The Role of Worship Models

Worship is a spiritual interaction between people and God: He speaks and we respond. We pray and He hears us.  This is so amazing that the Bible provides models from the material world to help us understand these spiritual realities.  In my study of the Scriptures I have discovered seven of these models.  Each one is firmly rooted in both the Old and New Testaments and they inform and instruct us in how we should approach the Lord, who He has called us to be as His People, and the results of our worship.  These things are the essentials if one is to participate in worship in “spirit and in truth,” and especially if one is to lead others in worship.  When I discovered these things, I practiced them for years as a worship leader and I wrote about them in my book, Worship that Pleases God, the Passion and Reason of True Worship.” Years later I wrote them again in my book designed for congregational study, The Wonder of Worship.

Available from Amazon, Kingdom Winds, and from the author.

With this post, I want to draw from my Fire and Form, Spirit-Led Worship series to present these truths.  I consider them so essential to the worship of the church that I want use whatever means I can to communicate these life-giving truths.  There are three sets of models, all working together to form a biblical vision for worship. The Fire and Form columns are found at StevePhifer.com.

From these seven models we learn the structure of our worship, our identity as worshipers and the nature of our offering to the Lord, and, the results of our worship.  I need not tell you the importance of each of these aspects of our vision for worship.  Let’s get started!

God’s Dwelling Places: Moses’ Tabernacle – Steve Phifer

God’s Dwelling Places: David’s Tabernacle – Steve Phifer

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Priests unto the Lord – Steve Phifer

The Living Sacrifice of Praise–An Aroma Pleasing to the Lord – Steve Phifer

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Before the Throne of God – Steve Phifer

The Office-Place of the Lord – Steve Phifer

The River of Life – Steve Phifer

See the Whole Vision!

As a worship leader, this vision stirs my heart!  I want to find the songs, prepare the team, and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit every chance I get!

Think of it this way:

We are coming into the presence of Almighty God!  We are celebrating His abundant goodness. We are His Holy Priests and His Royal Priests. We are offering to Him our personal Living-Sacrifice of Praise. He responds to us with awesome access to His Holy Throne. We are privileged to visit His Office-place within the realm of His limitless authority and, the Mighty Healing Stream of the River of Life is flowing through us from His Throne as Heaven comes to earth!

That is worship from a biblical perspective!

Worship is so much more than songs and actions and words–it is life from the Throne Room of Almighty God!

Read these articles prayerfully and let the Lord expand your vision beyond your upbringing, your preferences, or what’s new from the marketplace.

Semper Reformanda!

Stephen Phifer