Multi Sensory Worship - Emerging and Effective

First of all, let me just say that this post is long overdue and I apologise for that. There have been so many other things that demanded my attention, like work, um … chat (haha), um, more work? and quite a busy ministry and social life. Whew. Ok, I was a little lazy also. Oh well.

A month or so back, my church Bandar Utama Chapel had our ‘Multi Sensory Worship’ for the second time. The concept is still quite new to us, but as I understand it, quite a few churches in the US and even some in Malaysia are already doing it on quite a regular (is it?) basis. The concept is simple enough and the way I understand it is that instead of worshipping how most churches normally do (singing, etc) worship takes a different form, or forms – being multi sensory. Humans have five basic senses: sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing. What better way to worship the God of our salvation, Jesus Christ, than with all our senses? And that is what, simply put, MSW is all about. We worship the Lord Jesus with our sight, taste (taste certain foods and try to understand that in the context of the Bible passage), hearing (picturing ourselves in that situation through hearing), touch (actual actions) and smell. After all God gave us 5 senses to worship Him.

So in celebration of Good Friday and Easter/Resurrection Sunday, BUC presents our MSW. It was held at our church congregation hall (Antioch Centre) and was opened to the public on Good Friday itself, evening. The hall was divided into four parts, with each quadrant having exhibits recalling the walk Jesus took to the cross and His death for us. A booklet was given for each worshipper to read through, understand the exhibit and ultimately respond to God in worship.

Shall we have a look?

(For this post I will take you through stations 1-2.)

This station (1) greets you upon your entry into BUC. The church hall was lit with soft lamps and candles.

Station 1

The first station is a 'shadow puppet' scene portraying Jesus Christ's trial and judgment. Jesus, innocent and sinless, was silent before His accusers, as He kept his journey towards the cross to fulfil God the Father's will. The reason for this was because there was simply no other way to save humanity, other than in the redeeming sacrifice of a perfect person (Jesus) for us. The worshipper is asked to close their eyes and imagine what it felt like to stand in Jesus' shoes in such a situation.

Station 2: Jesus' sentence

In station 2, the worshipper is taken to the scene of Jesus Christ's sentence and punishment. He did not sin at all to deserve punishment but He bore all for US (ME AND YOU). Playing also was a video of the Passion of the Christ (the very painful flogging scene). Consider Christ and what He has gone through for you and me.

But He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped and we were healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

What could have been more amazing? God taking the penalty for us, the created.

God bless you.