Worship - Our Philosophy (see also Our Values)

There are many acceptable forms of worship in the Body of Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit has given us specific direction for worship in our gatherings that enable us to express the mission, philosophy, and values of this fellowship.

• Worship is for God's glory and honor. Our focus is on blessing and pleasing Him with our worship. He is our audience of one. We attempt to do and say what the Father is doing and saying to us in our worship times and guard against our own agendas. What the Father is doing in us will be expressed in a variety of ways in our gatherings such as joy and celebration, sorrow and repentance, or teaching and encouragement.
• Worship is the highest priority of every Christian. It is a lifestyle, not just experience in a gathering or in our devotional life.
• The goal of worship is to become intimate with God and to interact with his presence. God's presence is not something to attain to but something to be aware of and respond to. We not only sing about God, but we sing to Him in a personal and intimate way.
• Worship is how we touch God and express our affection to Him. It is also a time when He touches us and communicates with us. Worship causes our hearts to be receptive and sensitive to God. Worshipping out of the Fathers heart releases the gifts and callings of the Holy Spirit and strengthens our personal relationships, our unity as a church, and our mission to the unchurched.
• We believe freedom in worship results as we are uninhibited in our response to what God is doing in our hearts. This happens through many outward expressions such as raising our hands, dancing, kneeling, clapping, shouting, or inward expressions of silence and meditation.
• Worship creates a desire to hear and obey God. It prepares the way for God's Word to take root in our hearts and does not compete with or is not separate from the teaching or preaching of the Word of God.
• The senior pastor carries the ultimate responsibility for setting the tone and nurturing the vision for worship in the church. Those on the pastoral staff who are leading the gathering carry the responsibility for its direction. The designated worship leader submits to the pastoral leadership for direction and discernment. Both are working towards a common goal and expectation of what God's intent is for that gathering. An open and honest relationship built on trust between pastor and worship leader is imperative.
• Worship leaders must demonstrate a clear call and anointing for worship. They must demonstrate a passion for God and His people. They are skilled both in playing an instrument and in hearing God. They lead others by example as together we interact with God in a corporate gathering.
• Worship leaders and team members do not try to emotionally manipulate God or his people. As we interact with the Lord, our responses are to be submitted to His control.
• Our worship services are intended to be a corporate experience. Therefore, it is important for each member to use his or her talents and gifts in such a way as to enable and encourage the participation of the whole church. Each team member both models and demonstrates worship and chooses to lay down selfish ambition and independence.
• Excellence with simplicity. Simplicity affects our worship style, how we express our artistic style, how we minister to others, and so on. We want to be naturally supernatural, doing what we can to draw peoples attention to God and away from ourselves. I Cor. 2:2-5; James 3:13; I Thes. 4:11-12
• We deeply value songs that were written in the church over the centuries. Many of those song which we know as hymns have given us a deeper understanding of the heart of God throughout history and have strengthened our Biblical foundations.
• We also worship with moderately upbeat, contemporary music using instruments and vocalists. Being aware of the powerful influence contemporary music has in this generation, we use this musical style as a tool to connect people's hearts to God's heart.
• We sing new songs that are being written here in our own church as well as throughout the church worldwide and which reflect the current move of God. We choose songs that are submitted to and shaped by Scripture.
• As the church increases and culture changes, change is necessary. We will continue to explore new areas of worship as the church moves on. We will remain constant and committed to our mission, philosophy, and biblical values to which God has called us.
• Our vision is to keep our services sensitive to the seekers and challenging to the mature with the current word God is speaking to us as a corporate group.
• Our goal is to lead all our services in the same spiritual direction with the same teaching, songs and emphasis.