A RESPONSE TO WORSHIP

A Response to Worship!
Matthew 28:16

My title here at First Baptist Church is “Worship Pastor”. What exactly does that mean? I feel that my “job” is to lead FBC in worship, teach FBC about worship, and be an example of how to worship in “spirit and in truth.” For so many years I went by the title of “Minister of Music”. I do not prefer this title because it only covers a portion of what I am called to do. Music is only a tool of worship. Albeit a great tool; nevertheless, a tool. Together we form the worship ministry of FBC. We are all called to learn more about worship and what ministries go right along with worship. Every few months, the staff gets to lead the Connection Class. This class is set up to teach new church members who we are and what we are about here at FBC Canton. Mary Lee Griffith put all the material together for the class. In that material, she defines worship as “attributing worth to God, recognizing who He is and what He has done and responding accordingly.” Jesus said it like this in Mark 12:30: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
Let’s take a deeper look at the last part of the definition for worship provided by Mary Lee. The last two words are “responding accordingly.” What kind of response should worship produce? We could probably think of many responses that come from worship, but as I was reading in Matthew 28 I came across a great response. In this scripture, we find the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. As soon as the word got out about the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples went to Galilee. They had been told by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary about the resurrection and the instructions from Jesus that He would physically come to them in Galilee. The eleven went to Galilee (Judas had already committed suicide). It was there on the mountain that Jesus appeared to them. When they recognized who He was and what He had done, they worshiped Him. The story could have ended with them worshiping Jesus, but a response was needed. Out of worship, our response should be missions. As we come to a realization of who Jesus is and what He has done for us, we should have a burning desire to tell others about Him. So often we get apathetic about our salvation and we do not respond appropriately. I have always wondered why, so many times in my years of worship ministry, I have a love for missions. It is only because that should be the natural response to worship.

“All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18

See you Sunday as we blanket the city of Canton with the love of Christ.
Aaron Hodges