Good news … short chapters. Don’t let that throw you though, there is a lot of solid food in each chapter.
As you read each chapter, have goal beforehand. What surprises you in what you read? What stuck out and made you think? Be a Berean (Acts 17:11) and compare what the author says to what Scripture says. How can we apply this to the TBC Worship Team? Have some fun.
What hit me was something he said under the heading of “What Really Matters?”
“It matters to us because worshiping God is the reason for which we were created.”
Wow, that’s really a bold straight forward statement! He’s not the first to say this:
“This precious gift has been given to man alone that he might thereby remind himself that God has created man for the express purpose of praising and extolling God.” Martin Luther concerning the gift of music.
Is that what you thought you were created for? If we took a survey of TBC and asked them what they thought the purpose of their creation was, what kind of response do you think we’d get? Does that change the way we approach worship?
The author didn’t sight any source text, so does that square with what the Bible teaches? I think one that might be used is 1 Pet 2:4-12. Can you think of any other?
My first thoughts about the book “Worship Matters” by Bob Kauflin (Chapter 1: The Important Things) is my appreciation and respect of the author’s experience (30+ years, especially being a teaching Pastor for 12 years), his vast exposure and diversification to a wide array of denominations, styles of music, and philosophy of music ministry, his honesty with his struggles (does what I do really matter?), his Biblical basis, and God centered focus – that worship matters (p. 19) because 1. it matters to God – he is the one ultimately worthy of all worship (1 Chronicles 29:11-12, Romans 11:36, Ephesians 33:21, 2 Timothy 4:18, 2 peter 3:18, Revelation 1:6, 4:11, 5:12, 14:7, 19:5) 2. We were created to worship (John 4:23, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 3:17, 1 Peter 4:11) , and 3. It’s a privilege to lead others to experience the greatness of God through worship (Titus 2:13-15, Hebrews 4:14, 10:21, 13:20, 1 Peter 1:3, Revelation 11:17, 15:3). My only suggestion would be listing specific Scripture in Chapter 1 about the three reasons why worship matters, but flipping through the rest of the book it looks like he makes up for it with lots of Scripture later. Personally, I want to fight harder in my own life against the occasional feelings and dryness we all encounter when we think or feel that worship is just a repeat or isn’t making a difference. I also want to have greater and more intimate personal worship throughout the week where my mind, thoughts, and actions are continuously on God and not myself, on the eternal/worship rather than earthly things, and seeking to give God glory rather than seeking man’s approval or applause.
I thought the opening illustration (“what difference does this make…”) is a good example of the kind of thoughts that we need to take captive and make obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5)…because our Enemy and our flesh will seek to distract to keep us from truly worshiping. What a great truth that the Lord has given us His Spirit to empower us to take those thoughts captive, “kicking them out” of our mind and obediently thinking on the truth—that glorifying God IS EXACTLY what matters!!! The list/bullet points on p 16 of our thoughts/heart temptations, was a great example of when we get our eyes on our self! I could relate and love the transparency of the author. I’m so thankful we can entrust issues to our all-powerful Lord, confess our own sin, and He can handle everything just fine! I loved and “Amen” the writer’s objectives/goals on p. 17 for writing the book…can’t wait to read more.
One of the things I was looking at was how could we use this study to help people understand worship a little better.
Well, guess what? Bob Kauflin is going to write another book. Here’s what he said on his blog:
“Worship Matters was aimed at those who participate in leading corporate worship. Why not write a much shorter book that spoke directly to the Christians who walk in to be led every Sunday morning? Perhaps a book that would help them think more biblically about their responsibility as a worshiper of God, regardless of how they were being led. A book that leaders could give to members of their congregation.”
What stuck out to me most in this chapter, is the fact that the glorificaiton of God is the reason why we are here. It's what we love and live for. Doing a quick word search of the word glorify, I discovered that nearly every reference was referring to God. This is refering to every aspect of our lives, not just music. It almost like we should take the WWJD and turn it into WTGG- (Would this glorifly God?). Truely a sobering thought.
"An effective corporate worship leader, aided and led by the Holy Spirit, skillfully combines God's Wordwith musicto magnify the worth of God and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, thereby motivating the gathered church to join him in proclaiming and cherishing the truth about God and seeking to live all of life for the glory of God." - Bob Kauflin
5 comments:
Good news … short chapters. Don’t let that throw you though, there is a lot of solid food in each chapter.
As you read each chapter, have goal beforehand. What surprises you in what you read? What stuck out and made you think? Be a Berean (Acts 17:11) and compare what the author says to what Scripture says. How can we apply this to the TBC Worship Team? Have some fun.
What hit me was something he said under the heading of “What Really Matters?”
“It matters to us because worshiping God is the reason for which we were created.”
Wow, that’s really a bold straight forward statement! He’s not the first to say this:
“This precious gift has been given to man alone that he might thereby remind himself that God has created man for the express purpose of praising and extolling God.” Martin Luther concerning the gift of music.
Is that what you thought you were created for? If we took a survey of TBC and asked them what they thought the purpose of their creation was, what kind of response do you think we’d get? Does that change the way we approach worship?
The author didn’t sight any source text, so does that square with what the Bible teaches? I think one that might be used is 1 Pet 2:4-12. Can you think of any other?
BTW, I tend to ask a lot of questions. ;{)
My first thoughts about the book “Worship Matters” by Bob Kauflin (Chapter 1: The Important Things) is my appreciation and respect of the author’s experience (30+ years, especially being a teaching Pastor for 12 years), his vast exposure and diversification to a wide array of denominations, styles of music, and philosophy of music ministry, his honesty with his struggles (does what I do really matter?), his Biblical basis, and God centered focus – that worship matters (p. 19) because 1. it matters to God – he is the one ultimately worthy of all worship (1 Chronicles 29:11-12, Romans 11:36, Ephesians 33:21, 2 Timothy 4:18, 2 peter 3:18, Revelation 1:6, 4:11, 5:12, 14:7, 19:5) 2. We were created to worship (John 4:23, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 3:17, 1 Peter 4:11) , and 3. It’s a privilege to lead others to experience the greatness of God through worship (Titus 2:13-15, Hebrews 4:14, 10:21, 13:20, 1 Peter 1:3, Revelation 11:17, 15:3).
My only suggestion would be listing specific Scripture in Chapter 1 about the three reasons why worship matters, but flipping through the rest of the book it looks like he makes up for it with lots of Scripture later.
Personally, I want to fight harder in my own life against the occasional feelings and dryness we all encounter when we think or feel that worship is just a repeat or isn’t making a difference. I also want to have greater and more intimate personal worship throughout the week where my mind, thoughts, and actions are continuously on God and not myself, on the eternal/worship rather than earthly things, and seeking to give God glory rather than seeking man’s approval or applause.
I thought the opening illustration (“what difference does this make…”) is a good example of the kind of thoughts that we need to take captive and make obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5)…because our Enemy and our flesh will seek to distract to keep us from truly worshiping. What a great truth that the Lord has given us His Spirit to empower us to take those thoughts captive, “kicking them out” of our mind and obediently thinking on the truth—that glorifying God IS EXACTLY what matters!!!
The list/bullet points on p 16 of our thoughts/heart temptations, was a great example of when we get our eyes on our self! I could relate and love the transparency of the author. I’m so thankful we can entrust issues to our all-powerful Lord, confess our own sin, and He can handle everything just fine!
I loved and “Amen” the writer’s objectives/goals on p. 17 for writing the book…can’t wait to read more.
Excellent thoughts guys.
One of the things I was looking at was how could we use this study to help people understand worship a little better.
Well, guess what? Bob Kauflin is going to write another book. Here’s what he said on his blog:
“Worship Matters was aimed at those who participate in leading corporate worship. Why not write a much shorter book that spoke directly to the Christians who walk in to be led every Sunday morning? Perhaps a book that would help them think more biblically about their responsibility as a worshiper of God, regardless of how they were being led. A book that leaders could give to members of their congregation.”
How cool is that?
What stuck out to me most in this chapter, is the fact that the glorificaiton of God is the reason why we are here. It's what we love and live for. Doing a quick word search of the word glorify, I discovered that nearly every reference was referring to God.
This is refering to every aspect of our lives, not just music. It almost like we should take the WWJD and turn it into WTGG- (Would this glorifly God?). Truely a sobering thought.
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