I spent my formative years deeply involved in church, from attending services weekly to participating in the praise team during high school, where I learned to play the guitar. Over the years, my involvement in church music ministry grew, and I experienced firsthand the various titles used for those leading music during services. “Worship leader” was the most common title, yet it never quite resonated with me. My understanding of worship, rooted in biblical teachings, always pointed to something far more profound than just the musical portion of a church service or Sunday gatherings. While there was a distinct feeling associated with the music, especially in some churches I attended, I was fortunate to understand early in my faith journey that worship extended beyond music and designated church time.
Upon joining LBC, I naturally gravitated towards the music ministry. I enjoyed playing music and contributing to a team dedicated to creating excellent and uplifting music for the church community. What stood out at LBC was the music ministry’s strong emphasis on truth. The importance of truth in worship was frequently highlighted, drawing from John 4:24, a key verse often used to define biblical worship. In contrast, my previous church experiences often prioritized spirit over truth, sometimes taking truth for granted. At LBC, in-depth studies of several books solidified my understanding of biblical and comprehensive worship. The most impactful book for our Sunday praise team was John MacArthur’s Ultimate Priority. The 2012 re-release of this book, Worship: The Ultimate Priority, alongside my own desire to clarify this concept, 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 introductory exploration, not an exhaustive thesis on worship. It’s not a summary of MacArthur’s book, though all citations are from the 2012 edition of Worship: The Ultimate Priority, unless stated otherwise. My primary aim is to broaden the perception of worship beyond mere music or Sunday mornings. I intend to illustrate from Scripture a richer, more encompassing definition of worship. While I acknowledge that I cannot address every question or nuance, this overview aims to be a helpful starting point. Let’s delve into the fundamental questions about worship.
What is Worship?
Worship is the core purpose of every Christian life. Throughout the Old Testament, worship is frequently depicted through acts of bowing down in humility and reverence (Genesis 24:26, Exodus 12:27, Joshua 5:14, Nehemiah 8:6, Job 1:20, Psalm 95:6), acknowledging and offering God His deserved praise (1 Chronicles 16:29, Psalm 29:2), and presenting animal sacrifices at the altar (Genesis 22:5, 1 Samuel 1:3, Isaiah 19:21). Even the Magi who visited baby Jesus demonstrated worship by bowing down before the incarnate Son of God (Matthew 2:11). Similarly, the twenty-four elders around God’s throne are shown worshipping through bowing (Revelation 11:16).
Biblically, worship fundamentally acknowledges God’s character, especially His perfect holiness. Given our sinful nature, the most fitting response, and a common expression of worship, is to bow in humility and reverence before Him. MacArthur provides a concise definition: worship is honor and adoration directed to God (p. 43). In essence, worship is ascribing worth and honor to the only One deserving of it – God. Scripture often expresses this through terms like glorifying God, loving God, and treasuring God, all of which are frequently used in church contexts.
Who Should Worship?
Considering the expansive definition of worship, it naturally follows that all who believe in and love God are called to worship Him. In John 4, during his conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus acknowledged that both Jews and Samaritans worship God. However, he pointed out that the Jews worship with knowledge while the Samaritans worship in ignorance (John 4:22).
From King David in his Jerusalem palace to humble shepherds in Bethlehem’s fields, from Jews to Gentiles, irrespective of gender, social status (slave or free), geographical location (from bustling New York City to remote Amazon jungles, Chinese villages, or African plains), all people from every walk of life are called to worship God. Worship isn’t an exclusive practice reserved for elite Christians or designated to a music leader. It is the fundamental lifestyle that all Christians are called to embrace and live out.
When Should We Worship?
Elkanah and his family, including Hannah, exemplified worship by worshipping God early in the morning before leaving the temple (1 Samuel 1:19a). The patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—built altars and worshiped God after significant encounters with Him. Many Psalms convey a continuous, ongoing call to worship, suggesting a present and persistent action. Essentially, worship is appropriate at any time, particularly as a spontaneous response to encountering the living God. If our minds are consistently focused on God, as is encouraged for Christians, then worship becomes a continuous aspect of our lives.
In John 4, Jesus also revealed to the Samaritan woman that a new era of worship was dawning. With Jesus’ arrival and His completed work on the cross, believers no longer needed to approach God through ritualistic sacrifices at an earthly altar. The need for repeated acts of atonement was abolished. The tearing of the temple veil symbolized a new access to God available at all times. Because of Jesus, we now have the privilege to worship God at any moment, in any circumstance.
Where Should Worship Take Place?
The Samaritan woman initially questioned Jesus about the correct location for worship: Gerizim or Jerusalem. Her people, the Samaritans, believed Gerizim to be the designated place, while she knew the Jews considered Jerusalem as the proper location. Jesus clarified that neither Jerusalem nor Gerizim holds exclusive claim as the necessary place for worship. Location is not the defining factor. Whether one is Jewish or not, or whether one is deeply knowledgeable in Scripture, the physical location is secondary. All places are acceptable for worshipping God. The crucial aspect is how we worship. As long as the manner of worship is correct, the where becomes insignificant.
Despite the freedom regarding location, a pattern was established from the inception of Israel 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. Today, Christians still gather on Sundays for corporate worship. Ultimately, the Bride of Christ, representing all believers, will be gathered together eternally to worship God forever.
Why Do We Worship?
John Piper, in his book Let the Nations Be Glad, posits that the ultimate purpose of missions is worship, asserting that missions exist because worship is lacking. In other words, the aim of evangelization is to transform unbelievers into genuine worshippers. Redeemed and cleansed by Christ’s sacrifice, these new worshippers can then approach and worship the one true God rightly.
So, why worship God? What is the fundamental reason for worship? Simply stated, we worship God because He is worthy of worship. His worthiness is inherent in His very being, in who He is. Jesus presupposed that both Jews and Samaritans should worship God. The essential question Jesus addressed in John 4 was not why worship, but how to worship rightly.
How Should We Worship?
Jesus’ answer in John 4:23-24 is both concise and comprehensive: true worshippers must worship God in spirit and truth. These are the only valid components of true worship, and no other methods are acceptable. Both elements are indispensable. Worship is not merely intellectual agreement with the truths of God in Scripture, though it is certainly rooted in sound doctrine. Nor is worship solely defined by a Spirit-led life or passionate zeal for God’s glory, although emotions and passion are essential. Worship that truly glorifies God is characterized by a life led by the Holy Spirit, completely devoted to a passionate pursuit of God’s glory, all grounded in a biblical worldview and correct theology. The Spirit and the Word are the necessary instruments for a life that genuinely glorifies God. This necessitates a Christ-like humility, a daily dying to self, ensuring that God receives all glory for the goodness in our lives, and that we are not living for our own recognition or kingdom.
My hope is that this brief exploration, while not exhaustive, has provided a more biblically informed understanding of worship. May our worship continuously grow and deepen, because God alone is deserving of all worship in the universe.
