Choosing to Preach Discussion

re: #7 - The Role of Preaching in Worship

Posted by Marian Tong on Oct. 22, 2007 at 21:02

Sometimes I don’t like the distinctions between worship songs and the sermon. They should be connected together. But it’s pretty obvious that people use their emotion in worshipping God with songs but their cognition during the preaching. Somehow the church routines encourage the people to do that because after the worship is done, the worship team comes off from the stage. Other people move away the power point and projector for another one and a half minute, and the pastor will show up on the pulpits for sermon delivery. Some people really think missing the worship is okay, because they can listen to the preacher and "catch up" later; some people think the worship is so great that it’s too bad that the pastor is going to preach again! So I guess it becomes a question for the whole church rather than just related to the role of preaching in worship. I understand that there are different types of learners within the congregations, but the "learning objectives" seem undefined for Sunday Services. However, people come to church for different reasons. So God will give us the "flexibility" to experience Him.

re: #7 - The Role of Preaching in Worship

Posted by Chris Synesael on Feb. 15, 2007 at 09:45

i agree with what andre said in post 6. preaching is causes us to worship (or should). i believe that preaching is worship. first for the preacher. but also for the listener. i have heard several sermons where God moved within me in a mighty way. i was forced to respond. i say forced because God’s presence was so strong.

as far as preaching aiming for more, i think there is more of an expectation within my church with regards to the preaching. there are several sunday’s where i get the impression that we are singing songs so we can sit down and listen to the sermon. perhaps it should work the other way?!

re: #7 - The Role of Preaching in Worship

Posted by Andre VanWoerden on Feb. 06, 2007 at 14:25

I found it interesting to read how Mike Jones, the man who exposed Ted Haggard, responded to experiencing worship at New Life Church. If the Gospel message is enough, he said, why the loud music and MTV-quality production? "There seems to be something missing, some realism, in my opinion, because it’s so vast, like some kind of self-contained city," said Jones [Denver Post, Jan. 29]. It’s interesting that for a non-Christian, the worship (music) overpowered the preaching. It’s important that people hear from God, whether that’s through worshipful preaching or worshipful music.

re: #7 - The Role of Preaching in Worship

Posted by Andre VanWoerden on Feb. 06, 2007 at 14:16

If preaching is about God speaking, worship is about responding to God. Preaching is essential to worship because it provides the opportunity for us to hear from God. Having heard the word of God, we can respond in worship—whether that takes the form of song and exclamations of praise or repentance or surrendering one’s life to God.

re: #7 - The Role of Preaching in Worship

Posted by Johnny Lo on Feb. 01, 2007 at 01:17

Worship is a lifestyle. We should be praising and worshipping God each and every single day of our lives, despite whether we feel like it or not.

Sunday worship, on the other hand, is when everyone gathers as one body, one congregration to worship and hear about God’s Word. Worship is essentially built upon the Word of God. Thus, if there is a Sunday worship service that neglects a sermon or a time to hear about God’s word (in whatever form it may take), then I think that church is missing the most vital part of worship.

re: #7 - The Role of Preaching in Worship

Posted by Tim Durksen on Jan. 31, 2007 at 16:03

I have to agree with Aaron on this one quite a bit. I believe that when an effective preacher comes up and opens up the word of God i am inclined to respond with words and songs that declare how great God is and how he deserves all my attention. On the flip side i have seen and heard a few messages that leave me wondering why the sermon is in the middle of a worship service. I think that a sermon should be able to spur people on to want to praise God and live a life that is worship.

re: #7 - The Role of Preaching in Worship

Posted by Aaron Richert on Jan. 23, 2007 at 16:48

Worship can only be done in response to who God is and what He has done. We could not worship (i.e. declare the worth of God) if we knew nothing of God or experienced Him in our lives. So I’m not so sure that I would classify the act of preaching as an act of worship for the congregation (except maybe for the person doing the preaching), but the act of preaching declares who God is and what He has done, which in turn leads people to respond to Him. I guess that’s why I prefer having a time of worship (whether in prayer, song, giving an offering, or whatever) after the sermon rather than before the sermon because listening to and engaging in a sermon leads me to a deeper encounter with God.

re: #7 - The Role of Preaching in Worship

Posted by Melissa Lane on Jan. 16, 2007 at 14:50

Worship is about praising God, about standing in wonder at what He has done, about being submissive before Him giving Him the sovereing Lordship that is His alone and about orienting oneself and all that person does towards God. A "worship service" is about coming together as believers to honour, glorify and praise our Father through the gifts He has given us—music, theatre, arts, prayer and most definitely preaching. Preaching is no less important than any other part of the service. As preaching can happen in a number of forms, I think it needs to be present in all corporate services, in a manner that is appopriate for the context.

re: #7 - The Role of Preaching in Worship

Posted by Jon Mair on Jan. 15, 2007 at 13:25

I think often we confuse the meaning of worship and consider it to only be the musical aspect of the service. Worship though should be something that comes through in every aspect of our lives both at church and in our everyday life. That being said I think preaching is an act of worship and can be used to draw people into worshiping God. Worship is therefore essential in preaching, a slight shift in the question. Preaching should be just as worshipful as every other aspect of a service.