Below is a draft of my worship philosophy, which is really always in progress.
Here is a paper on Multilingual Worship:
Here are some interactive book reviews I wrote for my Theology of Worship class:
Enthroned on Our Praise: An Old Testament Theology of Worship
Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship
Worshipping Trinity: Coming Back to the Heart of Worship
Worship is so much more than singing songs on Sunday morning! In the New Testament, the two main words for worship are proskuneō, "to kiss towards," and latreuō, "to serve." Thus, to worship God is to adore him as our greatest, all-satisfying treasure and to willingly serve him as our Lord and King. Within this broad definition, there are many expressions of worship, such as prayer, singing, art, obedience, and suffering; however, all true worship is a response. God initiates by revealing who he is, reaching out in sacrificial love, and continuing to work out his redemptive plan, and we respond by his grace. These personal encounters with our Creator are what worship is all about! It is a lifestyle of seeking to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.
To love God is to love the people he created in his own image. This is the big application of true worship, and a challenging one at that. After all, humans aren't perfect like God; we have bad habits, bad breath, bad attitudes, and are generally prideful and selfish, making getting along a bit difficult. But authentic worship should lead to life change, where God is making us into more loving people, like his Son, Jesus. When we view loving people as an act of worship to our Creator, we have significantly expanded our worship vocabulary.
Copyright © 2008 Keith B. Purvis.