By Pat Van Dyke

INTRODUCTION

Take your hand, make a fist and look through the open space. How much can you see? Now take both hands and circle your face. See how the perspective widens? That is our goals today with worship perspective. We want to look beyond the four walls of our worship center and open our eyes to the world influence of our local worship.

Last year, Joe Crider began a discussion of “The Powerful Impact of Missions on Local Church Worship.”  Joe shared on the marriage of worship and missions to accomplish the purposes of God. It is my assignment to build on this incredible thought.

We are all aware of the worldwide target of sharing the gospel from the Matthew 28 passage that tells us to “…go ye therefore, and teach all nations…” and the Acts 1 verses commanding us to “…be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Jesus expanded the geographical boundaries of worship when he talked to the woman at the well as recorded in John 14. She was trying to divert His questions about her spiritual life by talking about worship war questions of where to worship. Jesus responded that “…the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.”

John Piper says “Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. Missions exists because worship does not.”¹ This is not to degrade missions but to say that worship is a prerequisite. We only share that which we value highly and feel would be beneficial to others. When we lift up our God, He becomes the focus of the outpouring of our lives.

PERSPECTIVE

How far does our local worship reach? Some feel only as far as roasting the minister at the Sunday lunch of members. Yet, begin to think of the impact that worship has.

Obviously, it reaches those within the confines of the room (prayerfully). Word of mouth communication begins for families on the way home. It can later impact family members and friends through phone calls and e-mails. Workplace conversation can spread the influence of the gospel. As members travel, the good news travels even further with them.

Seeing how threads of worship spin out from the local church, we can intentionally direct this praise to impact missions efforts. Our goal to follow the command of Christ and “go ye therefore” begins with a Sunday morning order of worship. Planning for the bulletin suddenly takes on a worldwide importance. Think globally, not locally. View Google Earth, not the city map.

Instead of thinking inwardly, we must think outwardly. John Maxwell, in his book Winning with People², quotes Bob Buford who describes people in the last half of their life as less inwardly focused and more outwardly focused:

“The first-half self winds inward, wrapping tighter and tighter around itself. The second-half winds outward, unraveling itself from the paralysis of a tightly-wound spring. The small self contains only you. It is basically alienated, alone, and pathologically individualistic. The larger self is whole because it is bonded with something transcendent.” 

Jesus' entire ministry was an example of thinking more of others than of self.

DEVELOPING A WORLD-WIDE WORSHIP LANGUAGE

“Everybody here on earth is engaged in the practice of worship. The question is not if they worship. The question is what they worship,” says Woodrow Kroll in his book The Face of God³.

In order to communicate and praise God together, a common language must be found. This involves determining all those you are reaching and want to reach to share praise together. On a local level, multiple languages come together in your worship each week. Consider the following possibilities:

1)  Native or Foreign languages: Those who continue to be mainly fluent in only their native language (other than English) will need some kind of translation. Some churches use a translator who speaks into a radio transmission device which is sent to receivers worn by those sitting in worship. Others may have an isolated room for the translator and those using that language.

2)  Deaf: Hearing impaired or non-hearing can share communication through sign language. There are some entirely deaf churches like the one at Brentwood Baptist in the Nashville area. Planning with and advance notice of worship elements improve the level of communication.

3)  Children and the less educated: Both of these groups require a language that they can understand. It is not a “dumbing down” but a usage of acquired vocabulary and learning level that helps understanding and participation in worship.

4)  Internet: This communication tool opens the local church to the world. It provides for homebound and far away members to remain a part of worship from wherever they are. It allows the military stationed in other parts of the world to be spiritually encouraged by local worship. Christians and non-Christians from around the world can worship with any local church who uses the internet.

ENCOURAGING A CONGREGATIONAL WORLD VIEW

While I am not aware of the spiritual condition of Angelina Jolie, John Maxwell writes about her. [Read pages 60 and 61 from Winning with People² by John C. Maxwell, Thomas Nelson, Publisher, for Angelina Jolie illustration.]

Sally Morgenthaler in her book Worship Evangelism⁴ says true worship will witness to the world:

“When God’s people are like ‘David's in worship, the world sits up and takes notice, a concept that is the single, most important principle in worship evangelism. In Psalm 57:9, David says, ‘I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.’ From this and many similar verses, we see that David’s praise was unapologetically public. What is even more significant, however, is that David believed God would draw unbelievers to Himself through an authentic worship experience. ‘He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord’" (Psalm 40:3)."

If we as worship leaders find the concept of reaching the world with our local worship new to us, it is probably also new to most congregants. How can we broaden their perspective to include this global ambition?

1)  Make missions a focal point throughout the year. Expand beyond the seasonal offerings to have missions moments monthly. Insert missions materials in orders of worship.

2)  Highlight a global approach in seasonal Music Ministry efforts. Using the theme of “Jesus, Light of the World” at Christmas, highlight Christian work in other areas of the world through video or a foreign language song.

3)  Use the multi-ethnicity of your choir and congregation. Have those born in foreign countries to share testimonies of coming to Christ. Ask a soloist to sing in their native language. Show choir testimony videos.

4)  Create an environment around the worship center that points globally. We have seen signs on the way into a worship room that say “Enter to Worship” and on the way out of the room another sign says “Depart to Serve”. Some churches have signs as you exit the parking lot that read “Entering the Mission Field”. A world map on a wall gives a bigger picture. The map can be highlighted with points of mission contact or points of mission need. Flags of countries where the church has influence can call attention to the need. The first encounter with a church brings us strong images that stick with us. In his book First Impressions⁵, Mark Waltz says,

    “Someone in your life has probably told you that first impressions are important. Your mom may have reminded you to comb your hair or wipe the milk off you mouth. A coach or teacher may have encouraged you to ‘put your best foot forward because you may not get a second chance.’ If you’re a pastor who have ever given a trial sermon to a congregation, you know the importance of first impressions. First impressions matter to guests in your church as well. Before the message has been given or the songs have been sung, your guests have formed opinions of your church based on their first impressions.”

      May I add that this also gives an impression of how we view our God.

GO WITH THOSE GOING

We can send the influence of God through those who are already on the go.

1)  Relocating members: Businesses reassign workers. Family move to be closer to relatives. Changes in life cause settling in new areas. All of these are people who will carry the worship from our churches to other areas. They can impact new communities for Christ because of the spiritual growth they have found in a local church. This then spreads the gospel to new areas of work.

2)  Military families: The global impact of a military family in astounding. Most will end up at locations literally around the world. No matter what the assignment, that military member (and family) will influence those they come in contact with based on the worship in which they participated.

3)  Mission trips: "Across the street or around the world, the mission’s still the same, proclaim and live the truth in Jesus’ name."⁶ Many churches today take mission trips of all kinds. Local, state, national and worldwide trips are shared by many congregations. Worship can play a part in each trip. It can minister to those who are serving or be an open door to the areas where the missionaries serve. Music Ministry trips can share worship opportunities directly. Evangelism trips are supported by worship through music. Songs sung by those going can strengthen the spirits of individuals as they travel back and forth to work sites.

BRING WORLDWIDE CHRISTIAN INFLUENCES TO WORSHIP

Allow local worship to be aided by those who are serving in other areas. Some congregation members can be so short sighted that they feel God is only at work in their church. People sharing of God’s work outside your walls will expand the thought process.

1)  International groups: Choirs from other countries can increase our vision. The choir from the Brazil Seminary that will sing for us is one excellent example.

2)  Musicians who have served in foreign countries: Those who have been there can tell us how God is working and what we can do to assist His work there. Jeni Varnideau, who we will hear tomorrow, is a great example of that.

3)  Music Missionaries: What greater example that those who have served or are serving in this calling from God in their lives? When your church has a mission emphasis, bring in a music missionary to share how God is using them and what worship is like where they serve.

CONCLUSION 

To conclude, let me be honest enough to say that our church does not do all these ideas discussed. We are blessed to have a wonderful Missions Ministry lead by Bill Graham. We have taken members of our music ministry on local, national and international trips. Our Pastor, Roger Freeman, led our church to give 10 per cent of our giving to the Cooperative Program when he came to the church. However, we are far from where we need to be. The IMB may have asked me to do this to encourage the work I should be doing.

All local churches are already making a global impact on the worship of God and thus on mission outreach whether we are aware of it or not. Let’s be proactive and be a positive influence to invite all the world to worship our great and mighty God!

^[1] Piper, John. 1993. Let the nations be glad! The supremacy of God in missions. Baker Book House.

^[2] Maxwell, John C. 2004. Winning with people: discover the people principles that work for you every time. Nelson Business.

^[3] Kroll, Woodrow. 2004. The face of God. Elm Hill Books.

^[4] Morgenthaler, Sally. 1999. Worship evangelism. Zondervan.

^[5] Waltz, Mark L. 2004. First impressions: creating wow experiences in your church. Group Publishing.

^[6] Dennis, Randall and John Mohr. The Mission. Copyright 1989 Molto Bravo! Music, Inc. (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.), New Spring.

Pat Van Dyke is Associate Pastor of Worship at First Baptist Church, Clarksville, Tennessee