PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

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2. The Bible Expositional is not worship, it's teaching. 3. The Renewal is not worship, it's revival. 4. The Body Life is not worship, it's fellowship. 5. The Liturgical model is not a worship event, worship is internal. 6. The Congregational model is not worship, it's an assembly of the church. The answer might be in looking at whether worship follows the Old Testament or New Testament models. Some claim that Old testament worship might have been a group event, because Israel was a commonwealth. They claim in the New Testament God dealt individually with people, so worship can became individually driven. However, the answer is in the definition of worship, i.e. giving the worthship to God that is due Him. We worship both corporately and individually. We worship God both directly (by what we do, say and respond in directed worship) and indirectly (because all we do brings glory to God). We worship God spontaneously (from the explosive emotions of the unexpected) and we worship by prepared songs, events and prayers. We worship God knowingly and unknowingly (God is glorified when we respond according to God's principle, even when we didn't cognitively realize we are giving glory to Him). We worship God in a sanctuary and out in the open field. While some may criticize the worship of another person, the key is to follow our heart as it follows the Word of God. We never alter our actions because of criticism, nor do we live by the negative opinions of others. Obviously, we listen to criticism, not because it is right, but to compare it to Scriptures. We are exhorted, "Put everything to the test. Accept what is good" (I Thess. 5:21 CEV). SUMMARY <strong>AN</strong>D CONCLUSION The first murder grew out of an angry fight between two brothers who disagreed over worship. Was a vegetable worship of God better than a blood sacrifice? While the first disagreement involved a substance question, today's disagreement is over methodology, i.e. how we worship. Therefore when you get into controversy over the way someone worships differently, ask yourself the following question: 1. Is this a question of how we worship, or who we worship? 2. Is this a question of preference or principle? 3. Is this a question of cultural expression or Christian essence? While there are "worship wars" going on in the world, remember the words of Jesus. "He that is not against us, is for us" (Luke 9:50).
The ultimate question that some would raise, "Should the corporate life of the church be pulled down to the level of the individual, or should the individual be raised to the level of the church?" CHAPTER FIVE THE EV<strong>AN</strong>GELISTIC CHURCH A sense of expectation builds as the congregation gathers for the morning worship service. The success of an outreach campaign being conducted by the church is becoming evident as a larger than usual crowd begins filling the pews. The parking lot is filling even though many church members have parked at an area shopping mall. Although arrangements had been made earlier to conduct a special youth service in the church gym, ushers are having difficulty seating people in the fixed pews. A few have gone to find stacking chairs to place in the wide aisles. These kind of problems seem to bring joy to church members. Today will indeed be a special opportunity. As the piano beings playing a lively gospel hymn, the choir makes their way to the platform. They remain standing as the song leader moves to the pulpit. He asks the gathered crowd to take their hymn book and stand together as they sing a familiar hymn, Amazing Grace. The people quickly respond by standing as the musicians play the last line of the hymn. Then, from all parts of the building, the words of Newton's hymn ring out. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see. In the hymn book, the word "Amen" follows the text of the last verse, but it is not sung in this church. In its place, the song leader encourages the congregation to shake hands with five people around them and tell them how much you appreciate their being with us today. A happy muffled sound fills the auditorium as informal greetings are exchanged. Then the congregation is asked to turn the page in the hymn book to another familiar hymn, Old Rugged Cross. As this second hymn concludes, the song leader moves away from the pulpit to make room for the pastor. He welcomes everyone and asks church members to raise their hand indicating those who brought a friend to church with them today. As hands are raised throughout the auditorium, several amens are heard. The pastor briefly prays for the service before the congregation is seated. Once again, the pastor begins talking about the special day. He explains how the church has been preparing for this day for several weeks and expresses how much he appreciates each "friend" who took time out of their busy schedule to worship with them. He explains the church has a special friendship packet as a "thank you" gift they wish to share with each visitor. He asks
Page 1 and 2: PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS By E
Page 3 and 4: INTRODUCTION Since this is a book a
Page 5 and 6: True worship involves change and it
Page 7 and 8: under Martin Luther was a reformati
Page 9 and 10: these names represented a sect, an
Page 11 and 12: A similar variety of consumer optio
Page 13 and 14: SIX WORSHIP STYLES 1. The Evangelis
Page 15 and 16: The pastors told me they had not ch
Page 17 and 18: The Liturgical Church eagerly carri
Page 19 and 20: The average Christian knows about a
Page 21 and 22: So, let's learn what we need to kno
Page 23 and 24: young people from my church were co
Page 25 and 26: Dallas taught me to preach differen
Page 27 and 28: would not preach boring Pentecostal
Page 29 and 30: The third question I ask my student
Page 31 and 32: CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH TO DETERMINE
Page 33 and 34: that no man could count, from every
Page 35 and 36: outwardly committed to the process
Page 37 and 38: 2. Church Planting. At the beginnin
Page 39 and 40: METHODOLOGY APPLIED TO WORSHIP How
Page 41 and 42: CHAPTER FOUR WORSHIP WARS The churc
Page 43 and 44: The pastor liked the Bible Expositi
Page 45 and 46: Whether people disagree because of
Page 47 and 48: that help them cope with their prob
Page 49 and 50: society is apparently retreating fr
Page 51: 4. New worship forms have robbed th
Page 55 and 56: elationship with God we've been tal
Page 57 and 58: in evangelism are effective in maki
Page 59 and 60: soul-winning and reaching every ava
Page 61 and 62: have not been trained. Others fail
Page 63 and 64: While some expository preachers ten
Page 65 and 66: CHAPTER SEVEN THE RENEWAL CHURCH Ev
Page 67 and 68: demonstrated in that miracles are o
Page 69 and 70: most human needs can be met in a va
Page 71 and 72: musical instruments including piano
Page 73 and 74: ut the time is getting late. I thin
Page 75 and 76: pastor to emerge as a leader. Also,
Page 77 and 78: Church. This includes ministries su
Page 79 and 80: CHAPTER NINE THE LITURGICAL CHURCH
Page 81 and 82: the sanctuary and challenged the pe
Page 83 and 84: individuals. Those gifted in this m
Page 85 and 86: strengths of this worship style int
Page 87 and 88: CHAPTER TEN THE CONGREGATIONAL CHUR
Page 89 and 90: This view of the church and ministr
Page 91 and 92: THE STRENGTHS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF
Page 93 and 94: He has given them to accomplish wha
Page 95 and 96: The critical group usually attacks
Page 97 and 98: Therefore, the question becomes one
Page 99 and 100: However, this does not mean that ex
Page 101 and 102: experience. Those attending The Bib
Page 103 and 104:
What are some changes in worship me
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3. Recognize the strengths of the c
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THE FUTURE OF WORSHIP 1. A thirst f
Page 109 and 110:
This involves kneeling at the altar
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Churches will use more video filmed
Page 113 and 114:
The New Testament is different unli
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ADMINISTRATION, GIFT OF APPENDIX ON
Page 117 and 118:
areas. 4. Bridging - growth of the
Page 119 and 120:
fellowship of a local church. Those
Page 121 and 122:
RENEWAL CHURCH A unique worship sty
Page 123 and 124:
of the relationship between worship
Page 125 and 126:
The Use of Proskuneo in the New Tes
Page 127 and 128:
APPENDIX THREE CHRISTIAN LEADERS ON
Page 129 and 130:
Worship is the exercise of the mind
Page 131 and 132:
Dawn, Marva. Reaching Out Without D
Page 133 and 134:
Morgenthaller, Sally. Worship Evang
Page 135:
Sermons on worship from various 19t
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PUTTING AN END TO WORSHIP WARS - Elmer Towns

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