Back from Straight Up ‘08

I just got back from the Straight Up Conference at Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago.  I am blown away by what I was able to experience this week.  Not only did I hear from James MacDonald and Joe Stowell, but also John MacAurthur and C.J. Mahaney.  I was equally excited to meet Bob Kauflin, Director of Worship Development at Sovereign Grace Ministries.  He lead us in worship Tuesday morning.

Bob Kauflin is one of the voices today who really understands what it means to intentionally, effectively, and Biblically lead God’s people in worship.  Bob’s book “Worship Matters” is an unparalleled source of wisdom as a worship leader.  I would recommend anyone who leads corporate worship to dive into his book.  He also taught a workshop on the Task of a Worship Leader.

It was also great to connect with some of the worship leaders from Harvest in Chicago.  I was brought to the throne of God each time we were led in worship.  Singing with a room full of ministry leaders is awesome.  It’s such a great thing to be able to sing about God, to God, and by the grace of God with joy.  I have been to too many gatherings of christians where singing to God is as exciting and meaningful as reciting the rules of the classroom on the first day of school!  Thankfully, I have been able to experience both Truth and Spirit filled worship.  This is something I hope I can continue to cultivate in my own ministry.

Worship teaching?

My pastor has been challenging me that as I am leading worship week after week, I need to take time now and then to prod our people to strive to worship whole-heartedly.  There are people at our church from a myriad of backgrounds – from ultra-conservative to ultra-charismatic worship styles.  Some have not yet experienced the joy they can have by engaging not only the mind, but the whole being as well (raising hands to God, clapping, etc. ).  On the other hand, some have not experienced the weight of understanding the Gospel as the highest motivation to worship.  I want to continue to prod our congregation to unhitch from the peripheral weights that hold them back because that is a part of leading people to worship.  I will forever continue to learn the balance of worshipping in Spirit and in Truth.  What do you think?

I thought it was great to see Bob Kauflin do a great job of this with his people.  There are many different ways of doing this but it got my wheels turnin’. 

Acceptable Worship

I found this quote from T. F. Torrance (check out http://www.eucatastrophe.com/blog/archives/category/focus-on-worship/) that really nails the fact that our ability to offer a pleasing response to God in worship is not possible unless it is drenched in the life and death of Jesus Christ.  This should change the way we think about our ”response” in worship.  He writes: 

The vicarious humanity of Jesus Christ…fulfills a representative and substitutionary role in all our relations with God…such as trusting and obeying, understanding and knowing, loving and worshipping…Jesus Christ…in and through His humanity took our place, acting in our name and on our behalf before God, freely offering in Himself what we could not offer and offering it in our stead, the perfect response of man to God in a holy life of faith and prayer and praise, the self-offering of the Beloved Son with whom the Father is well pleased” (God and Rationality, 145).