Maumee United Methodist Church
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Worship
To Life Songs Contemporary Web Page
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Sunday
• Spirited Traditional: 8:30 AM
• Lifesongs Contemporary Worship: 9:45 AM
• Lifesongs Family Service - 11:00 AM • Alive - Children's Worship: 8:30 & 11:00 AM
• ReVive: 1st & 3rd Sunday Evening of month, in Chapel Fantastic Friends - Great Music - Relevant Message
Saturday • Saturday Nite Lifesongs Service 5:00 PM
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Passionate Worship – God calls us to worship Him. The dictionary says worship means ‘to show worth or value to something or someone’; in our case to God or Jesus Christ. Passion means to express intense feelings. We are to express our love and devotion, show our worth to Christ with intensity. Of course intensity is different for everyone. For some it means raising hands and arms in worship. For others speaking Hallelujah or Amen. For others closing their eyes in silence while focusing on the risen One. Others, somewhere in between all of that. It is not so much what is expressed externally, but how one feels the Spirit arousing them internally.
Singing is one expression of worship and we all have our preferences of style, type, and volume. But the purpose of singing is to echo with our mouths what our hearts believe and feel. We give honor and praise to Christ. The Psalmist says, ‘The Spirit of God inhabits the praises of His people’ (Psalm 22). We edify each other when we sing. We tell the angels in heaven and the demons in hell whom we are for and love. In the front of every United Methodist Hymnal is John Wesley’s ‘Directions for Singing.’ Part of his directions say, ‘Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength… above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself …’
We worship an audience of One. Worship is not about the other persons around us, our focus is to be on Jesus. Worship is not about me, not about you, but about Jesus. Worship is where I get my eye off of me and onto He.
While worship is about One the truth is it bleeds over to others. How we worship tells others something about our faith in Christ. Excitement, consistent heart-filled passion, all tell others we are excited and in love with Jesus always. The opposite is also true. Some say, ‘Worship is dull, boring, I can’t wait ‘til it’s over.’ Sometimes the reason is external; worship can be ill planned and the Jesus focus becomes skewed. But sometimes it is our inward attitude and what we focus on. The focus of worship is to take our eyes off temporary, earthly things and focus on the eternity of heaven and the promises and provision of God. When we do, our attitudes change!
Most would say, ‘good worship is about good preaching, praying, and music.’ While these are very important, worship is more. It is what we then do with good preaching, praying and music that makes worship passionate. Worship is to be transforming. Worship changes our present outlook on life. It changes our past as we can be forgiven. It changes our future as we focus on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It should energize us and empower how we live for Christ.
Worship ought to be ‘Sticky.’ In other words, people should want to stick around, come again, be in the mix of worship. One of the best compliments of a worship service is returning guests who have received something of value and return again because they are ready for more. They know a place that delivers so they stick with it. These sticky folks tell others (the most effective form of evangelism) and others get stuck on Jesus. Passion is sticky which is why most of us pledged our lives to love another person in marriage and stick with them for better or worse. The first commandment is Love the Lord your God with your heart, soul, mind and strength. We have great opportunity to do that in worship.
Not long ago, I did a funeral for a dear saint from the first church I pastored. This lady both willed me and loved me into a better preacher and pastor. Before she died of cancer she asked if I would do her funeral. I told her it would be very hard but I would be very honored. Her funeral was held at a Baptist church near Columbus. On a hot summer Sunday afternoon at 3:30 pm over 300 people showed up to honor her life and worship Jesus Christ, the resurrection and life. They sang; some reached their hands to heaven, others bowed in quiet reverence, all chasing every doubt of eternity far out the door and welcoming every angel in. The music was both traditional and gospel. We sang ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘Amazing Grace’ and the passion flowed. Every eye was on Jesus, and I admit I half believed my friend would sit up in her casket, the room was so full of God. What happened that day had nothing to do with type or style of worship; it had everything to do with focus and passion. People were just passionate about Jesus, how He lived in our friend, His promises of eternal love, and Jesus showed up in a big way.
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