Christian Worship Sample
I taught worship theology and practice for many years. I have written about worship songs, worship teams and worship theology a lot. I need to show you how to lead worship. I do practice what I preach. Here it is, fully scripted.
A sample of a Worship Service. Here, the praise team/song leader has real responsibility in leading worship rather than just to lead a few a la carte Jesus Pop and “yad-da-yad-da-yad”, and out of desire to preach/share takes time from the pastor to soulfully improvise/preach on the spot feelings. Here I am giving a sample of worship where everything is scripted.
Sample 崇拜程序 (Cantonese)主題：認罪在基督教崇拜中的重要性
Continue readingChoosing Songs for Worship
1975, I was supposed to do the DMA from SWBTS, but I was called to the ministry, I had the MM already, I chose to do the M Div. at GGBTS. Then took theology after. Now I believe all (music) ministers need pastoral and theology training and discipleship. The good soulful feeling in the sound of music changes the emotions in the listener’s heart, which can last a long time (繞樑三日) but the lyrics in the songs washes brains and thus changes lives. Without thorough understanding of theology, the music/worship director may choose songs that are emotionally beautiful, which changes feelings, but yet incorrect/imbalance theologically in the lyrics, which will misguide the listeners into an unhealthy spiritual life. If a “music minister” did not have proper theological understanding, he/she must consult and get permission from the pastor on the theology of the lyrics. (and even in the musical style)
Music chosen for the theologically correct/balanced lyrics should reflect the lyrics instead of just offering purely emotional trips(sweet nothings, or an addictive “high” through an injection in the arm.) leading the listener to stray from the meaning of the lyrics. (This is called integrity between music and lyrics) Since music lyrics changes lives, behavior and spiritual mindset of the listener, the musicians in church need a pastoral calling and training.
Among frequently sung worship songs, there are not enough songs that are about the attributes of God such as righteousness, justice, or sins of man and believers, or confessions and prayers. This means there is an imbalance in the spiritual diet in the most powerful tools of influence in church life. This imbalance must be addressed by the pastors. It is concluded by a Southern Baptist research study that the theological input or understanding of Christians among the Baptist Churches was by far influenced by hymns and spiritual songs than that from the pulpit. So, church singers, watch out for the theological correctness/balance in the lyrics of the songs you choose in leading worship. God is watching and you are responsible.
引用聖經的歌曲並非總是適用於基督徒身上
首先聲明：我這裡不是不友善批評或讚同甚麼曲式，雖然這些歌者，作曲者或許是極屬靈的人物，但顯然的，他／她們的唱腔是少女少男情荳初開的口吻，與屬靈的語氣聲調有別，有時候因歌者銷魂的聲調唱腔繞樑三日，讓歌詞的內容潛而默化地把聖經真理歪曲了，會有意無意的誤導信仰還未成熟的信徒。這文章是歌詞聖經神學的評估，全部是以維護真道而寫，請閣下不要因不必的疚念而生惡感，謝謝！
基督教歌曲，即使是引用聖經的歌曲，也並非總是適用於基督徒身上，其中一首歌是《求你為我造清潔的心》，
Continue reading榮耀的敬拜 – 重尋敬拜真義和境界
榮耀的敬拜 – 重尋敬拜真義和境界 羅天樂著
主題分析：
榮耀乃神的形象，位格，屬性。榮耀神相等於在我們的思想，感情，意志，行為，態度上反映出神的形象，位格，屬性。榮耀的敬拜等於在敬拜的行為上反映出神的形象，位格，屬性。我們是依照神的形像而造的，那麼榮耀神就是在我們的思想，感情，意志，行為，態度上顯現或反照神的形像。榮耀的敬拜就是讓神居首位向神五體投地的敬拜。
敬拜希臘文的字是“Proskuneo”–意思是五體投地之意。與中國人民見官，官員見黃帝時的三跪九叩有相同意義。我們若真知道，認識神的形象，位格，屬性，我們就不得不五體投地了。
英文古字–“weorþscipe” (meaning to venerate尊敬,to honor崇敬 an object; which has been etymologized as “worthiness or worth-ship”—to give worth to something.意思是讓神得應得的位格和尊重的意思。（Accepting/recognizing the worth of God) 所以讓神為無上之主者謂之敬拜。（因祂是最高無上的主宰）因此敬拜的行為不只是禮拜日到教堂去聽書，而是在思想，感情，意志，行為，態度上讓神為真主為真神便是敬拜神了。
Continue reading多倫多黎明山華人浸信詩班
多倫多黎明山華人浸信詩班
攜手疫向網上行 – 事奉匯粹, 師友交流
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榮耀的敬拜 – 重尋敬拜真義和境界