TH 357 Theology of Worship

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TH 357 Theology of Worship

• Class 5
• Engaging with God
• in the Old Testament

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Where have we been, where are we going?

• 4 Pillars of Worship
• The Triune God (doxology)
• The Word of God (proclamation and edification)
• The People of God (community)
• The Purposes of God (mission)

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Peterson, Introduction

• The worship of the living and true God is . . .
  an engagement with him on the terms that he
  proposes and in the way that he alone makes
  possible (p. 20).

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Engaging with God

• Gods terms
• Gods covenant
• Gods enabling
• God seeks worship
• God initiates worship
• God accepts worship on the basis of covenant

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Worship in Genesis

• Created worshipers
• Genesis 2 the foundation of corporate worship
• Genesis 3 the curse

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Worship the big picture

• Genesis 2 human life before the curse
• Revelation 21 life when the curse is gone
• Between these we have the drama of redemption,
  the work of God to bring humanity back into
  communion with himself, to remove the curse and
  bring us to glory in a new creation.

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Discussion Group 1

• What is the significance of Gods calling and
  liberating the Israelite people in the book of
  Exodus (see Ex. 312 716 820, 27 91, 13
  103, 7 1231) What was Gods purpose for
  calling and redeeming the nation of Israel?
• Compare Exodus 195-6 I Peter 29-10. How were
  the Israelites to carry out their priestly duties
  under the old covenant? What does our priestly
  ministry look like under the new covenant?

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Discussion Group 2

• What attributes of God were particularly evident
  in the theophany described in Exodus 19?
• Comparing this scene with Isaiah 61-5 Ezekiel
  1 27, 28 Dan. 107-9 Matthew 175-6 Acts
  93-4 Rev. 1 12-17, how should we be
  instructed about approaching this God?

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Discussion Group 3

• Exodus chapter 24 records the ratification of
  Gods covenant with Israel with a solemn ceremony
  and ritual. This is the first recorded example of
  corporate worship in the Bible.
• How does this passage demonstrate both aspects of
  engaging with God presented in Petersons
  definition of worship (EWG p. 20)?
• How does Ex. 24 1-8 present the structural
  elements for a meeting between God and his
  people?

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