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I have a big question here. What is worship? I know it's more than playing your instruments or showing your talents. I know its a heart to heart with God. It's when you give praise to the Lord almighty who died for your sins. Right? I thought it was along these lines but lately I found out its alot more complicated. Mabye not but I still would like to know what all of you think what worship is to you. This is especially for worship leaders out there. I really appreciate it guys. Thanks alot.
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Originally Posted by ILOVEGODMAN I have a big question here. What is worship? I know it's more than playing your instruments or showing your talents. I know its a heart to heart with God. It's when you give praise to the Lord almighty who died for your sins. Right? I thought it was along these lines but lately I found out its alot more complicated. Mabye not but I still would like to know what all of you think what worship is to you. This is especially for worship leaders out there. I really appreciate it guys. Thanks alot.
Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Life) claims that “Worship is a life style … To please God is to worship God”
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Louie Giglio defines worship as essentially, "our response to God for who He is and what He has done."
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Robert Weber says, "Worship is a verb."
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the most intimate form of connection we can have with God until we meet Him in heaven.
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All responses so far seem pretty good, but can anyone elaborate on what these responses would look like? Is that even possible? This is something I have been struggling with a lot lately, and there is virtually no support from the worship director at church, so I just keep wondering...sorry, rambling now
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Originally Posted by Dave_01 All responses so far seem pretty good, but can anyone elaborate on what these responses would look like? Is that even possible? This is something I have been struggling with a lot lately, and there is virtually no support from the worship director at church, so I just keep wondering...sorry, rambling now
Dave,
This is a very normal place to struggle.
Worship is much larger than anything we can use to define it. I can tell you times I have truly worshipped but cannot define worship. One of the things that I am fairly certain of, is that worship is not done for our good. It is solely for God's pleasure.
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Originally Posted by trpullen Dave,
This is a very normal place to struggle.
Worship is much larger than anything we can use to define it. I can tell you times I have truly worshipped but cannot define worship. One of the things that I am fairly certain of, is that worship is not done for our good. It is solely for God's pleasure.
Thanks Tom.
Is anyone aware of any good studies on what worship means? I'd like to study it from a scriptural standpoint, but it's kind of daunting to try and do without some sort of guide.
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We were created to worship God.
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Originally Posted by texandawg1288 We were created to worship God. ...which means?
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Originally Posted by ILOVEGODMAN I have a big question here. What is worship? I know it's more than playing your instruments or showing your talents. I know its a heart to heart with God. It's when you give praise to the Lord almighty who died for your sins. Right? I thought it was along these lines but lately I found out its alot more complicated. Mabye not but I still would like to know what all of you think what worship is to you. This is especially for worship leaders out there. I really appreciate it guys. Thanks alot.
WORSHIP IS WHAT????????
The first 3 commandments speak on worshipping God.
In fact out of the small amount of only 10 commandments God thought it important to dedicate three of those commandments to impress on the people that worshipping Him is first priority.
Exodus 20:2-7
Commandment 1. Have no other gods
Commandment 2. Instructs us to have no idols
Commandment 3. Do not misuse His name.
Worship is our reason for being:
A concept of worship can mean different things to different people.
Example: To some, the word worship brings to mind reflective moments sensing the reality of the presence of God. For others it can mean any one of various physical expressions (lifting hands, kneeling, dancing, etc.)
These and numerous other expressions, can be worship.
1 Peter 2:8 – Unbelievers stumble because they disobey the message.
1 Peter 2:9a – But you (believers) are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people belonging to God…
1 Peter 2:9b – “That you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of the
darkness and into His wonderful light”
Our reason for being is to declare His praises.
Worship is wholehearted:
It involves action on our part.
(2 Chron 20:18) – People of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord.
(Job 1:20) – Job fell to the ground.
(Psalm 95:6) – Come let us worship and bow down.
(Matt 28:29) – They came to Jesus, clasped His feet and worshiped Him…
(Romans 12:1) – Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, Holy and pleasing to God. This is
your spiritual act of worship.
(1 Corinthians 14:25) ..So he (an unbeliever) will fall down and worship God, exclaiming
“God is among you”.
(Revelation 4:10) Twenty four elders fell down and worshiped Him who sits on the
throne and worshiped Him….
A cool point to consider:
There are entire chapters in the book of Exodus devoted to giving minute details about the building of the tabernacle and its various articles of furniture. Why did God do this?
Why spend so much time focusing on the size and shape of the stands and of the poles? Why so much time describing such seemingly insignificant details? The fact is that each piece in the tabernacle represented something. I am convinced that such careful planning and details were to help the people to understand that a righteous, holy, all-powerful God did not want His people to be indifferent, lazy or apathetic in their worship of Him.
Here is an awesome verse that requires both Heart and Action.
(Hebrews12:28) – “therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shake, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
Worship is a response of man when he
encounters either God or His actions:
When we encounter the reality of God, true worship is the outcome.
Case and point:
The encounter with Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.
In front of the people of Israel, Elijah issued a challenge to the prophets of the false god Baal. “Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but do not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call the name of your god, and I will call the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire – he is God.” (1 Kings 18:23-24)
They did everything exactly as Elijah had said. Baal’s prophets prepared their sacrifice and called out to their god. From morning until evening they called out, but nothing happened. Finally, it was Elijah’s turn. As if to really prove the point he had his helpers pour large jars of water on his sacrifice. He then stepped up and prayed that the Lord would show the people that He was indeed God. And he did. The bull, the wood, the soil and even the water were all consumed by fire.
To me the response of the people really says it all.
“When all the people saw this they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD – He is God! The LORD – He is God!”’ (1 Kings 18:39) No one needed to tell them what to do or how to respond. Worship is the natural response when people encounter God or His actions.
An unbeliever comes into the church and people are speaking forth prophetically. He is convicted by their words, and he realizes that God is there. His response “ So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming God is really among you.” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25) in this scene Paul does not suggest that someone will need to show the man scriptural precedent for bowing in worship. It is the obvious response.
When you realize the presence of the Almighty God, the only appropriate response is worship.
True Worship is Costly:
The concept of giving to God as a part of worship can be seen throughout the whole bible. It seems to almost be a given that worship will cost something.
-Old Testament – people brought their animals, which they had spent time and energy nurturing and caring for, to offer as a sacrifice to God.
-New Testament – If you didn’t want to corral your own lamb to Jerusalem you could simply bring along some extra cash and purchase the appropriate sacrificial animal right the temple.
Either way, however, their worship still cost them something. It was either time and effort of raising the animal or the actual monetary value of purchasing an animal for the sacrifice. Their worship offered something of value to God.
A Prime example is laid out for us in 2 Samuel 24:18-23.
David understood the principle of worship being costly.
Here is 2 Samuel 24:18-23 broken down.
- David sinned.
- God caused a plague killing 70,000 people.
- David was devastated and cried out to God.
- The prophet Gad instructed David to go a man named Araunah and build an alter to the
Lord on his threshing floor.
- Araunah was flattered and offered it for free along with oxen for the sacrifice, and
threshing sledges, and ox yokes for wood on which to burn the sacrifice.
David, however, knew better. He understood that simply taking something from someone else to offer to God was not acceptable. David’s response back to Araunah was simple, “ No. I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” David refused to offer up a sacrifice in which he had no real investment.
Sacrifice means “giving up something for the sake of another.”
A different perspective:
If someone gives you a gift would you rather receive a diamond ring or plastic ring,? A rusted out Pinto or a brand-new Roles Royce? The same is true for God. He doesn’t want cheap imitations or leftovers. He wants our very best. This goes beyond finances. The scripture repeatedly refers to giving glory and honor and thanks to the Lord.
Giving to the Lord out of a heart filled with gratitude and praise is truly an act of worship that God enjoys. Are we willing to sacrifice our time, our finances and even whatever is most precious to us to our most worthy God?
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Worship is all about humility. "The art of loving oneselves less." To worship something, all your desires must be behind God.
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Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service
Or in RSV language:
Rom 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
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I've never been sold on the "worship is a lifestyle" or "worship is everything I do" philosophy. I understand the intent of it, but I don't think it works. I can wash dishes as a service to the Lord, with the same motivation as I might worship, but I don't think it should be called worship. A man named David Garrett once said "if worship is everything you do, then it is nothing in particular".
It is tough to describe, but if we don't, how do we know if we have worshipped? The Bible describes the act of worship in a very specific way. As far as I can see in scripture, whenever it says people worshipped, it was a specific place and time.
Praise is a lot easier to define: it is simply saying something good about someone. I can praise God, but I can also praise another person. Worship is exclusive. I cannot worship God AND someone else or something else. It doesn't make sense to worship more than one person or thing.
I have always thought of worship as submitting my life, will, mind, etc. once again to God, pledging my alegience to Him. This involves some of the aspects RecordingGuy brought up (ie. sacrifice, etc. Good stuff by the way)
Some of my thoughts on the subject anyway.
Answer:
Originally Posted by ILOVEGODMAN I have a big question here. What is worship? I know it's more than playing your instruments or showing your talents. I know its a heart to heart with God. It's when you give praise to the Lord almighty who died for your sins. Right? I thought it was along these lines but lately I found out its alot more complicated. Mabye not but I still would like to know what all of you think what worship is to you. This is especially for worship leaders out there. I really appreciate it guys. Thanks alot.
Well dude, I am no worship leader, but i am a 15-year-old brother in christ.
Anyone can correct me if I am wrong, but I think that worship is all of that you have said. The word itself is this: [wor·ship n. Passionate devotion; adoration.] To worship is to honor and love God or to regard with passionate or adoring esteem or devotion toward Him. When you Worship, you do all you have said; as well as bring honor, glory, praise, adoration, devotion, etc. to God. I also know that when you truly worship, you experience him differently and/or deeply. I hope this answers your question. Thank you for your time to read this. And YES, all of the other peoples definitions are correct, at least it seems that way to me.
Psalm 33:3-"Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy."
God Bless,
Tyler