Paul's teaching on worship
THEOLOGY OF The central question:
WORSHIP
February 28, 2008
Paul's Worship Theology
D 1'd you notIce....
. ?
In Paul's writings,
congregational meetings and
aspects of ministry within the
body of Christ are never referred
to as "worship."
- _
Romans 1:18-32 (pp. 169-71)
• Describe the essence of false
religion and idolatry presented in this
passage. Why is such worship the
object of God's judgment?
• Suppressing the truth about God
• Failure to glorify God or give thanks
r-­
• Exchanged the glory of God
• Futile thinking & darkened hearts
• Moral degradation
What kind of worship is acceptable
and pleasing to God under the
new covenant?
r-­
I Thessalonians 1:9-10 (pp. 167-8)
• How does the conversion of the
Thessalonians described in these
verses express the radical nature of
their new relationship with the "Jiving
and true God?"
• Total reorientation of life
• Abandoned idolatry
• "Serve" (douleuein): total commitment of
life, as a slave to his master
Romans 3:21-25; 5:8-9; 6:1-10
How do these passages reveal how
God through Christ has made it
possible for us to "offer the worship
that is pleasing to him"?
• Redemption (3:24)
• Atonement (3:25): fulfills the sin offering
of the Day of Atonement ... Jesus has
I-­
ful1illed and replaced the central rite of
the Old Testament religion.
1
 Romans 5:8-9
• Paul's argument: we may only relate to
God on the basis of Chrisfs perfect
'worship', which is his self-offering.
Jesus' death was a once-tor-aN sin
offering, providing the atonement
towards which the propitiatory rites of
r-- the old covenant were ultimately
pointing.
Romans 12:1-2 (pp. 173-76)
What is the "radically new
understand ing of worship" set forth
in this passage? How do the words
logike latreia, which Peterson
renders as "understanding worship"
express the kind of worship that is
acceptable to God?
Romans 1:9; 15:7-16
How do these passages link
preaching and the ministry of the
gospel to the acceptable worship
described in Romans 12:1-2?
Romans 6:1-10
• Baptism into Christ's death
• A new life of obedience made possible by the
self-giving obedience of Jesus Christ.
"If J8SlJS' death is the unique and never-to­
be-repeated sin offering of the new covenant,
faith expressed in obedience is the
'holocaust' or 'burnt offering' which Christians
- can offer to God because of that sin offering."
(173).
Romans 12:1-2 (pp. 177-79)
What are the practical implications of
the idea of "living sacrifice" in
everyday life on the one hand, and in
the "church service," on the other?
-
Phil. 2:17-18; 4:18
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2 Timothy 4:6 Summary:
Peterson refers in his conclusion to a new
interest in congregational life and ministry,
but "a dangerous tendency towards
introversions in many churches." Indeed,
congregational worship in some contexts
can be like 'a narcotic trip into another world
to escape the ethical responsibilities of living
a Christian life in the world: (p. 188)
On the basis of this chapter, summarize in
one or two sentences the essence of
worship that is pleasing to God.