Worship: Why We Do What We Do (The One Where We Talk About Tithes And Offerings)

Welcome to another weekly installment of “Why We Do What We Do,” the series where we talk about common elements in Christian worship services.

Last week we discussed communion, otherwise known as the eucharist or the Lord’s Supper.  This time we talk about the offering as a part of gathered worship.  Perhaps because of the rise of televangelist scandals and other frauds, tithes and offerings are often seen as an undesirable subject.  It is, for many people — even pastors — the “distasteful” part of a worship service.

My interview subject is Sojourn Worship Leader Lorie King, who has led worship in a many contexts around the world.  She completed a Master’s program in Worship from the School of Church Music and Worship at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has been in Pastor Mike Cosper’s Sojourn worship ministry since shortly after our launch in 2000. Click “play” below to listen now, or download the episode from our podcast, Sojournmusic.com Radio, available at iTunes and other podcast directories.

In this short interview we covered:

• Why do we believe that the offering is an act of worship and should be part of the liturgy?
• How does Sojourn do it, and what advantage might there be in this structure?

Hear The One Where We Talk About The Lord’s Supper

Hear The One Where We Talk About The Word Of God In Worship Services

Hear The One Where We Talk About The Passing Of The Peace

Hear The One Where We Talk About The Celebration Of Assurance

Hear The One Where We Talk About Confession And Repentance

Hear The One Where We Talk About Expressions Of Adoration And Praise

Hear The One Where We Talk About The “Call To Worship”

for examples of various worship service readings, free for you to use and adapt in your own worship services, visit theopensourcebook.org

view the artwork above, “Offering,” along with other original liturgical art from the Sojourn community at sojournvisualarts.com