Jesus teaches us in John 4 that we must worship the Father in spirit and truth. We would say today, left and right brain. But it goes further, indicating that mainly it is engaging the very spirit of man with the Spirit of God. So, reaching emotions is not all worship is about, nor is it strictly reaching rational man. Both should be the gateway to our spirit and God's Spirit becoming intertwined.
Some have used the temple/tabernacle as a model for worship that helps us create an environment for John 4 teaching to take place in our lives.
The tabernacle and the temple are pictures of heavenly and perfected earthly worship. Read Hebrews 8:4, 5 and also chapters 8, 9, and 10. We would do well to remind ourselves of Psalm 100:4 as we approach church on Sunday morning, gathering as the Body of Christ for worship. "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise." Our focus is on our relationships as the body coming together to prepare ourselves for an encounter with the living God, and coming cleansed and purified before Him so that we may enter His presence as we gather.
Then we proceed westward to the inner court, the "Tent of Meeting," where together with the Body we encounter God more directly. We join our hearts, minds, and voices in an encounter with Him which is enhanced by the fact that we are together before Him.
Finally, the Shekinah glory of God Himself dwells in the Holy of Holies, which in the OT could be entered only on the "Day of Atonement" by the high priest as he petitioned God on behalf of the people. But, praise the Lord, we, as God's children, now freely enter by the blood of Jesus. (Hebrews 10:19-23) May we use the model above to assist us and create an environment for worship in spirit and truth. mjm
