Worship involves giving God the honor and praise due Him. First we'll look at some Scripture that helps us to better understand worship from Jesus' point of view. Then we'll examine the rest of the New Testament, and then check the Old Testament background as well. Finally I will offer my recommendation about worship as a way to grow spiritually.
From the Life of Jesus
Matthew 4: 8-10
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’’”
John 4: 19-24
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
Return to top of page
Other New Testament Passages
Acts 20: 7
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.
Hebrews 12: 28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
James 5: 13
Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
Return to top of page
From the Old Testament
Exodus 8: 20
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the water and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.
1Chronicles 16: 29
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
Psalm 22: 25
From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.
Psalm 33: 1
Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
Psalm 40: 3
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD
Psalm 63: 4 I
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands
Psalm 100: 2
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Psalm 100: 4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Psalm 104: 33
I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Practical Application
More is gained from worship when the focus is taken off self and placed on God. The focus of worship is God, not us. Our main concern is not how we happen to be feeling during any particular part of worship. Our main concern is about whether or not the worship that's being offered is really honoring and pleasing to God. Whatever style of worship is being offered (traditional or contemporary), the main thing is that the worship be offered sincerely and passionately, with true devotion.
As Christians we are not bound by Old Testament regulations, but we are informed by the seriousness with which the Sabbath was observed in the Old Testament period. In the New Testament we see that the regular practice of the first Christians was to gather on the first day of the week to break bread, or to "have communion" as we might say today. Although we don't want to become legalistic about worship attendance, it is the normal practice of mature Christians to be in worship on a weekly basis.