diversity

We need to get over the different styles of

worship that divide the Body of Christ.

Diversity

We need to get involved in the joy of continual, worldwide worship. Diversity

We need to get lost in the love God has for every nation, tribe and people. Diversity

We need to get on with the global mission to which God has called

us. Diversity

Worship is the fuelof our mission.

Diversity

Worship is the goalof our mission.

Diversity

FANNY J. CROSBYTune composer Phoebe Palmer Knapp (1839-1908) played a melody to Fanny Crosby and asked, "What does the melody say to you?" Crosby replied that the tune said, "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!" and proceeded to recite the entire first stanza of the now-famous hymn.

FANNY J. CROSBYKnapp was one of several tune writers that worked with Fanny Crosby. It was not unusual for one of her texts to be inspired by a preexisting tune. Knapp was the composer of more than five hundred gospel hymns and tunes.

FANNY J. CROSBYFanny Crosby (1820-1915), blind at the age of six weeks, was a lifelong Methodist who began composing hymns at age six. She became a student at the New York Institute of the Blind at age 15 and joined the faculty of the Institute at 22, teaching rhetoric and history.

FANNY J. CROSBYIn 1885, Crosby married Alexander Van Alstyne, also a student at the Institute and later a member of the faculty. He was a fine musician and, like Fanny, a lover of literature.

FANNY J. CROSBYMiddle class women in nineteenth-century United States had little voice in worship, however. One of the only ways for a woman to claim the authority to be heard was by direct personal revelation from God.

FANNY J. CROSBYFanny Crosby readily claimed God's personal revelation as a source for her hymns; her personal revelation then became a communal inspiration as Christians throughout the world sang her hymns and confirmed her faith experience as their own.