Worship Philosophy

Values

1. Scriptural worship is given solely to God for His glory (audience of One)
2. We can worship God only through His Son, Jesus Christ - any other way is counterfeit
3. God calls us to worship Him in every part of our lives (Colossians 3:12-17)
4. Public worship is to be authentic and should be led in an authentic way
5. Emotion is a natural part of worship, and it should flow out of our interaction with God, but we are not to “work up” emotions
6. We desire and depend upon the transforming work of the Holy Spirit among us
7. The Word of God is the final authority on worship, public and private
8. Congregational participation is a priority
9. We “tend to” the atmosphere we create for corporate worship

Practices

1. We direct our worship toward God, so we therefore take time to learn about who He is
2. We reinforce that God is approached only through Jesus Christ
3. We teach that we are to worship both corporately and in the other activities of our lives.  As God’s chosen people, dearly loved, we:
   1. Clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
   2. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we have against one another
   3. Put on love
   4. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts
   5. Are thankful
   6. Let the word of Christ dwell richly in us as we teach and admonish one another and as we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in our hearts to God
   7. Do all things, in word or deed, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through Him.
4. We want worship leaders/team members to be authentic worshipers (real people)
5. We encourage the congregation to embrace the emotions that flow out of interaction with God
6. We acknowledge and invite the Holy Spirit as we meet together and as we are sent
7. We teach that God’s Word, not tradition or culture, has the final authority on all questions of appropriateness
8. We prioritize corporate worship that encourages participation

9. We try to:

   1. Create an atmosphere where people can freely give love to God and receive love from Him
   2. Tend to the whole person using the creativity of the body - all senses