Practical Teaching on Worship

Practical Teaching on Worship

     There are a few things to remember when worshiping our great God. The focus of worship must be the triune God. God has revealed himself as a Trinity. The Father, Son, and Spirit are the one God of the Bible. Since this is the case, all three persons in the godhead deserve worship.

What is worship? Worship is ascribing worth to God, acknowledging the glorious attributes of God, magnifying and praising God, thanking and appreciating God, responding in awe and joy to God, and approaching God in humility and reverence. “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Rev. 4:11).

     The Bible is at the center of worship. Worship must be biblical. The word of God is to be taught, proclaimed, heard, sung, obeyed, read, and prayed. This naturally (or supernaturally since we are discussing born again believers) leads to worshiping the God of the word. When God's words are spoken and heard, the result is worship. How can a believer not adore God after hearing his word? How can a Christian not humbly bow before the holy God of Scripture?

     Biblical worship includes several things. Prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and giving are worshipful (Acts 2:45; 1Cor. 8-9). Confession is pleasing to God (Neh. 9; Ps. 51; Jms. 5:16). Preaching and teaching are acts of worship (Neh. 8:7-9; Acts 2, 5:42, 8:4, 14:7; 1Cor. 14:26). We worship God when we read Scripture (Neh. 8:1-6; 1Tim. 4:13). It is also worship when believers exercise discipline (Matt. 18:15-20; 1Cor. 5:1-5), observe baptism (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38-41) and the Lord's Supper (Lk. 22:19; 1Cor. 11:17-34).

     Worship encompasses the entirety of the Christian life. There is no area of life that is not affected by the worship of God (Rom. 12:1; 1Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17). Most would assume that worship is limited to our actions. True worship must not end there; our minds and hearts must be engaged when we worship the Lord (Mk. 12:30). Worship is done in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:21-24). This ties together everything that has been discussed thus far. Our entire beings are involved in worshiping God, but it must be biblical- it must be anchored in the truth of God's word.

     Worship is to be private and corporate (Heb. 10:25). We worship God individually, but must also come together with other believers. It is when we are among other Christians, that we grow, learn, hear, etc. We worship God privately, but this then overflows into corporate worship.

Something that has been lost to the last few generations is family worship. This, however, is found throughout Scripture. Genesis 18:17-19 tells that Abraham was to command his children and household in the ways of the Lord. Deuteronomy 6:1-8 instructs parents to teach their children the things of the Lord consistently. Joshua 24:15 reveals that households are to serve and worship the Lord. Psalm 78:1-8 admonishes the teaching of the next generation. Ephesians 6:4 encourages families to worship purposely and consistently in order for children to be disciplined and instructed in the Lord. And 1 Timothy 3:4-5 shows that elders must lead family worship in order to be qualified to lead worship in the church.

     All of this goes to show that families ought to worship together. This is to be done corporately in the church, but also in the home. There are many ways to do this. The important thing is that God be glorified. What follows are some suggestions.

     A set time would be a good place to start. It may be everyday before dinner or a couple of times a week. The idea is to be deliberate and consistent. Read a chapter of Scripture. Briefly discuss the word of God and seek to apply God's truth to your family and situation. I would suggest reading through whole books of the Bible one chapter at a time. You may begin by reading an Old Testament book and when that is finished, read a New Testament book. You may also choose to supplement Bible reading with the reading of a sound, biblical, trusted book.

     Personally, my family and I have a devotion at a set time three times a week. This is in addition to worshiping corporately with the saints in our local congregation on Sundays and Wednesday nights. We read a chapter of Scripture and pray. We also read a chapter or section of another godly and edifying book. Some examples of books that we have read are: John Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress, 50 Reasons Why Christ Came to Die by John Piper, and a theology book written for children.

Pray together. Pray for your family, the salvation of your children, the lost, missions, your local church, your pastors, known needs, etc. Allow your family members to pray if they desire. Pray the Scripture that was just read. Talk about what God is doing. Give God the praise for answered prayer. Families may choose to sing as part of their worship. Another suggestion may be to utilize a catechism to instruct and disciple your family. These are composed of questions and answers that teach key doctrines of the Bible. There are many different catechisms to choose from.

     It is biblical that the father lead their families in worship. This may not be the case for any number of reasons. If the father is unable or unwilling to lead, the responsibility is then shifted to the mother. This is not to say that if the father leads, the mother has no role. It is to say that fathers are the leaders of their families. Mothers definitely have a role to play in teaching their children.

     Worship comes naturally to the born again believer. We worship to glorify God, but worship changes us. Believers become more like the God they worship. We are being transformed- we are to be godly. Part of growth in the Christian life is to worship God and be Christlike. The more we read, pray, and praise, the more God is glorified and we are further sanctified.