Building the Church, pt2
Leadership in Context with Keith Tucci
Episode 063
1. Are we purpose driven or need focused?
2. What is your worship theology?
Much of our ministry is built around corporate worship. I think that is a great thing and the way to do it. Unfortunately, even in that, it’s something we do with very little understanding.
It is a mistake to just do something without understanding why you are doing it.
John 4:20-23 “Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”
What the woman was saying to Him is: “We have our worship ritual, and you have yours. What’s the real deal here?” Jesus responds by saying: “Most people really don’t understand why they worship. Here’s the answer—it should be done in Spirit and in Truth.” Jesus is not only addressing a misunderstanding; He addresses the conclusion.He is looking for people who will worship Him in Spirit and Truth; the two should be blended together.
In the corporate worship service on a typical Sunday morning, often there is really good music. Sometimes, some of that really good music really isn’t even worship music. It’s good music that has Truth in it, but it isn’t focused on Christ. A lot of worship music is about the person doing the worship instead of exalting Who God is, what He does, and what His attributes are.
Shouldn’t the songs we are singing primarily be about God? Here’s the easy test: If someone knew nothing about God and walked into our church service for the first time, what would they leave the service knowing about God as a result of the worship service? Worship should reveal and exalt not just the presence of God, but the character and purpose of God.
Do people even know why we worship? Do we teach why worship is important? Or do we rely on the experience of worship to validate that? Here’s the problem with the latter: when we have a bad worship experience or someone doesn’t like the style or flow of worship, then somehow that can be tied to something to do with Who God is. Can you see how dangerous that could be?
Why do we start our service with worship? Is it a mood enhancer? Is it to get the atmosphere set so people can receive the Word? There is some truth to that, but it isn’t the purpose of worship. No doubt, if you have a great worship atmosphere, it’s easy to preach and minister. But worship is not a warm-up for the Word. Worship is because of Who God is. Traditionally the church has always put worship first to model that God is first.
Should worship and the offering be separate in our services? I think not. With technology and giving, we are going to have to figure out some ways where worship can still take place during giving. I’m not against using technology (e.g. online giving, giving kiosk, etc.). We still need to emphasize that our giving is not just an act of obedience to God and one of generosity, but it is an act of worshipas well. There needs to be a theology of worship in our giving.
Who is communion for, when do we take communion, and why do we do it?When I was a pastor, we served communion once a month corporately. Often, we would take it in small group settings as well. If I pastored again, I think I would serve communion every month. I believe the teaching on communion is so central to the cross and the gospel.
We need to teach things, not just tell people things. A lot of time people know WHAT we are doing (how you give a prophetic word), but they aren’t taught WHY. It just looks pragmatic, the best way for it to work. There is truth in that. The WHY is that it is God’s Church. We operate in how He designed it to work for the purpose of bringing Him glory.
Every church has liturgy. Is that liturgy theology? Is it explained? Is it being done in Spirit and in Truth? Do people know what they are doing, why, and how they are doing it as unto the Lord? If we don’t develop a theology, it will become man-centered.
Join us next week as Keith Tucci continues to put leadership truth in the context of the local church. And as always, please like, share, rate/review, and invite others to listen. See you next week!
