Worship & Remembrance

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Dr. Alexander Kurian   

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The Word "Worship"

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1. English: to attribute worth to something or someone. worth-ship is the key idea (old English word Weorthscipe)

2. Hebrew & Greek: shacah and proskuneo. Bow down,fall prostrate. The word latreuo in the NT denotes worship and service or worshipful service (Rom.1:9; Phil.3:3; Heb.13:10)

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What is Worship?

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1. It is ascribing worth to God (Psa.29:1,2; Psa.96:7-9; Rev.4:11; 5:9-14). Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name.

2. It is realizing and acknowledging who God is and in response falling down before Him in praise, adoration and thankfulness.

3. It is basically the activity of glorifying God (Isa.43:6-7; Eph.1:6,12,14)

4. It is a time to delight in God (Psa.27:4; 16:11).

5. It is our loving response in personal faith to the greatness, awesomeness and worthiness of God. It is a due response in the face of His holy nature and His gracious gifts.

6. Worship is always based on the Person and Work of God in creation and in redemption. It is the outpouring of our hearts in response to a realization of who God is.

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The Theology of Worship in Four Words

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1. Revelation

2. Realization

3. Reflection

4. Response

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Distinction Between, Prayer, Praise & Worship Prayer: occupation of the soul; with its needs (Lord, save my soul) Praise: occupation of the soul with its blessings (Thank you Lord for saving my soul) Worship: occupation of the soul with God Himself (Thank you Lord for who Thou art).

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Remembrance

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1. Our gathering on Sunday morning is not just for worship (general); but specifically for remembrance. The table is the focus of our gathering :
   A remembrance of Him (Lk.22:19; I Cor.11:24, 25)
   A proclamation of His death; not a reenactment of His death as in the R.C.mass (I Cor.11:26) 
   A memorial of His person (I Cor.11:24-25)
   A prophecy of His coming (I Cor.11:26)

2. A gathering of saints in His name around His Table to celebrate the Lord’s supper (again, this is not just a general worship gathering as practiced in many churches today; it is a remembrance feast/meeting).

3. The early church did not gather together just to worship; they came together to remember the Lord and to celebrate the Lord’s Supper (Acts.2:42; 20:7). The primary purpose of their gathering was to remember the Lord (the chief meeting of the church).

4. All Remembrance is worship, but all worship is not remembrance

5. Worship can be done in a variety of settings; individually and corporately. But remembrance is a corporate expression of the church’s worship specifically around the Lord’s Table.

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Some Practical Suggestions for the Observance of the Lord's Supper 

(These are only helpful guidelines, not rules)

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1. Keep in mind the distinction between worship (general) and remembrance (specific)

2. Avoid any spiritual exercise (however good it may be) that would lose focus on the purpose of our gathering – remembrance of Him; showing His death and proclaiming His worth.

3. We first ask the question: is this related to remembrance?

4. It is not a time for preaching, sharing our experiences, requests, testimony and prayers. It is a time exclusively devoted to the proclamation of the glories of the Son. Remember the words of Joseph to his repentant brothers: Go tell my father of all my glory in the land of Egypt, and all that you have seen (Gen.45:13). This is true worship and remembrance – getting beyond ourselves, and speaking to the Father about the Son.

5. Our hymns, meditations and our thanksgiving should be directed towards remembrance.

6. No particular pattern or format should be enforced. It is a time for open and spontaneous worship.

7. Moments of silence at times may be helpful to the spirit of worship.

8. We must come prepared to worship, remember and offer.

9. We must come together in a setting that is conducive to the purpose of our gathering -  punctuality, discipline, avoiding distractions, maintaining the dignity and solemnity of the occasion. Every effort must be made to focus our attention on the Lord.

10. Many have suggested that it is better to start on a general note of worship and then move to the remembrance focus culminating in the Lord’s Supper.

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