Momentum - Issue 13 by AlexDV

Worship is Surrender ISSUE - 13

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| 2018

CONTENTS WORSHIP IS SURRENDER

Editorial

S TA N L E Y M E H TA

Biblical Foundations

DAV I D S E LVA N

Gospel-Shaped Worship

A N A N D M A H A D E VA N

ISSUE - 13 AUGUST

| 2018

Momentum is published in India by the Gateway Ministries family of churches, for circulation among members. PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY. SUBSCRIPTION FREE.

Chief Editor Mohan Varghese

Editorial Team Mobis Philipose Debbie Prabhakar

Role of the Holy Spirit in Worship

JŒMON JOSEPH

Entering God’s Courts

MOBIS PHILIPOSE

How to be a Worshipper

PHIL ROGERS’ BOOK

The Heart of Worship

INTERVIEW WITH MARY MACLEAN

Editorial Consultants Stanley Mehta David Selvan Jœmon Joseph

Design & Production The Whole Shebang

Momentum Videos

Worship Styles

P R I SC I L L A R O X B U R G H

Weddings in GMI

Listen Before You Lead

Jikku Kurien

Published by Gateway Ministries International B 215, 2nd floor (Deck Level), Belapur Railway Station Complex Tower no. 10, CBD, Navi Mumbai400 614 Maharashtra, India Telephone: +91- 2222150654 / 22189036 Email: momentum.gmi@gmail.com Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from the New International Version of the Bible. Articles featured in Momentum reflect the opinion of the authors and not necessarily those of Momentum or GMI family of churches - Editor

S WA R O O P J O S E P H

An Encouragement for Worship Leaders

DAV I D S I N C H U RY

Training the Next Generation

RUCHI STEVEN

GMI Vision A U G | 2 0 18

EDITORIAL

As Christian believers, we pursue various spiritual activities such as evangelism, intercession, church planting, counseling, teaching, preaching, exhorting, prophesying, healing etc. But in eternity, all of these activities will cease when we stand in the presence of God. Only one activity will outlast them all, and that is worship. Worship is the supreme calling of our lives and transcends everything else. The Westminster Shorter Catechism says, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” This is something we start learning right here on earth. This current period of our life is a preparation for life in eternity. The more we perfect it, the better. And if we do not enjoy worshipping God, we will be the most unproductive people in heaven. Therefore, this issue of Momentum is dedicated to the topic of worship. We intend to look at it from different perspectives. Different writers will serve you a multi-cuisine buffet to meet every need on this topic. From gospel centric worship, which is the essence of worship, to leading in worship, models of worship, the way to enter into worship, the different expressions and genres of worship, raising kids to worship the Lord, and the like. And soon you will discover that worship is not merely an activity but a lifestyle. I trust you will enjoy the feast. John 4: 23 says, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks”. Even as God is seeking such true worshippers, I trust this issue of Momentum would propel you into becoming a better worshipper – the kind that pleases God and equips you for eternity.

Stanley Mehta Stanley Mehta is a former pastor of Bombay Baptist Church, and founder of Gateway Ministries International and Sahara Charitable Society. He is married to Esme and has two daughters and a son, all married. Stanley & Esme reside in Bangalore.

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BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS AND THE HEART OF WORSHIP

What comes to our mind when we think of praise and worship? The answer to that depends on our upbringing, exposure, experience, and preferences. In fact, even churches are known by their style and approach to worship. While we may all have our preferred style of worship, it’s important to establish the right biblical foundations.

- WORSHIP EXISTED MUCH BEFORE THE CREATION OF MAN Praise and worship is the primary activity in heaven. The picture of heaven is of many angels, ten thousand times ten thousand, worshipping God around His throne. Job 38:4-7 says, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?...while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” “We are made for worship,” is a common saying among Christians. Where dœs this idea come from? Revelation 4:11 says ‘For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.’ In addition, the word worship is used 8629 times in the bible, according to the Dictionary of Bible Themes; displaying its vast importance in our lives. However, with the fall, worship got distorted, and approach to God itself was barred except through sacrifice.

“You will worship God on this mountain,” God says in Exodus 3:12. He delivered Isræl not solely to take them to a land flowing with milk and honey, but that they would worship Him on the mountain. For the people of Isræl, worship was the central theme of their life. The tabernacle, and later the temple, became the focal point of their personal and community life.

“Worship Him in spirit and truth,” Jesus declared regarding worship in John 4:24. The backdrop was that true

worship had gradually eroded, and only rituals and chanting were left in the temple. Jesus came and talked about true worshippers who would go beyond rituals. Importantly, through Jesus, priesthood and the right to enter boldly into God’s presence was granted to every believer. 02 AUG | 2018

- WE WILL WORSHIP GOD FOR ETERNITY In heaven, joining the elders and the myriads of angels is a great multitude of people that no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, worshipping God standing before the throne and in front of the lamb.

- WORSHIP IS THE REASON FOR OUR EXISTENCE Scripture teaches in Isaiah 43:7 that God created us for His glory. This implies that our life itself has to be an expression of worship to God, bringing glory to His name. As it says in Exodus 20:4-5, we should not bow down to idols of any form or worship them. Apart from not making any image of God, we are also commanded not to worship any other god, implying we should worship Jehovah God and Him alone. Scripture also teaches in Exodus 4:23 that deliverance of God’s people from captivity, is to enable them to worship Him. God frees us to worship Him. Just like the Isrælites, we were under the rule of Satan, and Jesus set us free, that we may worship God freely.

- THE HEART OF WORSHIP IS WHAT’S HAPPENING INSIDE OUR HEARTS In Matthew 15:8, Jesus said, “These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” There is an inner essence and an external expression in worship. God is interested far more in the former. He looks at our hearts. The essence of worship is a heart that treasures God above all things. A heart of surrender: The first time the word worship was used in the bible in Genesis 22:5; there was no mention of music. It was when Abraham took the journey to sacrifice his son Isaac, and told his servants he is going up to the mountain to worship. Worship, then, is more than a song, more than music, more than the external expressions we tend to associate with it. In Romans 12:1, we are exhorted to ‘offer your bodies as a living acrifice, because it is true and proper worship’. Surrender is always associated with defeat. By nature, submission and surrender are not easy. But God deserves our complete attention and surrender. Worship is to acknowledge that God is God and to let Him have His way in our lives. A surrendered life pleases God. A heart of love: When God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, “his only son whom he loved”, he was expected to love God more than anything else. We worship God not because we have to, but because we love to. Jesus said in Luke 10:27, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”. Love will not hold back anything. True worship is to value and treasure God above all things. A heart of sacrifice: For Abraham, worship culminated in sacrifice. We see in 1 Chronicles 21:24, David too knew that true worship would have a cost: “I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” Though the ritual of sacrifice is done with, the principle of sacrifice continues. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” A selfless heart: At times we hear people say, ‘I didn’t get anything from worship today’, or ‘Worship was boring today’. But that is a wrong understanding; worship is not for my benefit. It is for God’s pleasure. We need to rise above our feelings and comfort and offer a sacrifice of praise to our God. As Matt Redman wrote in his song, “I'm coming back to the heart of worship; And it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus”. 03 AUG | 2018

A heart of gratitude: In Psalms 103, we see David doing self-talk, challenging his soul not to forget the benefits he had received from God. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits”. Worship is the expression of love, of a grateful heart.

- DEVELOPING A LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP To sum up, we are created primarily to love God, worship Him and bring Him glory. Prayer is not our primary calling, but worship is. Prayer is asking, while worship is giving. Whenever we enter God’s presence, we tend to pray. We always carry a long shopping list and complaints to present to God. We however, need to enter God’s presence praising, thanking, boasting, and adoring Him, before rushing to present our requests. When we love him and cherish his presence, we are bound to see our life in the light of what God desires - to bring glory to His name. May the Lord make us the true worshipper He is looking for, who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.

David Selvan David Selvan served in the Indian Navy, in offshore oil rigs and in shipping before joining the GMI family of churches. He served under Stanley Mehta as dean of Antioch Training Centre, for three years. In the year 1999 he was sent to Union Church, Coonoor and continues to pastor the church. He is married to Debra. They have two married daughters, one son and one granddaughter.

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GOSPEL-SHAPED WORSHIP

Let's be honest. The Bible is not the easiest book to read and understand. It’s not easy for an explorer, it’s not easy for a new follower of Jesus and it's not easy for even seasoned believers and Bible teachers.

Here is my question: do we give our congregations the give them different pieces of glass every week? I could think of no better illustration to emphasise the importance of the cross in worship. The cross is the one symbol that best describes the Gospel, or who Jesus is and what He did for us.

I enjoy reading the Bible. I have been reading it for 25 years now. For the past 10 years or more, I have been reading it almost daily. And yet, there are many, many portions of it that I still find hard to understand.

We could sing of God our creator. But apart from what Jesus endured on the cross, we would be fallen beings, eternally separated from God.

Think of the Bible as a 100 tiny pieces of coloured glass. By, itself, each piece is colourful, each piece is beautiful, but is only of limited help.

We could sing of God our healer, but apart from what Jesus endured on the cross, our sicknesses would be a tiny fraction of the eternal punishment we deserve for our sins.

Now imagine you had a kaleidoscope you could put all those pieces of glass into. It will help us see, admire and enjoy hundreds of beautiful patterns created with

Can we sing of God as our Father apart from the price Jesus paid on the cross for our adoption?

Think of the cross on which Christ Jesus died as the kaleidoscope through which to view the Bible. Through the cross, all of the Bible fits together to create

I am sure none of us will doubt that the atoning work of Christ on the cross is the most important hinge on which our entire faith rests. This article is not about the importance of the cross; this article is about the importance of being explicit about the cross in all of our worship.

After all, Jesus teaches in Luke 24 that all of Scripture is fulfilled in Him, and in a crux this is what it says about Him: “The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.” 05

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And it is not just for the sake of unbelievers that we need to be explicit about the cross and the Gospel in our worship As believers, we need to keep the cross (a simple synonym for the atoning work of Christ) at the centre of our consciousness for the following reasons:

THE CROSS REMINDS US OF GOD'S INFINITE HOLINESS

THE CROSS REMINDS US OF GOD'S INFINITE MERCY

Imagine a 100 storey skyscraper. Imagine each higher floor represents a higher level of holiness. Which floor will you place yourself on? Let's say you reckon you are on the 70th floor. Now, think of the worst believer you know. Which floor would you place him on? Let's say he is on the 4th floor. It is highly likely and almost certain that folks who reckon they are on the 70th floor believe

Think of the woman who was caught in the act of adultery. Jesus forgave her and set her free.

Are they really? Imagine you are viewing this 100 storey building from the moon. From so high up, can we tell the difference between the 70th floor and the 4th floor? We can't. So from God's infinitely high standard of holiness, what's the difference between the 70th floor and the 4th floor? Nothing. When we search ourselves according to the standard of men, we may come out looking good. But we need to

The cross points us to the infinite holiness of God. It tells us that a holy God could not forgive us without so holy that only a perfect sacrifice — Christ Jesus — could satisfy His holy wrath.

Do you think the woman would have gone back to that same sin the next day? I doubt it. Why? Mercy melted her heart. Mercy moved her heart. Mercy led her to obedience. The cross reveals to us how the mercy of God works. The cross reminds us Jesus had to be punished by God for us to be forgiven. The more we consider this, the more our hearts are moved by it, the more we respond to God's mercy by beginning to hate our sin and overcome it. Lastly, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper exhorting us to partake in it, in `remembrance of Him.’ Have you ever wondered why Jesus exhorted us to remember Him? The answer is a simple one. He knew we will often forget Him. He knew we will often slip into our old, sinful thought patterns and habits. So he instituted the communion — a vivid action replay of what He endured on the cross — so that our hearts would remain soft to God and strong against sin. Jesus instituted communion to ensure that the cross remained central to how the church worshipped Him. Do we need a better rationale for Gospel-Centered worship?

Anand Mahadevan Anand Mahadevan is an author, business journalist and church planter. His book Grace of God and Flaws of Men which was released recently, has received very good reviews. He leads New City Church in Mumbai. He is married to Ajitha and they have two children Varun and Varsha. You can follow Anand throuh his social media handle @enjoythegospel. 06 AUG | 2018

R O L E O F T H E H O LY S P I R I T IN WORSHIP

Depending on the Holy Spirit in worship

When we surrender, He is able to lead us into the throne room of God.

When we are asked to lead worship, the immediate response is one of fear. A healthy level of fear is always good, because that pushes us to God. But there is an unhealthy fear, which is about getting the right exhortation, the right songs, the right chords, the right prayers and the right timing for speaking in tongues. The tendency in each of us is to manage the time of worship. But this way, worship is led by us, rather than by the Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit leads us, our worship could just be one song. That's what happened to Mary, when she was chosen by the Lord to give birth to Jesus. And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— Holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. – Luke 1:46-50

Worship begins by telling the Holy Spirit, “Here I am, Lord; take me into the Holy of Holies”. A song beautifully conveys this posture of the heart “Take me into the Holy of Holies, take me in by the Blood of the Lamb, take the coal, cleanse my lips, Here I am”. Worship is asking the Holy Spirit to enable us to stand on the righteousness of Christ, the lamb that was sacrificed for us, and not our own righteousness.

Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit helps us to know when to start and when to stop. He even leads us to be still. The question is whether we are willing to make way for Him, or want to have our way. We may call ourselves a charismatic church, but we do have our own rituals. Without the leading of the Holy Spirit, our worship can be a set of songs, or a program. But when the Holy Spirit takes charge, it is refreshing and full of life. I would say that, at times, it could be quite risky and uncomfortable too. King David was led by the Holy Spirit to dance before the Ark of the Covenant.

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Spirit wanted him to do, because we see the genuine repentance that follows in the crowd that’s listening.

Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Isræl were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. – 2 Sam 6:12-16

“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do? And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit… So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” - Acts 2:37-41 Likewise, when we are leading worship, the Holy Spirit may lead us to make a call for healing, missions, freedom, leadership, or to take a step of faith or to receive Christ; it all depends on us being tuned to the Holy Spirit. We will not get it right all the time, but the key is to step out and trust God.

What a pure expression of worship, a complete abandonment of oneself to God. And yet his own wife despised him. But David boldly defended his actions, he was totally unashamed.

The grace to pause, connect and discern is something that we should grow into.

“David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Isræl—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes” 2 Sam 6:21-22

Worship is about connecting to God and making room for people to connect to God so that in our spirits we sense “God is in this place”. This can only happen when we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

ALLOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO STEP IN WOULD MEAN BEING READY TO ACCEPT SOME DISORDER THAT PLEASES THE FATHER’S HEART. The disorder can be in the form of a new song, a dance, a prophetic utterance, a painting, or even a simple testimony. This can lead us deeper into the heart of God. What are you saying Lord? What are you doing Holy Spirit? These are questions we should pause to ask as we worship. Making room for His agenda, rather than my agenda, is the goal of worship.

Joemon Joseph

Jœmon Joseph oversees the GMI group of churches. He is married to Sunita and they have two sons and a daughter. His passion is to train and equip young leaders.

When the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up among the crowd and addressed them. The disciples did not run away, nor were they apologetic about what was happening. But led by the Holy Spirit, Peter stood up give a call to repentance. We know that this was exactly what the

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ENTERING GOD’S COURTS WITH PRAISE

If you’ve been part of a charismatic church, you would have noticed an overarching principle that guides the selection of songs for worship services. We’ll come to the principle in a bit, but the worship set-list looks something like this – there are about three up-tempo or so-called ‘praise songs’, followed by a transition song to avoid what worship leader Paul Baloche aptly calls a crash landing, and then the songs of reverence or so-called ‘worship songs’.

Psalm 95: Verses 1-4 are a call to come and sing, to make a joyful noise, to meet God with thanksgiving, to shout joyfully to Him with music and songs. This joyous celebration is in order, the psalmist says, since God is the Rock of our salvation, and because He is the Great King and Creator God who is above all gods. Whether we call this ‘praise’ or by another name, it is clear that Scripture prompts us to be loud and up-tempo, if you will. “Melody and metre are not irrelevant. Faith delights in singing joyfully; so mighty truths sung at a mournful pace to uninspiring melodies sadly miss the target,” says Terry Virgo, founder of the Newfrontiers family of churches in one of his sermons on worship (bit.ly/2FqUBKZ).

Some refer to this as the praise and worship model, while some call it the tabernacle model for worship. Some others pose this valid question: “Are we not worshipping God when we sing ‘praise songs’ and do we not bring glory/praise to God when we sing ‘worship songs’? Then why the distinction?”

In contrast, the rest of Psalm 95 is a call to come and bow down in worship, and to kneel before the LORD, because He is not only our Creator, but also our Shepherd who takes care of us with His own hands. There is also a call to hear God’s voice and respond, rather than harden our hearts to His voice. Now, whether we call this ‘worship’ or by another name, the psalmist is clearly portraying a different aspect of corporate worship – where things are more restrained, allowing people to hear God’s voice and respond.

Both naysayers and yaysayers should note that the whole aspect of entering God’s courts with thanksgiving and praise is not to be seen as a prescribed formula. Having said that, it is an extremely helpful principle from Scripture and helps us draw near to God in our personal and corporate times of worship.

DOES SCRIPTURE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PRAISE AND WORSHIP?

Worship leader Aaron Keyes has a helpful list of words that are translated as praise and worship in the Old Testament (bit.ly/2IcG9M4). He says “(In Scripture), praise is seen as an upward explosion of energetic expression to God; while worship involves a downward, reverent, submission”.

Psalm 100:4 is often quoted to underline the importance of starting worship services with thanksgiving and praise: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Notice also the progression in 09

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WHY DOES GOD COMMAND US TO ENTER HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE? Theologian John Piper explains, citing C.S. Lewis, that praising or admiring God makes our joy in Him complete (bit.ly/1jOfS25). Remember the joke about the preacher who called in sick, but went to play golf instead? He hits the drive of his life, but his joy is ‘intolerably incomplete’ because he can’t share it with anyone. Similarly, without praising or admiring God, our joy in Him is incomplete. And this is a recipe for disaster, given our inclination to take delight in other things over God. In addition, Scripture teaches us in Psalm 69:30 that thanksgiving, in particular, helps us make much of God and think of ourselves less: “I will magnify him with thanksgiving.” When we thank God, it reminds us of the important truth: “God is God; I’m not.” It helps us counter the big lie that we can manage without His help. In effect, thanksgiving and praise from the heart ushers us to a place where we can enthrone Jesus as Lord over all areas of our lives. And when our hearts choose to surrender, we experience the heart of worship.

- FORMULAS QUENCH THE SPIRIT “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life,” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Though this is in the context of the law, it’s safe to say that the principle applies to worship leading as well. C.S. Lewis teaches in the Chronicles of Narnia, ‘God is not a tame lion’. We can’t assume even for a moment that a set of thanksgiving and praise songs, followed by songs of reverence and surrender will lead to an encounter with Him.

As MacLean says, there is great truth in leading with praise and thanksgiving, but the key is for worship leaders to be led by God the Holy Spirit. May He guide us in giving this principle due importance – not more nor less – in our corporate times of worship.

“It’s important that we’re not formulaic and worried too much about missing the flow. Because nothing is formulaic about the Holy Spirit; and that’s why it’s important for the worship leader to be led by the Spirit,” says worship leader Mary MacLean in an interview with Momentum. She points to Psalm 65:1, which in the NASB translation reads, “There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion, O God...” The implication of that, she says, “is that there is a silence that comes before the praise, which has perhaps got to do with meditating on God’s greatness, considering who He is and what He’s done; and out of that, praise comes forward... And so you’re not entering His courts with praise, you’re entering His courts with silence.” Keyes’s article points out that in Leviticus 9:24 and 2 Chronicles 20:18-19, praise and worship are happening simultaneously, without any signs of a gradual progression. For instance, the people are both shouting for joy and falling facedown at the same time.

Mobis Philipose Mobis Philipose is married to Sushmitha, and they have a daughter, Aliza, and a son, Nathan. They fellowship at Zœ Ministries. Mobis works as a financial markets columnist in Mumbai.

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“HOW TO BE A WORSHIPPER” E X C E R P T S F R O M P H I L R O G E R S’ B O O K

MAN’S CHIEF END THE PURPOSE OF MAN’S EXISTENCE IS TO GLORIFY, THANK, WORSHIP AND SERVE GOD. WE EXIST FOR GOD, NOT FOR OURSELVES OR EVEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE

GOD IS SEEKING WORSHIPPERS In John 4:3-42 we read of Jesus’ conversation with a Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob. With prophetic insight, Jesus discloses the secrets of her heart (v18), suddenly making her aware that the supernatural power of God was with him. She feels vulnerable, and so responds by asking “Whose religion is the right one? Should we worship God according to our traditions or yours?’ This question is often still asked in our multi-religious society. Jesus gave her an answer which still applies today. He promised a time when true worshippers would worship God in spirit and in truth. Jesus established three important principles of true worship. • Worship has to do with the kind of people we are rather than the kind of service we attend. • Worship is a spiritual exercise and can only be carried out in the spirit. • Worship must be a meaningful expression of the truth of God that is real in my own life. God is not seeking WORSHIP but WORSHIPPERS. He did not create us to perform a duty but to enjoy a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with him. God is after people who are totally given over to him; fully committed, utterly devoted; who love him, adore him and serve him with their whole being. When God looks at man’s heart, he finds self-centredness and corruption. In his determination to have true worshippers, he sent his only Son into the world to deal with man’s appalling condition and give us a NEW HEART. Through Jesus we have been given ACCESS into the very presence of God’s holiness. We can approach God and minister to him in praise and worship and prayer, with confidence and boldness. This is always and only through Jesus, his blood, his sacrifice. 11 AUG | 2018

PRAISE AND WORSHIP GO TOGETHER Commendation – words about the Lord, boasting or telling how great and wonderful He is. Appreciation –expressing gratitude for who the Lord is and for all that he dœs. Praise is essentially vocal and is often also physical with hand-raising, applauding, shouting, leaping and dancing. It is also emotional with rejoicing, delighting and exulting. Worship: The Hebrew and Greek words paint a picture of bowing before the Lord, and kissing his feet in intimate adoration, overwhelmed by God’s presence. The story of the woman who poured perfume on Jesus’ feet is a beautiful illustration of worship. We read about her in Lk 7:36-50. Worship is a heart response of a delightful sense of awe, wonder and overwhelming love. There is a progression from praise to worship. This progression needs to take place repeatedly. As individuals full of the spirit, we praise and worship and praise and worship! It is participation, not a performance. Everyone has freedom to express, confess, sing, prophesy, read scripture or even dance in the spirit. At times there may be prostrating, kneeling, weeping or silence. Sometimes we demonstrate by clapping or raised hands. Lifting up holy hands. As a straightforward action it represents God’s immensity and our submission to His greatness. Clapping. This is an applause rather than clapping along to the beat. We applaud Him for a healing performed before our eyes or a testimony of God’s power. Worship in Truth - Being ‘Real’ Jesus’ expression ‘worship in truth’ can be translated ‘worship in reality.’ In other words, be true - be real in your worship. When God’s Spirit moves, He exposes unreality, religious externals, superficiality and the sheer hypocrisy of those who are one thing in church but something else at home. A Demonstration of God’s life God is seeking a worshipping community. God’s people are a demonstration of his wisdom, life and glory both to heaven and hell and to the ends of the earth. We make known Christ’s victory to spiritual forces of wickedness that hold mankind in blindness and bondage. Our praise and worship impacts … By the unity we display, laying aside our individuality and independence and seeking to move in harmony with the whole body. As corporate praise brings real breakthrough in the spiritual realms. When we gather and welcome the nations to encounter the power of God in our worship. Songs and Singing We sometimes hear a distinction made between vigorous ‘praise’ songs and more gentle ‘worship’ songs – but that is quite an inadequate distinction, since it classifies in terms of mood and tempo, rather than in terms of CONTENT. We must know the context of each song. Direction Every song is addressed in a particular direction. These are: • General. The majority of our songs tend to be ‘CONFESSIONAL’ They declare truth about God and what he has done. They speak out the greatness of God to the whole universe: to God and angels, man and all creation, Satan and all his host. • Godward. Songs addressed to the Lord himself may express PRAISE or PRAYER or be worshipful or responsive. It is the direction and content of the song that makes it an expression of worship, rather than its tempo. 12 AUG | 2018

• Manward. These songs addressed to one another require ‘eyeball-to-eyeball’ singing, not with hands raised, eyes closed or face turned heavenwards. These are song of INVOCATION that encourages us to praise the Lord or PROPHETIC songs when God speaks to us – like ‘Be still and know that I am God’, or EXHORTATIONORY, that urge us to action. • To ourselves. Some songs are addressed to our hearts, like ‘Bless the Lord. O my soul’, in which we tell ourselves to bless the Lord or rejoice. Before we take a song, we should ensure its content and direction are appropriate to the moment and sing it meaningfully. Variety A leader can be creative in congregational singing in many ways. The purpose of variations must only be to enhance the truth being declared, NOT as gimmicks or merely for sake of variety. New Songs In order to introduce a new song during a meeting, choose an appropriate time. Most songs need teaching and lack of familiarity sometimes hinders worship. So be sensitive and choose a new song only if it has relevance to the theme that the Lord is highlighting. Hymns We have a great heritage of truth in the old hymns. It is a pity when these are neglected and forgotten. But it is equally a pity when these are sung without the glorious truths finding their full expression in wonder, love and praise. They also require careful vetting for theology to remove what is offending. Singing Scriptures There are great possibilities in taking scriptures, particularly the Psalms, and singing them. An anointed creative writer can develop them into a sequence of simple songs, rounds, responses, scripture readings, or dance for the whole congregation to do. These can be used with amazing effect. Prophetic Worship The musicians in David’s day took a lead in prophetic worship. In 1 Chron 24:1 we read of those set apart to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals’. God can use music to stir up the spirit of prophesy as he did with Elisha (2 Kings 3:15). Musicians should not be afraid to lead out or to be creative and try out new things. Conclusion The Father is seeking a people to be his worshippers who will worship him in spirit and truth. What a calling this is. It is a calling we can develop and excel in this life and we shall never tire of it in all eternity.

"Our heavenly Father loves us with an extravagant abandon. Passionate, undignified worship is our only reasonable response." – Matt Redman

13 AUG | 2018

THE HEART OF WORSHIP IS SACRIFICE AND SURRENDER

INTERVIEW WITH MARY MACLEAN Momentum caught up with worship leader and song writer Mary MacLean to discuss matters related to worship. She has served faithfully in the worship ministry at Gateway Church, Winnipeg for over three decades, and she loves giving expression to her love for the Lord through song writing. She is the author of songs such as Holy, Holy (H52 in GMI’s song book 3) and Creator King, which have been sung in churches world over. She’s married to Ron MacLean, the senior pastor and team leader at Gateway since 1979. Mary has accompanied Ron once in his travels to India, which many in GMI will remember with fondness as she bought teachings on worship and stewardship. The following are excerpts of the interview, where Mary speaks passionately from her heart about her journey, true worship, the greatest acts of worship in Scripture and aspects related to congregational worship. To watch parts of the interview live, do visit Momentum’s YouTube Channel at bit.ly/momentumvideos.

Can you share where your journey as a worship leader began? It began in 1993; one worship leader was goading me to lead worship and I did not want to, at all. But I was kind of contending with God on it. I remember attending a worship conference where one of the leaders had a prophetic word: “There’s a woman here in this room who’s really been contending with God. He wants you to lead worship and you’re resisting Him. I want you to come up and I’d like to pray for you.” But before I got up, there were 20 other women who got up too and I thought “Oh, it wasn’t me”. But I got up anyways and soon enough, the leader was looking at me and he said, “You’re the woman.” So he prayed for me and something really changed in my heart that day. And I agreed and I’m really glad that worship leader provoked me that day.

That’s such a powerful story. What about song writing? There are these little windows that open up in your life where you see a little ‘Aha’ moment of the future... I wrote my first song when I was 10 years old, and that was long before I became a Christian. In my early 30s, I began to see that this was something that God really wanted me to do. 14 AUG | 2018

What according to you is the heart of worship?

Hannah’s words influence king David and echœd in the Psalms.

I always go back to the first mention in the Scriptures, in Genesis 22, where the word worship is mentioned in the context of Abraham going up the mountain to sacrifice his son. He says, “Wait here while I and the lad go up to worship.” So contextually, worship is about sacrifice, obedience and surrender to God. It is also synonymous with service.

That’s incredible. What is the greatest motivation we have to worship?

Instead, when we make worship about music, we are missing the point, because worship is all about a heart that is completely committed to obeying what God says, regardless of the cost and sacrifice involved. We need to ask ourselves – Is God allowed to cross our will? And when He dœs cross our will, what’s our response to that? That will give us a pretty good reading of how surrendered we are. So, primarily, worship is about our heart.

It has to be a profound foundation of having settled the issue of the Lordship of Jesus and that you love Him more than anything else. I don’t know what else could hold you to a place of worship. It has to be devotion and passion for Him, His functional Lordship over your life.

You spoke about worship being about sacrifice. On a Sunday morning, what dœs this look like? One thing I do know is that you can’t cœrce a church to bring a sacrifice of praise if they are not willing to bring it. I think you only gently lead them and teach them the importance of what that really means. And it gœs back to that principle of worship being a sacrifice, so that people recognize it’s not so much about the singing and the music; it’s about the heart that I’m bringing. When we come in that posture, we do praise. To be honest, I don’t think we teach on this enough, and how it affects what we bring in our gatherings.

So true. Would you say Abraham’s sacrifice is the greatest act of worship we see in Scripture? There are so many; for instance, Jesus’ most incredible act of worship when He surrendered to the will of the Father on the cross. My favourite at the moment, and that depends on where you are in the Word, would be the life of Hannah. Here is a worshiper of God, who is also a very disappointed woman. She was infertile, and she pleaded with God for years for a child. Meanwhile, she is being tormented by her husband’s other wife Peninnah, and you would think that this woman would’ve withdrawn from God, and that she may have become bitter. But she didn’t. She pushed into God all the more and never let go of the Lord. She was so saddened at what God had not yet accomplished in her life, but she still worshipped. She then promises her son to God, and not only did she do that, she made good on the promise when her son was born and weaned.

What an act of worship to give that child up to the Lord! I love that story so much because I see this extraordinary woman who gave up the son that she had so desperately wanted to the Lord and he became a history changer. You even see

Striking a balance in song selection • Take stock; weigh the lyrics of the songs in your master list • Have more Trinitarian songs – don’t neglect the Father and the Holy Spirit • More God-centered songs than me-focused songs • Discuss song selection with leaders because they have a greater sense of the pulse of the church • Songs that offer correct theology, even if it means we tweak some lines here and there

15 AUG | 2018

What dœs Spirit-led worship look like? For starters, you need a Spirit-filled worship leader in order to have Spirit-led worship. It’s important to say that you can’t take people where you haven’t been yourself. One of my favourite maxims to people in worship ministry is, ‘Who you are is what you will impart.’ Also, as worship leaders we need to be very open to taking risks, not be focused on scripted song sets, to have our eyes open and say ‘Holy Spirit, as a leader I want You to help me to see and discern’ and that’s a skill to be learnt. In fact, there’s a lot of skills that we’re accomplishing at the same time while leading worship -- to see where the church is at, and to be led by the Spirit, then to give space and breath to the church in that context, so that you’re not dominating them by filling every space with chords and words and exhortations, but giving opportunity for prophetic words and room for the Holy Spirit to move.

Attributes of a good worship leader • A very strong and rooted devotional life -- a life in the word, a life in prayer • A love for the people they lead; someone who fellowships in home groups and connects with the church family • A servant heart; serving in the worship team is a sacrificial ministry • A humble heart, that’s teachable • A person led by the Holy Spirit, and willing to take risks • A person who’s skilled musically

yourself, and wanting that worshipped. And if that’s maligned in anyway, that just crumbles us. We want to feel good, and have others make us feel good about ourselves. It’s this thing about doing what’s right in your own eyes and ‘I can be anything I want and I can reinvent myself in any way I want -- age, size, gender -- it dœsn’t matter, I’m god.’ Of course, it hasn’t changed much since the fall; but it’s just morphed into a different manifestation. You set yourself up as god because you’re deciding what is true and what isn’t true about God. I think that’s a big pitfall for kids in our generation. There are just very self focused but also very lonely and very needy.

And what is the best antidote to this whole push towards worshipping self? Certainly the worship of God, where it’s not about me, it’s not about what I like, it’s not about what people are thinking of me. It’s about God and Him alone and I’m here for Him.

Mary’s advice for... Worship leaders: Be rooted in the Word and in prayer; out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks Worship team: We are servants; serving the Lord, serving the church and the leaders of the church

True, there seems to be a pressure to fill every gap. Let’s admit it, worship leaders are guilty of filling every space. Because we like to sing and do our stuff and we can fill spaces quite nicely, but that’s not necessarily helpful for the church. Holy Spirit to move.

What do you think is calling out to our generation to be worshipped over God? It’s this whole me-centred philosophy. There is such a feeding and nurturing of self and creating an image of

Song writers: Don’t take it lightly. Give it time and a place; persevere and just write, write, write and then write some more Artists: Let’s bring as many expressions as we can, and it dœsn’t all have to happen spontaneously on a Sunday morning Church leaders: Ensure there is a clear partnership with the worship team, allowing each other to make room for the Holy Spirit to move

Mary’s favourites... Worship song: Probably, ‘What a beautiful name’. But we have a small group that gets together to write our own songs; actually those are my real favourites right now Song writer: I really appreciate Cory Asbury. I really love the Reckless Love album Book on worship: Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin Personal worship or corporate worship: Personal Which song do you see yourself singing to God in heaven: One of my own (laughs)

You who made the valleys and the skies Displayed Your love on far horizons and before my eyes You who lit the stars and set the dawn in time Called them all by name and now You whisper mine You're my Creator King Creator King, Mary Maclean

17 AUG | 2018

WORSHIP ST YLES & MAKING SPIRIT-INSPIRED CHOICES In the last couple of years, my friend Lucky has taken up Kathak the Indian tradition of story-telling through dance. As followers of Christ, Lucky and I have had a number of conversations where we’ve looked to interweave this beautiful classical Indian dance with our faith and worship. We’ve tried this on two occasions. First, when we used a song by Aradhna (a band that writes Christ-centered bhajans), Lucky, very movingly, depicted the story of the crucifixion. The second time, she did a lively, fun rendition to an Indian-fusion version of ‘Angels, we have heard on high’, for a Christmas service. Both the times, Lucky and the worship team collaborated, we were able to create a space to connect powerfully with God in a new way. This has led me on a journey - one I’m still on - that has taken me back to the drawing board to re-look at what we are doing as worship teams. Are we doing things that help people encounter the manifest presence of God? We have the privilege to craft and curate a unique space for about 35-45 minutes every week, in which we help people worship God in the realm of the Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This is our starting point. Beyond that, we have different musical styles and genres to draw from, which aid us in this pursuit. Our current crop of worship songs is perhaps as close to the pop ’n' rock style of music as it gets. It is a reflection of the music industry today. We are influenced by what we have heard recently. Such an influence on worship songs is not new. When John Newton wrote Amazing Grace, it’s tune was set to a popular folk song of the time. Matt Redman, a prolific song writer of our time has said he is quite influenced by rock bands U2 and Coldplay. Another style of music that we hear a bit more in churches is gospel music, a space that is primarily dominated by African-American singer-songwriters from the US. For Instance Isræl Houghton’s “Lord, You Are Good” or “Friend of God” are often used in our churches. There are other genres we have imported, but they aren’t as popular as the two above. Closer home, Indian churches have infused their times of worship with local sounds and music. From catchy Bhangra-style Christian songs to songs that have drawn heavily from Bollywood, there are a whole range of local influences. Recently, Yeshua Band and Sheldon Bangara, with their Indo-Western rock fusion, have skillfully woven different musical styles into their original songs. Down in the South, the prolific singer–songwriter Father Berchman has influenced worship music amongst Tamil and Telugu churches. 18 AUG | 2018

Those born and bred in cities grow up in multi-cultural neighbourhoods that come with their own smorgasbord of music. As a worship leader in a city-based church, a key question we must grapple with is, ‘How do I account for all these musical genres, styles and languages when preparing for Sunday worship’? An additional, critical factor that comes into play is the size of the congregation. A church of 50 – 150 would have the luxury of experiencing body-led worship - where anyone can start a song, pray out aloud, prophecy and use spiritual gifts. In my experience, as churches get bigger, this tends to wane, giving rise to a more front-led, 5-piece-band style of worship that we are used to seeing in big conferences or church camps. At our last church camp, we experimented with a creative art corner for anyone wishing to worship God through their skill. At the end, a number of them came up to share their pictures. It was truly a beautiful, Spirit-Inspired, visual way to show love and adoration to God - and one that encourages and builds the community. As families join our churches, we find a wide span of ages at a Sunday meeting, which has caused us to be more inclusive when we create our set list - have we got songs that help children capture a glimpse of the wonder and greatness of God? Or have we got a hymn in the mix to help our older folk engage with what’s going on? All of these choices boil down to two factors: 1. WHO WE ARE: What’s the predominant sub-culture of our congregation? Who is the church for? What’s the age group? What part of India are they from? What sort of TV shows do they watch at home? What sort of music do they enjoy? 2. WHAT HAVE WE GOT: What musicians do we have? How proficient are they in their skills? What music do they listen to? What age group are they made up of? What sort of music shows/concerts do they go to? 19 AUG | 2018

In Indian urban churches, we are spoilt for choice and variety when it comes to music. The easiest thing we can do is copy a band that we aspire to be. Our focus, however, should remain on three things: 1. How am I best serving the community in front of me today? 2. How am I being most authentic through my chosen style of worship? 3. What am I doing through the different worship styles available that ushers in the manifest presence of God? As charismatic worship leaders, what are we doing to help people encounter God in worship, encouraging and giving space for spiritual gifts, space for ministry, people to be healed, and modelling where we want the congregation to go? I conclude with the example of my friends, Samir and Jackie Deokuliar, who lead Dwaar Church in New Delhi. Samir, a tabla player, has developed a Sunday meeting style that closely resembles a satsang, a common spiritual activity in an Indian content. Samir and the musicians sit cross-legged, in the traditional Indian style on a stage, playing Indian instruments and singing Christian bhajans (youtu.be/jyiTyYflhF8). He has been able to effectively gather those that resonate with this style of worship and find peace and joy in it. At another end of the city, he’s got Dwaar Global, that dœs well to connect with an English-speaking, urban community of worshippers. I appreciate his creativity in harnessing the talent and variety of musicians at his church that helps gather these different groups on a Sunday. As Spirit-filled, lead worshippers, let’s allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and inspire our creativity - pulling in from all the styles and variety amongst us and pushing out a praise that transforms, that brings joy, that is powerful and ultimately draws people to the Father of lights.

Priscilla Roxburgh Priscilla has been leading worship for a couple of decades in a variety of contexts, groups, cities and nations. She loves encountering the love and power of God in worship and is always amazed by it. She is married to Peter and is a mum to two. By profession she is director of communications and training at an anti-human trafficking organisation and worships at Bridge Church, Bangalore.

"Without worship, we go about miserable." – A. W. Tozer

20 AUG | 2018

WEDDINGS IN GMI

lai & l i P n a h s r Da r Soni Victo

amratha N & n e r Na

Pancho Acharya & Sandhya Nunse

Nilesh and Komal

21 AUG | 2018

Mark & Lisa

Nilesh an d Naomi

Divya Nitesh &

Usha Yogesh &

Sanjay & Brij

Immanuel & Lydia

22 AUG | 2018

Steve & N eha

Rohit & Lynn

L I S T E N B E F O R E YO U L E A D

When playing in a band, we are often told, the most important factor is listening. The tempo, rhythm and intensity can only be set when we are attentive to the full range of sounds. Listening is as important, if not more, than playing. Recently in conversations, I have found myself racing ahead to express my view instead of really listening to what is being said. Listening requires humility and is a skill, though it sounds simple. It is a vital tool for leading worship as well as leading a worship team. Such listening should not be limited to the leader alone. It is excellent to build a culture where each team member is sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is doing. It is good to regularly reflect on questions such as “What is God telling us?” or “Where is He leading us next?” Some of the most enriching times of corporate worship have been when the team, as a whole, has been connected and empowered by what the Spirit is doing. This has resulted in faith and freedom for each team member, and consequently for the church as a whole. What a joy it is when we journey together as a body!

LISTENING TO GOD While this may seem apparent, spending time with God privately remains the most effective means for godly leadership. “God awakens my ear to listen as those who are taught,” (Isaiah 50:4). Worship both starts and ends with Him, and in this process we recognize ourselves as chosen instruments being used to bring glory to His Name. We are not chosen because of who we are or what we have done (those things make us far from “good-enough”), but by grace alone!

LISTENING TO TEAM MEMBERS

A constant re-centring of focus, from ourselves to God, will make our corporate worship all about Jesus - His death and resurrection. Waiting on God is the best way to chart the course both for planning weekly rehearsals as well as long-term goals. May God set our agendas! In retrospect, the times when I was attentive and obedient to God, were the times when I led the team with much grace and confidence. In Isaiah 30:35, God says “…in returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength…”

Every member of the worship team (singers, musicians, sound and media operators etc.) has been divinely placed by God in our team. Accepting God’s role as the master-planner, is half the battle won on how to lead the team. Our role then, is to discover and identify each one’s God-given function and make room for them to thrive and flourish. It’s beautiful when there is synergy; each member takes initiative to serve in what they are designed to do and often the leader is invisible!

23 AUG | 2018

One may be excellent at administration, while another may be gifted to sing spontaneous songs or even rap prophetically! Let’s make room for these God-given abilities; of course, we may need to entrust responsibilities gradually, as we encourage creativity and experimentation and also help those who are timid. To do this, we need to get to know our team as individuals and not just as musicians. With strong relationships we can cover great distances. Of course, good communication is vital for encouragement, offering constructive criticism and communicating expectations. Also, include a few key members in the decision-making; their input will give a well-rounded picture and will simultaneously train future leaders. Inclusion and delegation will bring ownership and diversity in the expression of the team.

LISTENING TO THE CONGREGATION It is easily possible for a worship team to be enthusiastic and passionate and yet completely miss out on where the church is at. Constantly ask questions such as “Are people able to focus on God, or are we distracting in any way?” or “Is our set list and leading style relevant and engaging?” Interacting with church members of various age groups, backgrounds and nationalities will help the team be in touch with the pulse of the church. While much emphasis has been placed on ‘listening’, it is important to say that this dœs not mean ‘not being prepared’. It is vital to be fully prepared, and yet be willing to listen and be open to change. Listening to team members dœs not mean always agreeing or adjusting. Don’t fall into the trap of changing plans to keep everyone happy! Yet be willing to listen. Listening is loving.

THOUGHTS ON HOW TO BUILD THE TEAM Here are some other practical pointers. • Come fully prepared for rehearsals. The worship team learns more in practice than during the service. Plan for your rehearsal time as much you do for the actual service. • Don’t recruit too quickly. Take your time to select, pray, audition, train, give feedback etc. before you tell the person they are on board. • Communicate expectations and non-negotiables in advance and regularly. • Rest. Don’t burnout. Each member should get two or at least one Sunday off a month. Also, it is important to worship corporately both on and off stage. • Look for the next leader right away. Share insights and struggles, entrust responsibility to an upcoming leader. The next leader may not have the same ‘style’ of leading; so encourage them to develop their own voice. Pray and invest intentionally. • Spend time together as a team. Invest time to individually correct, thank and confess; and collectively encourage and equip. Celebrate birthdays, buy presents or have meals together!

Swaroop Joseph

Swaroop Joseph is an architect and is currently pursuing a Masters in Architecture and Urban Design. He loves taking long walks in the city and exploring new places.

24 AUG | 2018

E N CO URAGEME NT

WO RS HI P

TE AM

F OR

LE ADE RS

“The drums were too loud today?” “Do you even know what your guitarist is doing during the week?” “The new piano player wants to quit the team.”

Many of us who have been part of a worship team have heard similar comments. This shows that while leading and coordinating a worship team brings much joy and fulfillment, it can also be challenging at times. Sometimes we get the feeling that in spite of putting in our best, our team isn’t growing. May the suggestions offered encourage us, as we look at some important aspects involved in leading worship teams.

ENCOURAGE & EQUIP learn songs before practice. It will encourage everyone to pursue excellence. Find ways to equip them: Even a YouTube link on how to play a song can make a great difference.

People do their best when we encourage them. As leaders, we must encourage and appreciate our team. Sometimes people will be difficult, unresponsive and frustrating, but we are called to be patient and encourage our teammates, no matter where they are in their stage of development and gifting. “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” (Hebrews 10:24).

Keeping in touch with the team during the week can be a great support. They need to know that we love and care about them, more than the music they contribute to the band. Let’s invest in relationships. A big part in giving encouragement to the team is to avoid criticizing them openly or hastily. Try to talk individually with people who have been difficult. Pray for them and resolve conflicts biblically.

We can encourage our team members to consistently attend mid-week cells and be accountable. Similarly, while this may seem obvious, Sunday sermons are an important source for nourishment and growth. At times, some worship team members miss this truth and skip the sermon, thinking their job is over after the songs. Encourage them to be at the forefront during the sermon, not in the background; thereby leading even when they are not leading worship. While encouragement can take different forms, mainly, we need to walk alongside them in their spiritual journey.

While doing all of these, let’s not forget that the sound department & the LCD volunteers, who are an integral part of the worship team. Spend time with the sound guys and experiment on how your team could sound better.

EXAMINE & REORDER

Along with spiritual growth, we need to also ensure that our teammates are equipped musically to appreciate it when musicians nail their parts or singers take effort to

As leaders, it is good to evaluate ourselves spiritually and in terms of skill. It is a must for us to devote our time 25

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to God’s Word and prayer. At the same time, we should also sharpen our musical skills. Our team grows when we start growing. It is wise to ask your pastor his thoughts about the worship team, and be accountable.

Commitment to being Faithful: We are committed to God and the team, even in the midst of adversity. Commitment to Serve: We are always willing to serve and help others in every way possible, in humility.

When we come for rehearsals well prepared, take the lead and guide others, it gives the team confidence. Also, if we start showing up prepared, others will also do the same.

Commitment to Unity: We are all one body, with one goal, i.e. to be united in speech and action and the worship of God. When there are conflicts we resolve them biblically for the sake of unity in the body.

When we examine our roles, we may realise that it makes sense to delegate some responsibilities, just like Moses did with the help of his father-in-law. It is wise to let people do what they love and are good at. They will enjoy it and remain faithful in the long run.

Commitment to Excellence: We are constantly pushing ourselves to be better than what we were yesterday – both spiritually and musically – so that the name of Jesus is exalted.

When adding new people to the team, we need wisdom from the Holy Spirit to select people. Let’s be slow to add people, and do it prayerfully after taking suggestions from others. It’s important that we value character over skill.

ENJOY EACH YOUR HEART

OTHER

AND

It’s also important for your vision to reflect your senior pastor’s vision. Always remember that you are under the headship of your pastor. (Hebrews 13:17) I pray that we as leaders will run the race humbly and diligently and partner with God to do His will.

In the midst of all the hard work, let’s make sure that we are having fun. Everything is better with food and laughter. Being in GMI, I have discovered that the dinner table is the best place to give feedback and share ideas. Additionally, block dates to watch worship videos together and learn from them. Include the sound guys & the LCD team too. Plan team nights and have a time of games. During these times, it’s good to communicate your expectations to the team and remind them again and again.

COMMUNICATE YOUR TEAM

CORE

VALUES

David Sinchury

David Sinchury is a music producer by profession. After completing his short stint in the Indian Navy he moved to the Music Industry to pursue his passion & calling. He is married to Crisma and they are Youth Leaders at the Bombay Baptist Church.

Commitment to Worship: We exist to worship Him and bring Him glory. It is all about JESUS. We are called to live a life set apart for God both on and off the stage. Commitment to the Word: Although we are a part of the Google generation, we would like to constantly instill that the Bible is the real guide in how we should worship corporately and as individuals. 26 AUG | 2018

TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION TO WORSHIP GOD

As Christian parents and teachers, we are given this important mandate – “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Scripturally, therefore, we aren’t merely raising children, but we are also training them. What dœs this look like? Sally Clarkson, a Christian author,says, “Training is more than just behavioral conditioning. It is shaping and forming the heart. Training is an on-going sharpening process in a child’s life of reinforcing the truths of God.”

BEING MISSIONARIES TO OUR CHILDREN

START YOUNG AND MAKE WORSHIP AGE-APPROPRIATE

When our daughter was born, her birth certificate mentioned her religion as ‘Christian’. However, we know that in reality our daughter is yet unaware of the consequences of sin; unaware that sin is not just doing wrong, but failing to do right; unaware of what Christ did for her; unaware of how much she needs Christ.

“How from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus,” (2 Timothy 3:15) At school, we have books that are age-appropriate. The Bible too, caters to all age groups, beginning with a newborn baby. For instance, when our daughter was just a few weeks old and I was reading the Kids Bible to her, I’m not sure if she grasped the meaning of it all. But one thing is certain: she surely did understand that this book is important, since Mama reads it out every day. It was amazing to see that by the time she was just 18 months old, although she couldn’t speak in full sentences, she remembered a lot of words from the stories she heard. God’s word is powerful; He has His own ways to reach out to these tiny hearts, and His spirit not only draws their attention but also deepens their understanding of the Word.

She has her own journey to becoming a follower of Jesus; it’s a personal decision she has to make and we must be the ‘missionaries’ leading her to Jesus. At a young age, we must build a deep sense of gratitude in our children for Christ’s work in their lives. We tend to take some things for granted. We tend to approach our children assuming that since Christ is attractive to us, they too, will be attracted to Him. Because they tend to imitate us, their actions could be based on following a family ritual, and not out of a relationship with God. This needs to be addressed. We must preach the gospel first and foremost to our children. Only then will they understand the basis of our actions and understand the heart behind it.

We need to play our part in being diligent and lean on the Holy Spirit to teach us on how to train our children at different stages to experience God.

27 AUG | 2018

Since every generation is different, we have a role to contextualize things, like it was done for us. If we enjoyed Sunday School in a particular way, the same may not apply to this generation. They are exposed to so much more than we were, be it technology or even information – we need to incorporate that when we teach them. One practical way could be to use sign language (see youtu.be/DEOLN6iXpXU), since children learn to use gestures before they learn to speak – in other words, let’s use creative action songs. Similarly, teaching Bible verses can incorporate creative methods – see Sing for Joy (Psalm 95:1-4) Split Screen Hand Motion Video (youtu.be/Rq-o2OaVjnY) Traditionally, the focus was teaching Bible stories to kids. The death and resurrection of Jesus being one of the stories. The focus today must be to build a generation of Christ followers, and not merely Bible Story knowers. May our story sessions with them always highlight what Christ did on the cross for them (Check bit.ly/2KogkGr for useful resources on this). Even when we discipline our children for being disobedient, we can use such situations to explain to them about sin, and the Savior who died for our sin. Training them to ‘hear God’ must include being sensitive to hear God about their sin and what God did for them on the cross.

TRAINING CHILDREN IS A COMMUNITY AFFAIR As a young believer I misunderstood worship as mere singing and dancing for God. I now understand that worship is a lifestyle. Anand Mahadevan, my pastor, explains worship as “the devotion of our hearts to God, also expressed in action.” But how dœs it become my child’s lifestyle? As parents and teachers, we need to model Christ to them. They need to see our hearts fully devoted to God and the same expressed in action. They need to see us reading, meditating and feasting on God’s word, praying for others and they also need to see how we behave and respond in our community. The task of training children is not just limited to the father and mother. The community represents Christ to them in a far stronger way. When they see us loving God and each other as a community – living out the greatest commandment – they see faith in action. They see that Christians have their difficulties, but the church is a community of people who love God and are learning and celebrating as they become more Christ-like. This generation particularly needs to know that the church is a safe place to be myself. If they can see us, the community, being real in church, then they too will believe that church is home, where they will not be judged. They will encounter God as we pray and create opportunities for them to feel the need for a Savior and also know that they are not alone in this. It’s not just ‘heart to heart’ but it gœs beyond – it’s ‘life to life’.

Ruchi Steven Ruchi is a teacher by profession, and is passionate about mentoring older kids as they step out of Junior College. She is passionate about worshipping God through her gifting of dance. Ruchi worships at New City Church, Mumbai where she serves on the worship team and with kid’s church. She is married to Steven, and they have a daughter, Levia.

28 AUG | 2018

It is the dream of a place where the hurting, the hopeless, the discouraged, the depressed, the frustrated and confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance and encouragement. It is the dream of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with hundreds of thousands of residents around Mumbai. It is the dream of welcoming 10,000 members into the fellowship of our church family - loving, learning, laughing and living in harmony together. It is the dream of developing people to spiritual maturity, through discipling and bible studies, small groups, seminars, retreats and a Bible school for our members. It is the dream of equipping every believer for a significant ministry by helping them discover gifts and talents God gave them. It is the dream of sending out our members on short-term mission projects and as missionaries & church workers into major cities in India, to different states within India, to our neighbouring countries and ultimately to other nations of the world. It is the dream of planting daughter-churches in every local language. It is the dream of becoming 'Salt and Light' in the community, thereby influencing every sphere around us with the Kingdom values, namely spheres of family, education, judiciary, arts & entertainment, media, politics, business, industry, economics, social services etc.