WORSHIP NOTES
Volume 20, No. 10 (October 2025)
This remarkable event was sponsored by a remarkable ministry, Sacrifice InterChurch Trust, which celebrated its 25 years of ministry at the conference. This organization has gained a lot of respect across denominational lines and been a tremendous unifying force for the body of Christ in that country.
They have also ministered to different people groups across Bangladesh. All of this was reflected in the conference: 425 participants representing 70 churches from 30 denominations and 22 different people groups.
I had the privilege of giving the three keynote Bible lessons on the conference themes of Proclamation-Celebration-Commission. I will share the content of these messages over the next 3 issues if Worship Notes.
PROCLAMATION
1. The Pattern of Proclamation: Revelation and Response
(see also Worship Notes 1.5)
a. God’s initiative in revealing himself to us
b. Other religions get it backwards:
c. The biblical pattern of redemption
And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. [in response:] You shall have no other gods before me . . . (Exodus 20:1-3)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [in response:] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
d. The biblical pattern of worship
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! (Psalm 150:2b)
Worship is always a response to God’s prior gracious initiative.
e. Implications of this pattern
- Use more Scripture in worship
- Recognize worship as a dialogue between God and His people (He speaks to us through His Word; we respond with our songs, prayers, etc.
- No theology without doxology! No doxology without theology! (John Stott)
- Complete the cycle: “The purpose of theology is doxology: we study in order to praise.” (J. I. Packer)
2. The Agent of Proclamation
a. God (His revelation)
b. God speaking through messengers/spokesmen (Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, the apostles, etc.)
c. God speaking through Christ
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2)
“I will tell of Your name to My brethren;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.” (Hebrews 2:12)(see Worship Notes 1.8)
d. God speaking through us
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach. (Acts 1:) (we continue His teaching ministry)
Great Commission: “teaching them to obey all I commanded you” (we teach on behalf of Christ)
3. The Content of Proclamation
a. Declaring the name of the one true God
Declare His glory among the nations,
His marvelous works among all the peoples!For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
and He is to be feared above all gods.For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens. (1 Chronicles 16:24-26)
b. Calling people to turn from false worship to true worship
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens. (1 Chronicles 16:26)But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” (Acts 14:14-15)
c. Preaching Christ
- His incarnation, life, death, resurrection, glorification, second coming
- The gospel: salvation through faith in Him
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
4. Conclusion: The Trinity and the Power for Proclamation
a. Our message is God’s message: Romans 1:16 FATHER
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
b. The Father speaks through Christ; Christ speaks through us SON
“I will tell of Your name to My brethren;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.” (Hebrews 2:12)Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
c. The Holy Spirit empowers the messenger, and draws a response from the heart of the hearer HOLY SPIRIT
And when [the Holy Spirit] comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. (John 16:8)
Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)