We need to remember that corporate worship is a dialogue between God and the congregation. It is not a program of isolated acts of worship. I have found it important to remember the idea of “Revelation & Response” as I plan the flow of each of the four movements of worship (from Isaiah 6: gathering as the body of Christ, hearing the Word, responding to the Word, departing to love and serve the Lord). Revelation refers to the presentation of the truth about God in Christ; response is the reply of the people to the truth proclaimed through revelation.
Revelation – proclaiming and re-enacting the revelation of God and His mighty deeds of salvation. This would include:
- songs (often hymn-type songs) that are full of theology or doctrine, talking about who God is and what He has done (or will do)
- prayers that are focused on God and reciting His attributes and deeds
- Scripture that is particularly words of proclamation or revelation
- words spoken that proclaim God’s might and character; creeds
- drama that re-enacts the mighty acts of God in history
Response – responding to God’s past and present saving actions with praise and thanksgiving. This would include:
- songs (often choruses) that are responsive in nature; saying “YES!” to what has just been revealed
- prayers of thanksgiving or praise to God for what He has done
- Scripture that is responsive
- words of praise and thanksgiving spoken by the congregation or leader
- drama or art that is celebrative
- The Lord’s Supper; offering; call to commitment…response to a challenge based on a revelation of God’s work in our midst
It is important to remember that people cannot respond before they have been given something to respond to. Thus, starting out a worship service with songs that try to engage people in response to God before they have been given the revelation of God and His mighty deeds, is not only unfair, it is creating an atmosphere of frustration in worship. Along with that, if we do not give people the opportunity to respond after a word, song or act of revelation, they will feel that something is lacking in their times of corporate worship.
Dr. Nancy Nethercott 4/2007
啓示と応答
公の礼拝は神と礼拝者たちの会話であることを念頭においておくべき
啓示－神の啓示と救いという神の壮大な御業をはっきりと示し、それを再び表現することである。それは以下を含む：
- 賛美の歌（通常賛美歌）―神学や教義を含み、神がどういうお方で、私たちのために何をしてくださったか（そしてこれから何をして下さるか）を表現しているもの
- 祈りー神に焦点が当てられており神の特性や御業が細かく述べられているもの
- 御言葉―神について公言し、啓示を示すもの
- 話される言葉―神の力と性質を公言しているものー信条
- 演劇―歴史の中での神の壮大な御業を演じたもの
応答―賛美と感謝をもって神の過去と現在の救いの御業に対して応答する。以下を含む
- 賛美の歌（多くは合唱）－本来応答しやすいものー啓示されたものに対して「その通りです！」と表現している
- 祈りー神の御業への感謝や賛美をあらわしているもの
- 御言葉―応答できるもの
- 話される賛美や感謝の言葉―礼拝者やリーダーが用いた言葉
- 演劇や芸術―神を讃えられるもの
- 聖餐式、献金、神に対する献身への導き―私たちの間で働かれる神の御業の啓示に基づいた、神の導きに従う、私たちの応答
応答するものが与えられて初めてそれに対して応答することができる
ナンシー ネザーコット11・4・04