Spirit/Truth Worship http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php A blog about worshipping God in spirit and in truth. en-us Nucleus CMS v3.32 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php/nucleus/nucleus2.gif Spirit/Truth Worship http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php Made To Worship http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php?itemid=24 "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind'. This is the first and greatest commandment."
Matthew 22:37-38

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory."
Ephesians 1:11-12



In the mid 17th century our church forefathers gathered and compiled a document that was meant to encompass the core doctrines and beliefs of the Christian faith. This document, called the Westminister Catechism, was one of the most important and influential documents to come out of the Reformation. One of the Catechism's most powerful statements is this - "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever."

We as humans spend our lives looking for meaning and purpose to our existence. So many of us bounce from one thing to the next looking for something to bring fulfillment to our empty lives. Our church forefathers grappled with this longing and came to this realization: We were made to worship the God of the universe. And not only that, we were made to enjoy Him forever and He us. In Ephesians 1 it says that we were chosen in order that we "might be for the praise of His glory." God chose us before the beginning of time to take part in the worship of his Glory. What a thing to consider! We were made by Him and for Him - to love Him and to be loved by Him. The end (or purpose) of our lives is to love Him, enjoy Him, and glorify Him with our bodies, souls, minds, and strength. What an amazing and awe-inspiring truth!

It says in the scriptures that all creation joins in worship of the Father (Psalm 19, 96, 98). In fact it says in Romans (8: 19) that creation waits in eager expectation for us to move into our true calling. Us choosing to worship joins us into this eternal song. We become who we were made to be before the foundation of the earth. Don McMinn writes, "Our entire being is fashioned as an instrument of praise. Just as a master violin maker designs an instrument to produce maximum aesthetic results, so God tailor-made our bodies, souls and spirits to work together in consonance to produce pleasing expressions of praise and worship."

Let's look at the words of Jesus. When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus replied "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind'. This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38) What God wants from us is love, and a love that encompasses our entire heart, fills our soul, and consumes our mind. Everything else flows from that love. We were made to be adoring worshipers of God. Not because God needed someone to tell Him how great He is, but because He wanted someone to share in the beauty of his love and glory.

So I would encourage us (and myself) as people chosen to live lives of worship to start becoming who we were made to be. Start thinking of your life as worship. Start living and speaking and breathing to glorify God and join in with creation's song of praise to the Almighty and Everlasting God who is forever glorified. Amen.

In the coming weeks we will look more at what worship is, what it looks like, and where it comes from. I have added "Amazing Love", a new song that we sang on Sunday to the music library. Have a great week everybody! Cheers.






I have been preoccupied recently with psalm 8, "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" The whole idea of the Great and Holy God humbling himself to even be mindful of us let alone laying down his life for us is staggering. In the light of the brightness of His Glory, His grace becomes more and more extraordinary. It was out of these reflections that this song was birthed. I hope it blesses you.]]> Home http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php?itemid=24 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:03:37 -0600 Welcome to Spirit-Truth Worship http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php?itemid=23 "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."
John 4:23

Hi everyone. Welcome to Spirit-Truth Worship. My name is Bryan Hunt and I am the Worship Pastor at St. George's Lowville (ANIC). I have put together this little blog to explore what it means for us as Christians to be worshipers of Jesus: the Author and Perfecter of our faith, the King Eternal, and the Bright Morning Star. The name of the blog (Spirit-Truth) was inspired by John 4 where Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that "the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth." In no way am I saying that I have the corner on what this true spirit and truth worship is, but as followers and lovers of Jesus it is something that we should explore and move in. We were made for worship and as we move deeper into this true life worship we become more and more who God destined us to be before the foundations of the earth.

I will update the blog weekly with new articles, music, and features. Thanks so much for checking this out and check back often for new updates.
Cheers.

]]> Home http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php?itemid=23 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:02:39 -0600 Bryan Hunt http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php?itemid=18 St. George's Lowville (ANIC). He is a singer, songwriter, and worshipper of Jesus. Find out more about Bryan at his music website BryanHuntMusic.com



]]> About http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php?itemid=18 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:44:40 -0700 Books http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php?itemid=9
"Manifest Presence" by Jack Hayford.
This is a fantastic book by Jack Hayford that explores the depth and breadth of what the Holy Spirit is doing through our worship. The manifest presence of God inhabiting the praises of His people. Pretty amazing stuff!






"Heights of Delight" by Dick Eastman.
Heights of Delight is the first book in Eastman's 'Harp and Bowl Series' which talks about the role of intercessory worship and prayer in our lives. Dick Eastman is involved with the International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City.





"Worship, Community, and the Triune God of Grace" by James B. Torrance.
James Torrance, a biblically-rooted trinitarian theologian, writes that worship is the gift of participating through the Spirit in the incarnate Son's communion with the Father. This is a deep and challenging book that expanded my conception of worship and the trinity.





"Art and the Bible" by Francis Schaeffer.
Francis Schaeffer delves into the creativity of God and how that should be expressed in our lives as His image-bearers. We may not all be artists in the traditional sense, but our very lives are to be a work of art - things of truth and beauty that point to the Creator. It's a great little book. Definitely worth a read.





"The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer.
Our Christian lives should be marked by a hunger and thirst for relationship with God. In the Pursuit of God, Tozer writes that this pursuit will draw us into a deep, abiding relationship with the One who nourishes the soul. This is definitely an inspirational book, and works great as a daily devotional.]]> Resources http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php?itemid=9 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:49:40 -0700 Worship Songs http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php?itemid=6

]]> Music http://worship.bryanhuntmusic.com/index.php?itemid=6 Wed, 7 Jan 2009 08:57:01 -0700