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Worship QuestAuthor: Worship Quest Ministries
The Worship Quest podcast offers worship thoughts, spiritually formative devotions, and resources for the global Christian church. Language: en Genres: Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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A New Year – The Christian Year
Saturday, 30 November, 2024
The following is an excerpt from Seasons of Worship: A Spiritual Calendar for the Church Today by Dr. Steven D. Brooks.Worship is our response to who God is, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, holds the transformative power to shape our inner beings spiritually. Therefore, intentional planning and effective leadership play a crucial role in creating worship services that facilitate spiritual transformation within the lives of worshipers. By crafting worship experiences that prompt individuals to become more Christ–like, we can foster a genuine connection with God and facilitate profound spiritual growth and transformation in the lives of worshipers: “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” — 2 Corinthians 3:18 To experience worship renewal, worshipers must actively seek opportunities that facilitate this type of transformative encounter with God. Embracing the telling of God’s story is crucial to offer worship that truly honors and acknowledges his actions throughout history. The historical sacred calendar assists in rehearsing God’s story and plays a central role within Christianity, influencing much of Christian worship, often without us realizing it. The significance of time in Christian worship tells us a great deal about following Christ and about the way in which we worship.The Christian year provides a meaningful way for Christ followers to mark time. Over the years, I have sensed that many within the Protestant free church movement desire a deeper form of worship than what the typical local church provides. In countless churches across the globe, the spiritual discipline of worship is highly misunderstood. When people think of worship, most often, they think of music. Worship has regularly been perceived as synonymous with music. This misunderstanding of worship has led to people attending worship services unsure of the proper way to engage with God.If worship includes, as I believe, a retelling of the Christ story, then keeping sacred time would enable the church to recall the story on a consistent basis throughout the year. The observance of the Christian year holds a significant place in the history of the Christian faith, representing the life of Christ and his ultimate purpose. By purposefully observing the seasons of the church year, we create a meaningful vehicle for spiritual growth and vitality within our congregation. By helping our congregations understand and embrace the Christian year, we may initiate a renewal of worship in both their personal and communal lives. Engaging in worship through the seasons of the Christian year deepens our grasp of theology (who is God?) and worship (our response to who God is) and allows us to embrace God’s powerful acts of salvation with renewed enthusiasm and fresh perspectives.Tomorrow begins a new year within the Christian calendar – the season of Advent, a season to anticipate the coming of King Jesus. Journey with us as we post throughout the extraordinary times of the Christian year.If you would like to read more about the Christian year and it’s spiritual impact upon the lives of worshipers, you can find more in Seasons of Worship: A Spiritual Calendar for the Church Today. BUY on WIPF and Stock Buy on Amazon
