Question 1

What is the ultimate purpose of my worship?

Accepted Answer

1 Chronicles 29:10-13Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: “O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. “O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!”Isaiah 6:3They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”Isaiah 66:1-2This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.”Worship is the recognition of who God is, and of who we are in relation to him. Ultimately, everything we do should be based on what we think of and how we worship the almighty God. If our actions don’t pay homage to him, then we are paying homage to someone or something else.Exodus 23:19“As you harvest your crops, bring the very best of the first harvest to the house of the Lord your God.”Proverbs 3:9Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.Giving the firstfruits of our income to God honors him as our first priority. Our offerings demonstrate that our work is for God and that his work is most important.Revelation 4:9-11Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”Revelation 5:11-12Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”Our worship of God gives us a foretaste of heaven.Genesis 4:2-4Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock.In the gifts of Able and Cain we see that from the very beginning humans have an instinct for worship. We desire to offer thanks and honor to God by expressing our praise and bringing offerings from our work to God. Even if we fall short of the mark, as Cain would, the instinct is still there.

Question 2

How is worship essential and integral to my relationship with God?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 34:8Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped.2 Kings 17:36“Worship only the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt with great strength and a powerful arm. Bow down to him alone, and offer sacrifices only to him.”1 Chronicles 16:29Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.Psalm 145:3Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.Isaiah 66:1-2This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? Could you build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the Lord, have spoken! I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.”Worship is the recognition of who God is, and who we are in relation to him. It is recognizing his gracious character, and his many acts of love towards us, and then our returning love to him through how we live our lives.Exodus 29:43“I will meet the people of Israel there, in the place made holy by my glorious presence.”1 Kings 8:10-11When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of the Lord.2 Chronicles 7:1When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple.God meets his people in a unique and powerful way when they worship him together.Deuteronomy 31:11“You must read this Book of Instruction to all the people of Israel when they assemble before the Lord your God at the place he chooses.”Micah 4:2People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.Something very powerful and unique happens when God’s people get together to sing, praise, hear his Word, and worship him. There is a sense of community and fellowship that can only happen when believers worship together.Psalm 5:7Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.Psalm 47:7God is the King over all the earth. Praise him with a psalm.Psalm 95:1Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.Psalm 100:1-4Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.Isaiah 6:3They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”Worship is a fitting response to God’s holiness, power, love, and grace.Matthew 14:33Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.Jesus Christ is worthy of our worship.Revelation 4:9-11Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”Revelation 5:11-12Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”Our worship of God is a foretaste of our experience in heaven. We are acknowledging as well as we can the greatness and uniqueness of God.

Question 3

What does worshiping God involve? How should I worship God?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 35:2-3So Jacob told everyone in his household, “Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing. We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”Exodus 20:2-4“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.”Deuteronomy 11:16“Be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship other gods.”Psalm 96:4Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.Revelation 22:9But he [the angel] said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God!”We must worship God alone because he alone is worthy of our utmost devotion.1 Chronicles 13:3[David Said] “It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul.”True worship is an expression of genuine love for God; it is not done out of a sense of guilt. God wants a heartfelt response from us, like David’s—not a distant acknowledgment like Saul’s.Exodus 3:5“Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.”When we approach God’s presence in worship, we must recognize that wherever we are in his presence, we are standing on holy ground. In other words, we must come to God with an attitude of respect and humility for Almighty God, no matter where we are.Psalm 9:11Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem. Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.Psalm 35:18Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people.Hebrews 13:15Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.Our worship should include praise and thanks to God for what he has done through his Son.1 Chronicles 13:6-8Then David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (also called Kiriath-jearim) to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord who is enthroned between the cherubim. They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart. David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.Psalm 33:2Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.Psalm 71:22Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God. I will sing praises to you with a lyre, O Holy One of Israel.Psalm 150:3-5Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.Worship can take the form of a joyous celebration with musical instruments.1 Chronicles 15:16David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals.Psalm 30:4Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.Psalm 147:1Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting!Ephesians 5:18-19Be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.Singing is an important part of our worship to God. Note above how the psalmist is encouraging praise through song, practicing the mutual encouragement aspect of worship. Further, Paul reminds the Ephesians that worship ought to include expressions directed to God not simply before God. We praise when we speak about God; we worship when we speak to God.Psalm 95:6Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,Kneeling and bowing are appropriate postures for corporate worship.Hebrews 12:28Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.Holy respect and awe should accompany thanksgiving as appropriate attitudes in worship.Amos 5:21-24“I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.”Matthew 15:8-9“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”Public worship is useless if done without sincerity and the desire to live wholeheartedly for God.1 Chronicles 29:10-13Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: “O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!”1 Timothy 2:8In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.Public prayer is an important part of corporate worship.Deuteronomy 31:12-13“Call them all together—men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns—so they may hear this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions. Do this so that your children who have not known these instructions will hear them and will learn to fear the Lord your God. Do this as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.”2 Chronicles 20:13All the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children.It is good to worship as a family.Matthew 2:11They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.Worship should be accompanied by generous giving.John 4:23-24“The time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”Acts 2:46They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.Worship must be in spirit and in truth, with full engagement on the part of worshipers, not only expressing heartfelt truth about God and to God, but also receiving truth from God.1 Corinthians 11:23-26I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.The Lord’s Supper is both an act of worship to God and an act of fellowship among believers.1 Corinthians 14:26Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.Everyone has something valuable to contribute to public worship, but all things must be done in good order.1 Chronicles 16:4-6David appointed the following Levites to lead the people in worship before the Ark of the Lord—to invoke his blessings, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. Asaph, the leader of this group, sounded the cymbals. Second to him was Zechariah, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They played the harps and lyres. The priests, Benaiah and Jahaziel, played the trumpets regularly before the Ark of God’s Covenant.Worship leaders can help guide God’s people in worship.

Question 4

Should my worship be somber and serious or joyous and celebratory?

Accepted Answer

Nehemiah 8:9-12Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.Psalm 100:1-5Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.Worship can actually include both solemn silence and loud expressions of gladness. The context may well determine the tone of worship. When our expressions of worship are too narrowly defined, our worship can easily lose its power to engage both heart and mind.Leviticus 10:1-3Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when he said, ‘I will display my holiness through those who come near me. I will display my glory before all the people.’” And Aaron was silent.Worship is a response to the holiness of God and therefore should be respectful and reverent.Psalm 95:1-7Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!Matthew 2:11They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.Revelation 7:9-12After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”True worship can involve kneeling in humble adoration, standing in honor, and rejoicing in celebration.1 Corinthians 14:26-33When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. . . . For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.Worship is not to be done haphazardly or in a chaotic manner.1 Chronicles 6:31-32David assigned the following men to lead the music at the house of the Lord after the Ark was placed there. They ministered with music at the Tabernacle until Solomon built the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They carried out their work, following all the regulations handed down to them.From ancient times, music has always played a central role in worship.

Question 5

What happens if I lose my focus on worship?

Accepted Answer

Ecclesiastes 2:17So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.Nothing seems worthwhile when we lose our sense of God’s presence in our lives. Life becomes meaningless and work is futile when we lose our sense of purpose, which is found when our lives are lived and our work is done to the glory of God.Deuteronomy 8:18-19“Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed.”Those who refuse to honor God will not be honored by him. If we do not worship God, we will worship other things that will lead ultimately to our destruction.

Question 6

How can I make worship a part of my daily life?

Accepted Answer

John 4:23-24“The time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”Worship is not confined to formal places and times. The only thing that is required is that we worship God in spirit (through authentic faith inspired by the Holy Spirit) and in truth (according to God’s true person and nature). We can do that anytime and anywhere.Matthew 6:25-34“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”Jesus listed off various opportunities that we have to worry (food, clothing or other needs); all these things can easily become ultimate concerns for us, things we can come to worship. But when we find ourselves anxious about these lesser things, it’s time for us to turn our worship God—the One with the power to provide them all. If we cannot or will not worship God, we will have made our anxiety about small things our idol.Ephesians 5:18-19Be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.Worship, in addition to being an act of the people of God, is also a part of ordinary life. One way to bring worship into our daily lives is through music—whether we sing or listen to it.Romans 11:33-36Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.We should take a moment to praise God whenever we see his wisdom, power, direction, care, or love in our lives. We should practice composing doxologies—reflective statements about God and his character. Worship then becomes a way of life.