| Principles
of Family Worship |
When Jesus rode
into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-17), it was a wonderful time of
‘family worship' - a large gathering of all ages having a
great time with Jesus. When organising family services (or
‘all-age worship times') you could apply the same principles
that helped to make Jesus' triumphant entry to Jerusalem a
special occasion.
| 1 |
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It
Began with the 'Organisers' Hearing from Jesus |
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v1: Jesus
sent two disciples. |
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v6: The
disciples went and did as Jesus instructed. |
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| 2 |
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There
was an Appropriate Biblical Foundation for everything in
the Programme |
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v4-5: What
was happening fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy: "Say
to the Daughter of Zion, see your king comes to you
gentle and riding on a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9) |
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| 3 |
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The
'Worship Leaders' had Prepared so that everything that
was needed was there, and then they Led by Example |
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v7: "They
brought the donkey and the colt." "They placed
their cloaks on them." |
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| 4 |
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There
was Opportunity for a Variety of Active Participation by
Everyone there |
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v8-9:
"A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
while others cut down branches from the trees and spread
them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him, and
those that followed shouted." |
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| 5 |
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The
Word of God was shared Concisely and in ways Relevant for
the Situation |
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v9: They
spoke of who Jesus is - Son of David, and what he came to
do - Hosanna (save now). |
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v13: Jesus
referred to Old Testament prophecy, "My house will
be called a house of prayer but you are making it a den
of thieves." (Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11) |
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v16: Jesus
challenged the teachers of the law with Scripture. "Have
you never heard 'from the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise'?" (Psalm 8:2) |
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| 6 |
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The
Focus of Everything was Clearly on Jesus and Led Others
around to ask about Him |
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v10: The
whole city was stirred and asked "who is this?" |
| 7 |
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Things
not Appropriate for the Occasion were Shifted out of the
Way! |
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v12-13:
Jesus drove out those buying and selling and overturned
the tables of the money changers. |
| 8 |
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Room
was made for Prayer, and for Joyful Expressions from
People of many Different Backgrounds |
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v13: Jesus
removed the things that prevented it being "a house
of prayer for all nations" and a place of "joy
in my house of prayer." (Isaiah 56:7) |
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| 9 |
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Opportunity
was Given for those in Need to be Ministered to |
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v14: The
blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he
healed them. |
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| 10 |
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Children
as part of the Congregation shared the experience of
Jesus being with His People and they were Actively
Involved |
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v15: The
children were shouting in the temple area "Hosanna
to the Son of David." |
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| 11 |
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The
Contribution of the Children was Given its True Value |
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v16: Jesus
said that what the children were doing came from their
relationship with God. "From the lips of children
and infants you have ordained praise, because of your
enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger." (Psalm
8:2) |
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| Written by Graeme C.
Young. If using this material, please
acknowledge author and source (www.youngresources.co.uk). |
