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Theology of Worship

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THEOLOGY OF WORSHIP

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A Paper Presented to Dr. Timothy J. Ralston Dallas Theological Seminary

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In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course PM302 – Pastoral Theology and Leadership II

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By Kevin Goldsmith May 30, 2011 Box #640

THEOLOGY OF WORHSIP Introduction Worship has been around since the creation to recognize the Creator, and is extremely important to the church. “Worship is the single activity that both unifies and transcends time.”1 However, the method in which the believer has worshipped God has changed and looks different. So one must ask the question, what is the proper way to worship God? Or what are the nonnegotiable parts that must be included to worship? In this paper we will develop a philosophy to determine what worship is, what should be included in worship today, and how important theology is to the leader of the worship experience. Defining Worship There are three terms in the bible that help us to understand worship. The first word is hwjtvh, which literally means to bow down. This word “emphasizes the way an Israelite thought of approaching the to the holy presence of God.”2 The second Old Testament word we must look at is dAbDo meaning to serve. “The highest designation of the Hebrew in his engagement with the worship of God is just this word servant.”3 In the New Testament the word most often used for worship is proskune÷w. This word carries the same meaning as to bow

Timothy J. Ralston, “Pastoral Theology and Leadership II” unpublished class notes for PM302 Pastoral Theology and Leadership II (Dallas Theological Seminary, rev 2007) 1.
2

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Ralph P. Martin, Worship in the Early Church (Eerdmans Publishing Co: Grand Rapids, MI, 1974) Ibid.

11.
3

1

2 down prostrate in submissive worship.4 These words describe the humble attitude of the believer when worshiping God,

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