We do it every Sunday… but what is worship? Worship is far more than attending a church service; it is our wholehearted response to who God is, recognizing His holiness, worth and love with our minds, hearts, words and actions. True worship begins with seeking God through faith and humility, and is expressed through prayer, singing, giving, hearing God’s Word and living in obedience. As we worship, we not only glorify God but also experience the joy of drawing near to Him and the transforming power of His presence.
sermon: We Do it Every Sunday? What is Worship? with Jan Thomas
Follow-up Questions
- What is the difference between worship and activities like singing, praying or going to church?
- When you think about your week, what receives the most of your attention, time and energy? What does that reveal about what is most important to you?
- What is one practical step you can take this week to make worship a daily lifestyle, not just something you do during a church service?
What Is Worship, Really?
If someone asked you, “What is worship?” what would you say? Maybe you’d say it’s singing. Or going to church. Or praying. Or putting money in the offering plate. Those things can all be part of worship, but they’re not the whole thing.
Think of it this way: eating a birthday cake is part of a birthday party, but the cake isn’t the party itself. In the same way, singing can be worship, but worship is bigger than singing.
Worship Starts in the Heart
The Bible shows us that God cares about more than what we do. He cares about why we do it.
A person can sing all the right songs, attend every service and say all the right words. But if their heart is far from God, the worship is empty. Real worship begins when we genuinely want God.
King David described it like being thirsty in a dry desert and longing for water. Worship starts with a hunger for God.
Putting God First
One simple way to think about worship is this: What gets the most attention in your life?
Sometimes things like work, money, hobbies, success, worries or even busyness can take God’s place in our hearts.
Worship means putting God first again. It means saying, “Lord, You matter more than anything else.”
Worship Requires Humility
Humility is a big word that means understanding that we’re not the centre of the universe.
It’s easy to think we have everything figured out. But worship reminds us that God is greater, wiser, and more powerful than we are. Throughout the Bible, when people truly encountered God, they often fell to their knees or even flat on the ground. They were overwhelmed by His holiness and greatness.
Worship isn’t about making ourselves look important. It’s about recognizing how amazing God is.
Worship Is Not Just About What God Gives Us
Most of us find it easy to thank God when things are going well. But worship goes deeper than gratitude.
Imagine telling a friend, “Thanks for the gift you gave me.” That’s good. But imagine saying, “I love you because you’re kind, generous, and trustworthy.” That’s even deeper.
Worship is learning to love God not only for what He does, but for who He is.
Worship Doesn’t Require Perfection
Here’s some good news. You don’t have to be perfect to worship. You can worship when you’re happy. You can worship when you’re sad. You can worship when you’re confused. You can even worship when you’re struggling with doubt.
God isn’t looking for perfect people. He’s looking for people who keep turning toward Him.
Worship Is More Than One Hour a Week
Many people think worship happens only on Sunday morning. But worship is meant to shape everyday life. We worship when we pray. We worship when we read Scripture. We worship when we serve others. We worship when we give generously. We worship when we obey God even when it’s difficult.
The Bible describes true worship as offering our whole lives to God.
Why Worship Together?
Can you worship God alone? Absolutely.
But there is something special about worshipping together with other believers.
We’ve all experienced how encouraging it is to sing, pray, learn, and celebrate alongside others. Worship reminds us that we’re part of God’s family, not just individual followers trying to do life on our own.
The Result: Joy and Strength
One of the surprising truths about worship is that it produces joy. Not because life suddenly becomes easy. Not because every problem disappears. But because our focus shifts.
Instead of carrying every burden ourselves, we remember who God is. Instead of staring at our problems, we lift our eyes to the One who is bigger than our problems. And that changes us.
A Simple Definition
So what is worship? Worship is responding to who God is with our whole heart, our whole mind, and our whole life.
Yes, it includes singing. Yes, it includes prayer. Yes, it includes gathering with other believers. But at its core, worship is simply this: Loving God, putting Him first, and giving Him the honour He deserves because of who He is.