The Meaning of Worship.

Hey all,

Just thought I'd start put my journalism major to use and write a series of worship articles since this is a worship team blog. Anyway, I hope you do take time to ponder over it and reflect on our roles as worship leaders (yes, everyone in the band is a woship leader!)



Sometimes, we questions ourselves what is worship? Sometimes it feels like a karaoke session to just sing some Christian songs. And at other times, it creates a warm feeling in us that we can't figure out where it comes from.

Worship involves seeing what God is worth, then giving Him what He's worth. True worship treasures God's presence. In short, Worship is the avenue whereby God invades our space with His grace and changes whatever is unholy into holy. We don't worship the form, the style or the activities. We worship God. Many times we approach worship as consumers and the focus is on MY experience. It's kinda like watching a movie and critiquing it afterwards. Don't we find ourselves doing that sometimes?

"Oh the worship was ok. I didn't really feel anything out of it."
"Oh the worship was great. I felt like the songs really spoke to ME."

Think back to the last time we worshipped? Not attend a worship, but actually worship?!
When we actually got higher than the platform, the singers, the band and the preacher, and we had an audience of one, an encounter with God.

If we are going to worship in Spirit, then we must develop a spirit of worship.

We must and need to prepare for worship like we're preparing to play in a competition. Get our heads into focus and don't be distracted by anything. Invest every moment that we have into the time of worship.

There are 3 ingredients for true worship that I think is vital to each of us.

1. Humility

Without humility, we cannot truly worship God. Because the focus will not be on God, but on ourselves.
Humility means to lower yourself and admit yourself to the will of another - God. So when we worship, we are coming under the submission of the Holy Spirit, and allowing Him to act, walk, and speak in and through us.
Romans 12 says we need to present our body to God as a living sacrifice.
We need to forget about how we look, how we sound, how we even act. When we choose to worship, we expect the Holy spirit to take control. We expect Him centre stage.

2. Faith

Hebrew 11:6 says " And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Obviously, when we worship God, we need to know and believe that God is there. If not, we are just singing and not meaning anything. It isn't worship!
We need to believe firstly that there is a God. And secondly, that He is there when we worship and seek Him. That He will come down and be in that room. That is our reward from God. To be in His presence as we worship Him!
The act of worship is 100% selfless. We need faith that He will reward us for our diligence.

3. Obedience

We come to God when we humbled ourselves. Then we enter His presence. He will begin to speak to us. This is when we must make the decisions to believe in Him or not. We need to have faith and obediently follow His voice. Obedience is key. We need to trust and obey.


The greek words for worship are Proskeuno and Latreuo.
Proskeuno translate to the outward expression of worship (be it in kneeling, prostrating or hands lifted high0.
Latreuo translates to "to serve for a price."

True worship is the Christian's spirit-led response to the divine reconciling love of the heavenly Father made possible by the redeeming death of Jesus Christ. It is the offering of the totality of ourselves to God, for His glory and purpose. It is the giving to God of all that we are and all that He has endowed us with. And it begins after the worship service.

True worship is about consecrated lips and surrendered hands.
It is the key to everything in life.
Worship in spirit and in truth.