Posts tagged ‘devotional’
I’ll bring you more than a song…
A word for Multicultural Worship Leaders/Pastors
I’m not going to assume you know this song by Matt Redman called Heart of Worship, so if you haven’t heard it before I recommend it. Matt Redman is a well known songwriter and has written lots and lots of songs.
That story goes…that worship leader Matt Redman felt that his church was making worship about the songs. I also heard that they didn’t include music for several weeks during the Sunday service to remind themselves it wasn’t about the songs, but about something more.
The same is true for the multicultural worship leader. There’s a lot of fun in incorporating the languages, styles, and instruments of other cultures, but we can’t let it be about the music. It needs to be about more than it.
It needs to be about seeing unity in the Body of Christ. It needs to be about loving one another as brothers and sisters. It needs to be about giving God all the glory!
The words to “The Heart of Worship”:
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heartI’m coming back
To the heart of worship
And it’s all about You
All about You Jesus
I’m sorry Lord
For the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You
All about You JesusKing of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Ev’ry single breathI’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart
Lesson for the multicultural worship leader/pastor
Mediate on 1 Samuel 16 and Revelation 15, while paying attention to these specific two passages of scripture:
1 Samuel 16:7 says…
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Revelation 5:13 says…
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
Have you made the mistake of making multicultural worship about the songs? What is worship really about?
Share your story and your life…
Sincerely,
Peter Park
Blogger/Worship Leader/Speaker
peterpark@redemptionboulevard.com
(800) 453-3284
More resources about getting to the heart of worship:
God Seeks People to Worship Him in Spirit and Truth
The Curse of Careless Worship
© 2010, Peter Park. All rights reserved.
Psalm 133
Psalm 133 – The excellency of Brotherly Unity
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,coming down upon the beard,
Even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing–life forever.
Introduction to studying Psalm 133
I’m encouraged by a good friend of mine, Nikki Lerner, who recommends reading the scriptures slowly and repeatedly. I want you to do the same as you meditate on this passage of the Bible. Spend some time with it.
I also want to offer you some short background information about the passage as you work through Psalm 133.
Psalm 133 v. 1
There are times when it’s appropriate for people to be separated, especially when you need time to cool down in the midst of a fierce argument. But God intends for us to dwell together and do it with unity, living as a people with one heart and one Body.
Psalm 133 v. 2
The oil that is talked about in this passage represents the holy anointing oil. This was very precious, and not for common use. It was also strongly perfumed, which meant it smelled really good.
At the time, Aaron and his sons were not allowed to minster unto the Lord until they were anointed with this oil.
Psalm 133 v. 3
If you’re like me, sometimes I skip over words that I don’t understand and try to read it in context. Sometimes this works, but it’s much better to look up the word. I want to offer two definitions of the word dew.
1. It’s moisture condensed from the atmosphere, esp. at night, and deposited in the form of small drops upon any cool surface.
2.It’s something like or compared to such drops of moisture, as in purity, delicacy, or refreshing quality.
Questions to think about:
How does this relate to this church today? Are we really living in unity? Or do we think we’re living in unity?
Share your story and your life…
Sincerely,
Peter Park
Blogger/Worship Leader/Speaker
peterpark@redemptionboulevard.com
(800) 453-3284
For further study on Psalm 133:
Matthew Henry Commentary on Psalm 133
© 2010, Peter Park. All rights reserved.