What is Worship? Worship is the expression of our affection and praise unto God for who he is and for the great things he has done. It is proclamation of God's excellent attributes and the acknowledgment of his worthiness of all praise and thanksgiving. How does one worship? Christ says, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24)." Since God is spirit and we have a spirit, we can worship through our spirit. That is why we are able to pray, without saying anything out loud. But what does it mean to worship in truth? How does one worship in truth? If a father starts saving money for his four year old daughter's college tuition, can the daughter thank her father if she does not what he is doing? No. What if she didn't even know her father existed? Would she be able to thank him? Of course not. How much more would she thank him if she knew the extent of his love?
Think of God's many characteristics and of the zillion things that God has done for us. Each time we learn more about who God is and what he has done for us, the more we can appreciate him and what he has done. The more Truth we know about God, the more Worship we can have for him. The more worship, the more God's name is glorified, which is of course God's Mission.
What is worship? The praise of God's glory. How do we worship? In spirit and in truth. The worship of God's glory is his Mission.
Interact with Scripture/Questions1. Read Psalm 34. 2. Answer these questions from the Bible Passage on a sheet of paper:
What are the characteristics of works of God that the psalmist lists here?
What are the responses the psalmist wants us to have knowing God's characteristics?
What are the personal examples of God's intervention in this passage?
Compare your worship with Psalm 34. How is yours similar, and how is it different?
What is God teaching about himself in Psalm 34?
3. As you pray, pray as the psalmist did. Worship God by citing specific acts of grace he has done in your life. Thank and praise him for these wonderful deeds of love.
Scripture ReferencesPsalm 34 (Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.)
1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
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