A Christian's life needs to be a witness of Jesus to the lost. We have heard that said often. Why? Because everything we do should be in worship to God (1 Corinthians 10:31). And a life of worship points others to Jesus.
But that isn't just outside the church doors.
Our worship inside the church doors needs to point to Jesus as well. It seems obvious. But it is something often forgotten about while worship is happening in the church body... the singing, the praying, the sharing. The very worship itself needs to be shaped by God's mission for us... reaching the lost.
This is not to say that we need to have "seeker" church services (which are planned solely for the purpose of reaching the lost), because a church service by its very definition is for the CHURCH. And those in the true Church already have Jesus as their Savoir. But as we believers in Jesus gather to worship, Jesus should be at the center... pointing anyone watching to him!
Drawn to the Father
God the Father wants all people drawn to him. To know him. To love him. To be real and free in his presence. When we gather to worship, we should gather for the purpose and with the desire to be drawn in his presence. To know him. And to show our love for him. Doing this well, allows others who are lost to see how God draws people to himself. It allows others to see that perhaps God is drawing them as well.
Our worship should point others to the Father... letting them know that he desires a relationship with him. That they too can and should worship him. David points this out in the psalms many times. Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth (Psalm 96:1). God will work through our worship when it is real and genuine to draw people to himself and cause them to worship him too!
Pointing to the Son
Arguably the best way to share your faith with someone who is lost is NOT telling them they just need to believe in Jesus. (I know that sounds counter intuitive!) The most effective way is telling them why YOU believe in Jesus. Telling them of your own experience and what Jesus has done for you... then offering that to them.
Our worship music should do the same. It should be about Jesus. Pointing to him. This can happen in songs about him, of course. But it can also and does happen in songs which speak of what he has done for us. I've heard voices say how songs of today are about self too much and just need to be about Jesus. But consider the Psalms... what a mix of both! There are psalms which speak of God and who is, yes! But there are also many many psalms which speak of what he did for the writer... just in the same way that much of our music today speaks of what "Jesus did for me". This points those who are witnessing our worship to Jesus! When you sing these songs, sing them with your full heart! Why? First because God desires that from us (John 4:24) and second because it will be a testimony of Jesus to the lost around you.
Outreach in Worship
I'm not gifted with evangelism. Yes, I share my faith, but that is not my spiritual gifting. Yet, I have been told on some occasions how my passion and freedom in worship has led others to learn about Jesus and ultimately led them to salvation. Why? Because I try to surrender to the Holy Spirit in worship and let him lead. And the Holy Spirit's job? Point people to Jesus and to the Father! Our worship can and must point lost people to worship Jesus! So that they will no longer be lost. So that they will fall on their knees and exclaim "God is really among you". Because that is God's desire for our worship (1 Corinthians 14:24-25).
Be real and free in your worship, so God can use it to reach others. That's missional worship. That's outreach in worship.
worship Him 24/7...
scott
But that isn't just outside the church doors.
Our worship inside the church doors needs to point to Jesus as well. It seems obvious. But it is something often forgotten about while worship is happening in the church body... the singing, the praying, the sharing. The very worship itself needs to be shaped by God's mission for us... reaching the lost.
This is not to say that we need to have "seeker" church services (which are planned solely for the purpose of reaching the lost), because a church service by its very definition is for the CHURCH. And those in the true Church already have Jesus as their Savoir. But as we believers in Jesus gather to worship, Jesus should be at the center... pointing anyone watching to him!
Drawn to the Father
God the Father wants all people drawn to him. To know him. To love him. To be real and free in his presence. When we gather to worship, we should gather for the purpose and with the desire to be drawn in his presence. To know him. And to show our love for him. Doing this well, allows others who are lost to see how God draws people to himself. It allows others to see that perhaps God is drawing them as well.
Our worship should point others to the Father... letting them know that he desires a relationship with him. That they too can and should worship him. David points this out in the psalms many times. Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth (Psalm 96:1). God will work through our worship when it is real and genuine to draw people to himself and cause them to worship him too!
Pointing to the Son
Arguably the best way to share your faith with someone who is lost is NOT telling them they just need to believe in Jesus. (I know that sounds counter intuitive!) The most effective way is telling them why YOU believe in Jesus. Telling them of your own experience and what Jesus has done for you... then offering that to them.
Our worship music should do the same. It should be about Jesus. Pointing to him. This can happen in songs about him, of course. But it can also and does happen in songs which speak of what he has done for us. I've heard voices say how songs of today are about self too much and just need to be about Jesus. But consider the Psalms... what a mix of both! There are psalms which speak of God and who is, yes! But there are also many many psalms which speak of what he did for the writer... just in the same way that much of our music today speaks of what "Jesus did for me". This points those who are witnessing our worship to Jesus! When you sing these songs, sing them with your full heart! Why? First because God desires that from us (John 4:24) and second because it will be a testimony of Jesus to the lost around you.
Outreach in Worship
I'm not gifted with evangelism. Yes, I share my faith, but that is not my spiritual gifting. Yet, I have been told on some occasions how my passion and freedom in worship has led others to learn about Jesus and ultimately led them to salvation. Why? Because I try to surrender to the Holy Spirit in worship and let him lead. And the Holy Spirit's job? Point people to Jesus and to the Father! Our worship can and must point lost people to worship Jesus! So that they will no longer be lost. So that they will fall on their knees and exclaim "God is really among you". Because that is God's desire for our worship (1 Corinthians 14:24-25).
Be real and free in your worship, so God can use it to reach others. That's missional worship. That's outreach in worship.
worship Him 24/7...
scott