What Is Worship?

“To be used of God. Is there anything more encouraging, more fulfilling? Perhaps not, but there is something more basic: to meet with God. To linger in His presence, to shut out the noise of the city, and, in quietness, give Him the praise He deserves. Before we engage ourselves in His work, let’s meet Him in His Word… in prayer… in worship.” – Chuck Swindoll

Worshiping Jesus together may be the single most important thing we do. It plays an indispensable role in keeping our spiritual fire burning. Corporate worship brings together God’s word, prayer, and fellowship. God isn’t some insecure cosmic being who waits for His worshippers to remind Him how awesome He is and how desperately they need Him before He decides to intervene. Worshiping together teaches us to submit and surrender all our cares to God – our priorities, plans, hopes, dreams, and even our fears. Worship is essential to a vibrant, thriving Christian life.  

For many people today, “worship” has become synonymous with music. Music is, of course, a way in which we offer up praise and worship to God – but worship doesn’t exist solely within the confines of a song, service, or an experience. True worship isn’t a single simple act of song or praise, just as it isn’t only an event that we attend on a Sunday morning. True worship is a lifestyle, to put it another way: our life is our worship.

We worship God when we attend a small group during the week. We worship God when we serve by helping with the kids’ programs. We worship God when we pray for others. We worship God when we love our neighbors. We worship God when we forgive the people who have hurt us. We worship God when we go on short-term mission trips. We worship God when we visit a friend who is struggling or encourage each other over coffee or tea. We worship God when we pray for others. We worship God when we deliver a meal and celebrate the friends he has surrounded us with.

A life of worship is a life-long pursuit. Building a life of worship will take work and commitment. God is always revealing our need to grow and mature into Him, as He finishes the good work in us. Living a life of worship is the path toward realizing the good life. As we examine the purpose of our lives and worship, don’t expect to take the practices of worship and jam them into your already busy life. These practices aren’t to be added to your life, they are to serve as the very foundation of your life; each aspect of your life and work should revolve around living a life of worship. 

The way that you live, let that be worship. Only through the giving and submitting of our entire lives can we rightly worship God and fulfill our purpose and mission on this earth.

Discussion Questions:

1. Read Romans 12: 1-2: What does verse 2 of the passage add to your understanding of true worship?
2. In your own words, what is the difference between attending worship and living in worship?
3. What can we do this week to live our lives as an act of worship?