By Abe Kim
From my earliest memories, church has been a constant in my life. As a teenager, I joined the praise team, learning guitar and becoming more deeply involved in the music ministry. Over the years, I’ve participated in various aspects of church music. There are many names for the person who leads music during a church service, but “worship leader” was the most common in my experience. However, this title never quite resonated with me. My understanding of worship, based on the Bible, extended far beyond the musical portion of a church service or Sunday gatherings. While there was a distinct feeling during the music, especially in some churches I attended, I was fortunate to understand early in my faith that worship encompasses much more than just music or church attendance.
After becoming a member of LBC, I joined the music ministry there. Music was a skill I possessed, and I enjoyed contributing to a team that aimed to create excellent and beautiful music for the church. What stood out to me at LBC was the music ministry’s strong emphasis on truth. Truth is frequently highlighted in sermons and teachings, often referencing John 4:24 to define worship biblically. In contrast, my previous church experiences often took truth for granted, prioritizing emotion or “spirit” over doctrinal accuracy. At LBC, reading several books together solidified my understanding of biblical and comprehensive worship. The most impactful book was John MacArthur’s Ultimate Priority. The 2012 re-release of this book, titled Worship: The Ultimate Priority, combined with my personal desire to explore this topic further, inspired this article. My hope is to refine your understanding of worship and, most importantly, to deepen your worship of the one true God.
This article is intended to be an introduction, not an exhaustive study. It is not a graduate-level thesis on worship, nor is it a summary of John MacArthur’s book, though all quotes are from the 2012 edition of Worship: The Ultimate Priority, unless stated otherwise. My primary goal is to broaden the perspective that worship is solely confined to music or Sunday mornings. I aim to demonstrate, through Scripture, a more profound, expansive, and complete definition of worship. While I cannot address every question or argument, I hope this overview will be beneficial as we explore the fundamental questions about worship.
What is Worship?
Worship is the core purpose of every Christian. The Old Testament frequently links worship with physical acts of humility and reverence, such as bowing down (Genesis 24:26, Exodus 12:27, Joshua 5:14, Nehemiah 8:6, Job 1:20, Psalm 95:6). It also involves ascribing proper praise to God (1 Chronicles 16:29, Psalm 29:2) and offering animal sacrifices at the altar (Genesis 22:5, 1 Samuel 1:3, Isaiah 19:21). Even the Magi, upon visiting baby Jesus, bowed down to worship the incarnate Son of God (Matthew 2:11). Similarly, the twenty-four elders around God’s throne worshiped by bowing down (Revelation 11:16).
Alt Text: The Wise Men from the East kneel and worship the infant Jesus, demonstrating reverence and adoration as described in the Bible.
Biblically, worship fundamentally acknowledges God’s character, especially His perfect holiness. In light of our sinfulness, the most fitting and common expression of worship is bowing in humility and reverence. MacArthur defines worship simply as: “honor and adoration directed to God” (p. 43). In essence, worship is giving worth and honor to the One who is truly deserving – God alone. Scripture often phrases this as glorifying God, loving God, and treasuring God, and these phrases are commonly used in church settings as well.
Who Should Worship?
Given the broad definition of worship, it is clear that all who love and believe in God are called to worship Him. In John 4, Jesus, speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, acknowledged that both Jews and Samaritans worshiped God, though Jewish worship was based on knowledge while Samaritan worship stemmed from ignorance (John 4:22).
Worship is not limited by social status, ethnicity, gender, or location. From King David in his Jerusalem palace to humble shepherds in Bethlehem’s fields, from Jews to Gentiles, men to women, slaves to free people, and individuals in bustling New York City to remote Amazon jungles, Chinese villages, and African plains – people from every background and walk of life are called to worship God. Worship is not exclusive to elite Christians or the responsibility of the music leader alone. It is the lifestyle to which all Christians are called.
Alt Text: King David, a biblical figure known for his devotion, is depicted in a posture of worship, highlighting that worship is for all believers, regardless of status.
When Should We Worship?
Elkanah and his family, including Hannah, worshiped God early in the morning before leaving the temple (1 Samuel 1:19a). The patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – built altars to God and worshiped after significant encounters with Him. Many calls to worship in the Psalms suggest a continuous, ongoing practice. Essentially, worship can occur at any time, but it is particularly a natural response to encountering the living God. If you are constantly mindful of God, as Christians should strive to be, then you should be in a state of continuous worship.
In John 4, Jesus informed the Samaritan woman of a new era of worship. With Jesus’ arrival and His completed work on the cross, believers no longer needed to approach God solely through sacrifices at the altar. The need for continual atonement acts was abolished. The tearing of the veil in the Temple’s Holiest of Holies symbolized a new access to God at any time. Because of Jesus, we now have the privilege to worship God at any moment.
Alt Text: Jesus engages in conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, emphasizing that worship transcends physical locations and specific times, now accessible anytime through Him.
Where Can We Worship?
The Samaritan woman initially questioned Jesus about the proper location for worship – Gerizim or Jerusalem. Her people, the Samaritans, believed Gerizim was the designated place, while she knew Jews considered Jerusalem the correct location. Jesus clarified that neither Jerusalem nor Gerizim were essential for worship. Location is immaterial, regardless of Jewish or Samaritan heritage or familiarity with Scripture. Any and all places are acceptable for worshiping God. The how of worship is crucial, not the where. As long as worship is offered correctly, the location is irrelevant.
However, the Old Testament established a pattern from Israel’s beginnings as a nation to rest and worship God corporately on the Sabbath. This pattern shifted after Jesus, with Christians gathering weekly on the first day of the week (Sunday) to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection. Christians continue to meet on Sundays for corporate worship. Ultimately, the Bride of Christ – all believers – will be gathered eternally to worship God forever.
Why Do We Worship?
John Piper, in the opening of Let the Nations Be Glad, states that missions exist because worship is lacking; the purpose of missions is worship. In other words, evangelism aims to transform unbelievers into true worshipers who, cleansed by Christ’s redemption, can approach and worship the one true God.
So, why worship God? What is the fundamental reason? Simply put, we worship God because He is worthy of worship. His worthiness is inherent in His very being. Jesus assumed that both Jews and Samaritans should worship God. The real question Jesus addressed in John 4 was not why but how to worship.
How Should We Worship?
Jesus’ response in John 4:23-24 is concise and complete: “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” Worship must be in spirit and truth. These are the only acceptable components of true worship, and no other methods are valid. Worship is not merely intellectual agreement with biblical truths, though accurate doctrine is essential. Nor is it solely defined by a Spirit-led life or zeal for God’s glory, though emotions and passion are necessary. Worship of the true God is characterized by a Holy Spirit-led life completely devoted to passionately pursuing God’s glory, grounded in a biblical worldview and sound theology. The Spirit and the Word are indispensable for a life that truly glorifies God. This requires Christ-like humility, a daily dying to self, so that God receives all glory for the good in our lives, and we are not living for our own recognition or kingdom.
Alt Text: A symbolic representation of worship in spirit and truth, showing the integration of heartfelt passion and biblical understanding in genuine worship.
My hope is that this brief article, while not exhaustive, has provided a more biblical understanding of worship. May our worship continue to grow and deepen, for God alone deserves all worship in the universe.
