This is the first installment in a two-part series about worship. The next article, “Everyday Worship: The Importance of Worship Outside a Church Building (Part Two)” will be posted June 14.
Do you remember worshipping?
Along with over a hundred people at camp, singing your heart out to the King of kings while some danced, lifted their hands, or closed their eyes. Out of tune, not completely together, but singing anyway.
Or packing meals with a church group, laughing, telling stories, and competing to see which table could pack more in less time.
Or meeting with a dozen other teens in a wacky downtown coffee shop to sit with God—reading, studying, and meditating on His Word or deep in prayer.
Whether you’re singing in a crowded basement or serving kids at VBS, this is worship.
But you know what else is worship?
Leading a small group.
Doing the dishes.
Making a card for the shut-ins of your church.
Sending an encouraging text to your friend.
Smiling instead of feeling bad for yourself.
Worship can be big or small acts of kindness. It can be public singing or private Bible reading. You could see it as meeting many people where they’re at or impacting just one.
It doesn’t matter what you’re doing. One is just as important as the other.
Because worship? It’s doing something good and giving God the glory.
What Is Worship?
Unlike love, which is clearly defined in 1 Corinthians 13 and elsewhere (John 15:12–13, 1 John 3:16), I couldn’t find a Bible verse that defines “worship.”
So, I went digging.
Now, I’m no theology expert . . . but maybe I don’t have to be, since “What is Worship?” from The Gospel Coalition does a fantastic job of rounding up some various definitions from actual experts.
John Frame said, “Redemption is the means; worship is the goal. In one sense, worship is the whole point of everything.”
William Temple said, “Worship is the submission of all our nature to God.”
And, finally, Louie Giglio said, “Worship is our response . . . expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.”
To sum it up, worship is giving God the glory above all else.
True Worship
There’s a big difference between heart worship and outward honor, as Jesus made clear in Matthew 15:8–9.
In that passage, He’s calling out the Pharisees for following the commandments without having a love for God. Their worship was in vain because it was for show, not out of love.
Have you ever considered that we’re just like the Pharisees?
Imagine you’re singing during a worship service. You have a beautiful voice, you’re lifting your hands in praise . . . but your eyes are stuck on the woman in front of you. What is she wearing? It looks like a patchwork quilt. And you listen to the man behind you. Why isn’t he singing? That’s just rude.
The music is too loud, you don’t like the lyrics, the band has weird hairdos today, the room is stuffy . . . eventually, you’re not worshipping, are you?
You’re there week after week, holding your hands up and singing, but it’s only an act. There’s no heart for God behind your behavior.
That’s the difference between worshipping for show and true worship.
Two Ways We Worship
There are two kinds of worship (Hebrews 13:15–16): acts of the lips and good deeds.
Let’s expand on both.
Acts of the Mouth
This is praising! As I read Hebrews 13:15 in the New King James Version, I thought, “Why does it say praise is a sacrifice?”
Maybe, like the sacrifices in the Old Testament days made to God’s glory, giving thanks is a “sacrifice” that pleases God.
Or maybe you could take it more literally. Praise can feel impossible when life knocks us down. Among persecution and suffering, it’s a sacrifice of relying on your turbulent emotions to praise God despite the negative circumstances.
When you praise, you could be singing, praying, or just giving thanks for all God has given you.
Good Deeds
Have you ever volunteered for an animal shelter, food shelf, or VBS? These things could all be considered acts of worship or “good deeds.”
We know we aren’t saved by works. But we are made for good works (Ephesians 2:8–10).
They’re how we show the world a better kind of love than it’s used to and how we model Christ-likeness everywhere we go.
How, When, and Where Do We Worship?
Do you have to wait to worship until you’re in church? Definitely not! You can worship all week long—at home or work, in the park or church, or anywhere else. It could be Sunday morning, Wednesday evening, or during your lunch break.
Let’s be honest. You shouldn’t wait until Sunday morning or Wednesday evening. You don’t have to wait to worship until you’re with a church group, like a Bible study.
Worship can happen anywhere, at any time. Paul and Silas didn’t wait until they were in church to praise—they praised in the prison cell (Acts 16:25)!
Do you have to sing? While you’re singing, do you have to hold your hands up and close your eyes? No, you don’t. You certainly can. But those things don’t mean you’re worshipping.
Do you have to volunteer? Or donate all your money and possessions? Or visit sick kids and elderly?
Whoa, let me stop right there.
You could do all those things, but none of it matters . . . unless you love (1 Corinthians 13:1–3).
A heart of worship is just a heart aligned to love the Lord in words, thoughts, actions, and spirit.
(We’ll go more in-depth on this in the next post!)
We covered a lot here. (And there’s so much more to deal with!) So, what’s the takeaway?
Worship is beautiful. There’s no right or wrong way to worship as long as your heart is in it.
Sometimes we get distracted from worshipping the Lord. And you know what? My prayer is that you fall more in love with Jesus.
Because worshipping Him—above all else—is worth it.
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