PDworshipCommunity is hosting a moderated discussion on defining purpose driven worship.  This page is your chance to join in.  How does your church define worship?  Do you have comments on David Currie's working definition?  Would you like feedback on your own definition-in-progress?  Use this page as your headquarters.  We will be updating your responses daily, so check back often! 

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David Currie's Working Definition “Biblical worship occurs when the whole Word of God guides the whole person together with the whole people of God into the full presence of the Father, in full union with the Son, through the full power of the Holy Spirit.” respond to this definition

Worship is a Personal Encounter "In worship we express the following attitudes: adoration, gratitude, repentance, neediness, submission, and commitment. The elements of worship are the means by which these attitudes are expressed. For example adoration is expressed in praise; gratitude is expressed in thanksgiving; repentance is expressed in confession; neediness is expressed in dependence; submission is expressed in surrender; and commitment is expressed in obedience." Tim Parker respond to this definition Tim, I think that you’ve unpacked some important aspects of the “whole person” part of my definition.  If worship involves the whole person, then it must be a personal encounter.  I also like the way that you match attitudes with expressions.  How would you explain the dynamic between the two?  Do we have to have the attitudes before we can legitimately engage in the expressions?  Can expressions nurture attitudes without hypocrisy? One last question (for you and the wider pdworship community):  Which of these 6 attitudes/expressions do you find most challenging to incorporate into your worship context?  Into American worship contexts in general? Thanks for your response and for your partnership in the gospel Christ is all, Dave Dave Currie respond to this comment

The Total Adoring Response Dear All,   In respons to the definitions of worship may I contribute the following as defined by Evelyn Underhill:  “the TOTAL  ADORING RESPONSE of man to the one Eternal God, self revealed in time”.  I like the phrase “total adoring response” iy means to me unconditional, personal and passionate, not formal and unfeeling, and that it is our response to the living God,  voluntarily offered to Him as He offered Himself to us. Plus an important part of worship was missed from both definitions and that is action:  actions (bowing, praising, serving).   Thank you Ken Millward Ken Millward respond to this definition Ken, Great contribution! I just finished reading Underhill’s book and found her core definition (“total adoring response”) compelling as well. God always takes the initiative in worship and should get the first word. What do you think Underhill would make of current trends in worship? What else might she add to our conversation, especially since she had a fairly high regard for historic liturgical forms? Any of the rest of you find her work helpful? You also further unpacked the “whole person” part of my definition and provided some greater focus for the attitude/expression element that Tim raised. What other kinds of actions are involved in healthy, Biblical worship? Peace in Christ, Dave Dave Currie respond to this comment