WHAT IS "WORSHIP"?

The Whole Christian Life
In Romans 12: 1-2 we are encouraged to surrender our bodies as a living sacrifice, set apart for God. This is called our spiritual worship. The whole of the life of a Christian should be an act of worship or service unto God.

Public Gathering of the Church to honour God
Acts 2: 42 tells us that the first Christians regularly worshipped together. Worship is described in Psalm 95 in terms of praise, which leads to obeisance (bowing down before him), and to making ourselves open to receive and follow his Word. We come to offer praise, to thank him, to hear from his Word the Bible, and to bring our shared prayers to him in an united way.

Personal and Intimate expression of our love towards God.
Worship is how we tell God we love him and desire to serve him.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE "BORN AGAIN" OR "BORN ANEW"?

We are "saved" and "born again" when we receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. We ask God to forgive us for our sins, and decide to follow Jesus Christ. See John 1: 14 and John 3: 1-16. We receive the Holy Spirit, who "baptises" us into Christ (1 Corinthians 12: 13). We become members of the family of God. We were born into our own physical, natural families. When we are born again, we are adopted into the Family of God.

The reason we all need to be born again is that the whole human race turned against God, ever since our original ancestors in the Garden of Eden. See Genesis 3. Since then, all have sinned and continue to come short of the glory of God. Sin is a barrier between us and God (Romans 3: 23). Jesus broke that barrier by dying for us on the cross (Mark 10: 45); but we still have to take the step of repentance and faith in order to be saved.

We are able to be born again because God has led the way. He chose us even before he created the world (Ephesians 1: 4), and when we are born again, we are receiving a free gift of salvation that we did not earn (Ephesians 2: 6-10). When we come to worship, we do so out of gratitude and surrender to Christ for having saved us.

Becoming a Christian involves a change in our worship. All people worship or serve something or someone. Either we worship self, material things, philosophies or other religious gods. In 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Paul define conversion in terms of worship. A decision to follow Christ is a decision to worship him.

WHAT DO WE DO IN CHURCH, AND WHY?

There are examples in the Bible of all the things happening that are mentioned below. It is important to realise that the Bible does not command all these things. It is also clear in the Bible that none of them should be forbidden, and that all church activity should be regulated and guided by pastoral leadership.

What positions do we adopt for prayer?
Standing, sitting and kneeling are all seen in the Bible.

Why do people clap?
Clapping is an expression of joy, found, for example, in Psalm 47: 1.

Why do people sometimes raise their hands?
Psalm 134: 2 invites worshippers to do this as an expression of blessing the Lord. 1 Timothy 2: 8 refers to this practice and indicates it should be matched by purity of heart.

Why do people sometimes dance in church?
2 Samuel 6: 14 indicates that David danced out of joy and celebration.

Why do people sometimes wave banners and flags?
Sometimes as an expression of joy, and sometimes as a symbolic way of proclaiming the victory of the Lord over evil, and the breaking of spiritual bondages.

Why do we take up tithes and offerings?
Malachi 3: 10 indicates that the first tenth of our income belongs to God in a special way. Giving beyond that is a "free will offering". 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 speak of giving as our personal response of gratitude to Christ's death on the Cross for us.

Why do people sometimes prophesy?
1 Corinthians 14: 1 encourages people to seek the gift of prophecy: the ability to apply God's Word in a present--day situation. True prophecy always agrees with the Bible!

Why do people sometimes fall over?
Usually in response to something the Holy Spirit is doing in their lives. Acts 9: 4

Why is there so much music and of varied types?
To encourage the people to enter the throne room of God. Psalm 95; Hebrews 10: 19-25

Why do people receive bread and wine in church?
Jesus left instructions that we should regularly commemorate his death upon the cross, until he returns. Mark 14: 22-25 and 1 Corinthians 11: 23-34.

Why are set prayers used?
St. Luke's belongs to the Anglican Church. We use An Australian Anglican Prayer Book (AAPB) and other authorised services and prayers, including from A Prayer Book for Australia (APBA) and The Book of Common Prayer. Prayers from these services are usually projected on screen (at St. Luke'), though service books for some services are available. At St. Luke's we seek to balance form and freedom, and to lead Sunday worship in a manner that fosters spiritual vitality. The set prayers are used mainly at the main Sunday service.

Why do some people speak or sing in an unknown languages? How do people make sense of it?
The gift of "tongues" in 1 Corinthians 12-14 is mainly for private spiritual use and benefit. On any occasion that this gift is exercised in a service, an interpretation will be given, so that people may relate to its meaning and possible application.

Why do unusual things sometimes happen?
God cannot be boxed in, and when people are touched deeply by him, sometimes it will not be evident to others. However, at other times, people may shake, fall, weep , or laugh. Sometimes God is doing a deep healing work. No attempt is made to encourage "manifestations", but they are accepted in this church. Acts 2: 15; Daniel 10: 8-10.

Why is oil sometimes used?
James 5: 13-16 indicates the place for anointing with oil when elders pray for the sick.

HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND SPIRITUAL "INFILLINGS"?

Ephesians 5: 18 says to keep being filled with the Holy Spirit. An initial infilling occurs at conversion (Ephesians 1: 13-14); Romans 8: 14). Many fillings should occur as a person grows. Such fillings bring varied results: holy living; courage and boldness; the exercise of spiritual gifts, etc. Colossians 3: 16 encourages us to keep letting the Word of Christ live in us richly. This will produce the same results as being filled with the Holy Spirit. Spiritual infillings can be "crisis" events, but need not always be so.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE JOINT CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE ON SUNDAYS?

Purification and Repentance
We have failed to keep the two great Love commandments, and in joining together in a General Confession, we are again assured of God's forgiveness.

Readings from the Word of God
There are readings from the Old Testament, and the New Testament Letters and Gospels. There are usually three readings. These are usually followed by the congregation saying one of the Creeds together. The Creeds are summaries of central beliefs about God.

Praise and Worship
Musical worship here is to bring us intimately in spirit into the sanctuary of God in a shared way. Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father, and we call upon the Holy Spirit to touch us and draw us deeply into fellowship with God. This worship also makes us vulnerable to receive the ministry of the Spirit

Preaching of the Word of God.
The Scriptures are explained and applied in a Sermon. This may be followed by prayers in response to what God has been saying to us.

Intercessory Prayers are offered for the lost, for those who seek to share Christ with the lost, for our governments, for peace and for the sick.

The Offering of our tithes and freewill offerings is an act of worship.

Holy Communion
We join in Holy communion as a reminder of Christ's death for us, which has brought us forgiveness and restored us to relationship with god. We feed physically on bread and wine. We feed spiritually upon Christ.

Healing Ministry
At the close of the service we offer prayer ministry for healing or other needs.

Informal fellowship
After the closing blessing, we invite people to have tea and coffee in the hall next door. We have fellowship because we enjoy being in the body of Christ. We belong with one another. This is also an opportunity to meet and new people and visitors, and to help them to feel "at home'. Acts 2: 42; Ephesians 4: 15-16; 1 Corinthians 12: 14-27