Focus on young people and the community

Submitted by Irmgard on

 

This article corresponds to the BESJ annual focus 1993:

Worshiping God:

Youth group - church

 

Brief Introduction to 1993 Annual Focus

"You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." (Deut. 19:2)

"The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father also seeks such as these to be His worshipers." (John 4:23)

Worship has gained prominence in our churches in recent years. At least as a buzzword, it is everywhere - there are "worship songs," "worship parts" in worship, and "worship leaders." Yet ideas of worship vary widely. While some seek more quiet worship, to others it means joyful celebration and movement! So, although the word is on everyone's lips, there is a need for clarification. The two keynote addresses at the beginning of this booklet outline the concept of "worship" from a biblical, holistic perspective. They shed a somewhat different light on it. Perhaps too often we confuse "praise" and "worship," as Arne Kopfermann repeatedly points out. While praise is an outward form and expression of our worship, worship happens in depth, with the whole life. That is why we deliberately speak of "worship as a lifestyle."

In children's and youth ministry, worship is largely uncharted territory from this perspective. Singing with kids, the band in teen worship - both have long been mandatory. And emotionally, everyone is in on it. But what is happening in the depths? Are we really leading our youth into the worship of the holy God? Possibly we as leaders would need to lead the way: Why not live out worship as a team?

The practical applications are brief in the booklet. We believe that true worship has less to do with methods and forms than with personal devotion. Those who grasp this will have no trouble developing their own ways from the ideas given.

Source reference:

Content: Annual focus 1993 "Community", Peter Blaser, Siegfried Nüesch, Martin Bihr, Hansruedi Tanner, Ueli Obrist, Johannes Wallmeroth, Peter Schulthess

Drawings: Andreas Vetterli

copyright:www.besj.ch

Cover: Clipart courtesy of buch+musik ejw-service gmbh, Stuttgart - www.ejw-buch.de

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