God is inclusive not exclusive. His church should be also: WORSHIP

God is seeking worshipers

John 4:21–24 CSB

21 Jesus told her, “Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”

john

Key question: Is God actively looking for those who will worship Him? Is God inclusive in this seeking or exclusive? What are God’s terms for those who would worship Him?

The Samaritans and the Israelites were excluding each other from worship by each claiming that they were the true worshipers worshiping God in the correct way.

Jesus corrects this mistake by pointing out that both groups were wrong about God’s desire concerning worshipers. He points out that the Jews are worshiping what they know, but that the Jews have been wrong to exclude others from joining them in that true knowledge.

Jesus reveals that God will gather many worshipers to Himself who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Conclusion: If we exclude someone from worshiping God, it must only be based on God terms: are they worshiping in sprit and in truth or not?

God wants to be worshiped with many instruments

Psalm 150 CSB

1 Hallelujah! Praise God in his sanctuary. Praise him in his mighty expanse. 2 Praise him for his powerful acts; praise him for his abundant greatness. 3 Praise him with trumpet blast; praise him with harp and lyre. 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and flute. 5 Praise him with resounding cymbals; praise him with clashing cymbals. 6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah!

psalm 150

Key Question: With how many instruments is God commanding His people to praise Him? Is this list an exclusive list or an inclusive list? How many people is God commanding to praise Him? Is this an exclusive call for praise or an inclusive call for praise?

God desires to be praised by word and by instruments.

God desires to be praised with many instruments. He desires to be praised with dancing.

Conclusion: Scripture does not restrict the number of instruments we use to worship God in the sanctuary, nor does Scripture restrict the number of voices we use to worship Him. In fact, we are commanded to worship Him with as many instruments that are available. This pleases God. It pleases God that we increase the number of instruments that are used to worship Him. It should please us to see the number of voices and the number of instruments used in worship increase.

God wants to be worshiped by many people through many means.

1 Corinthians 14:26 CSB

26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, another tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.

Key Question: When the church gathers for worship, who is allowed to lead worship? Is God inclusive in worship leadership, or is He exclusive? Who does God expect to have a song, a teaching, a revelation, a language (if there are multiple nationalities present)?

When the church gathers, God expects each person to have something to contribute to the worship experience. Our American culture has made the worship service more of a presentation with observers. However, God designed a community that participates together.

God has designed worship to be a shared leadership experience. Each person that has a song, a teaching, a revelation, a message for those who speak a different language, is leading when they stand up to share with the congregation.

Conclusion: We should give everyone the opportunity to “lead” in worship by asking: Is there anything that needs to be said before we dismiss? If someone has something that will praise God and build up the church, we must allow them to participate in the leadership of a service.

The church benefits from the contribution of many.

1 Corinthians 14:26 CSB

26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, another tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.

Key Question: What is God’s desire for the church in a worship service? How does expecting every person to contribute to the worship service accomplish this? If the American church was less concerned about time, could we enjoy this kind of worship service?

God desires that the church worship Him so that two results are reached. Not listed in this text, but implied, is the result of God’s Name being praised and Jesus acknowledged as preeminent. Also, God wants us to achieve the result of building up the body of Christ.

God accomplishes the building up of the church by expecting many contributions to worship. God desires to include as many who will come with an offering of worship. He does not seek to restrict contributions to worship by allowing only a few to lead in worship.

Conclusion: We must seek to build up the body of Christ not by restricting the number of people who contribute to a worship service, but by including as many who are willing. We must begin a worship service with the question: Who is willing to contribute? If someone is willing, then we must work hard to make that possible.