There are over four hundred references to singing in the Bible, but true worship goes beyond just singing songs at church.

Worship Is Not About Us

When God’s people worship him, they benefit greatly. Unforunately, it is human nature to make everything about ourselves! Some may fail to enter into worship because of self-consciousness, while others can be overly critical about all the trappings of the experience – the vocalist messed up, the volume was too loud, this song isn’t very good.

John 4:23 (ESV) But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

While we get to participate in and experience worship, it is not about us nor is it for us. It is about God and for God.

Worship Is a Response to Who God Is

Worship is most basically a proper response to who God is. This assumes that we know who God is! We grow in our knowledge of and relationship with God when we seek him through his word – the Bible – and when we seek him through prayer, fasting, worship, and other disciplines.

This is not always easy, especially when we are enduring trials. Nonetheless, we see countless examples from scripture of people who worshiped God even through the greatest of trials. That’s because worship is not about how we feel on a given Sunday morning, even if what we are feeling is legitimate pain and loss. The times when we need God most are often the times when we are most deeply formed by worship.

How do you know when God is at the center of your life? When God’s at the center you worship. When he’s not you worry. -Rick Warren

Oftentimes we grow in our faith not when we gain an understanding of our circumstances, but when we gain a deeper understanding of who God is. Worship is our response to God on this basis.

We Worship God in Everything We Do

Worship is not only what we do for three songs on Sunday morning – this is a time of worship. Worship is a lifestyle, not an experience.

Hebrews 13:15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

How do we interact with those around us? How do we devote ourselves to God daily? How do we lead other people to respond properly to God? If we are honoring God in these ways, we are living worshipfully.

Article for this topic by Daniel Martin.
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Romans 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

See Also: Church, Sermonlink, Worship

Talk About It
  1. What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. How would you describe worship? Discuss.
  3. How has worship impacted your life? Explain.
  4. What are some ways that people can make worship more about themselves instead of about God? Explain.
  5. The Bible contains over four hundred references to singing and fifty direct commands to sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Why do you think worship in song is so important?
  6. Read Psalm 9:1-2. Is worship this easy even when life is difficult? Discuss.
  7. Think of a time when worship was difficult for you. How did you worship?
  8. Think of a time when worship was most meaningful to you. How did you worship? Explain.
  9. Read Romans 12:1. How would you define worship after reading this passage?
  10. What are some practical ways that you can demonstrate your worship to the Lord?
  11. After this discussion, would you change your definition of true worship? Why or why not?
  12. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.

This is part of the Rethinking Church series. Click here for sermon resources.

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