What is "worship"? | Bob Kauflin

This is the last blog post! This video is an interview of Kauflin as he approaches worship from a non-musical aspect. When asked for his best definition of worship, Kauflin defined it as "exalting something above myself that will ultimately satisfy me", and as a response to God's glory. Worship without music is to continue to acknowledge God's name to others and share God's love with others. As people worship God, they respond to the grace that God has had for us through Jesus, and do it joyfully rather than grudgingly. Kauflin also says that "if our worship doesn't begin with grace, it's not really worship." Therefore, worship, including music or not, has to be our response to God's grace for us.

I really liked this video interview! Whenever I hear the word "worship", my mind tends to jump to music. But this video showed me that even with music, if I'm not doing it while in awe of God's grace and mercy for me, then it's not worship; it's just music. I can also use this information when I go off to college. I won't have the opportunity to worship outside of church, and may not get to be on the worship team (which I've been on at my church since I was 9). But even if I cant serve on the worship team, I can worship God by sharing His love for others and reminding myself of His grace for me.

Worship Matters: Relationship

In chapter 28-31 of the book, Kauflin deals with the different kinds of relationships worship leaders must have with one another. He discusses how to resolve disagreements that are bound to happen. I chose to focus on the part where he talked about criticism and compliments. Kauflin said that we must take criticism as an opportunity to grow and re-evaluate how well we are worshipping. We must take both criticism and compliments with a thank you and pray for those who speak to us about how we worship. Kauflin also discusses the relationships worship leaders have with the church pastors. It is important that worship leaders get along with pastors, and take into account their remarks on worship. However, when disagreements arise, both must be willing to work together and pray for each other and stay rooted in faith.

I mainly related to the compliment section of this part. Usually, I am really awkward at accepting compliments and tend to not accept them at all. It's not uncommon for me to try to reject the compliment. I learned that I must take compliments as they are, nothing more and nothing less. I should use both compliments and criticism as ways to help me grow in worship leading. I also learned that in our worship team we must continue to build relationships with one another, constantly praying for them. It's important that we communicate whenever disagreements arise, in order to avoid creating divisive conflicts.