What Does The Bible Say About Worship?

Importance Of Worship
When Christians assemble together to worship we come into the very presence of God
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).  It involves more than just “going to
church”; it should be a period of devoted worship to God.

Worship is something we give back to God.  When coming from the depth of our hearts,
it is one thing we can give God that has a profound effect on Him.  

Therefore worship is important to God because we give Him something, expecting
nothing in return.  God seeks such people to worship Him “But the hour is coming and
now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father
is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship
in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).  

Jesus Himself stressed the importance of worshipping God.  Traveling through the
regions of Galilee and Judea, He worshipped God in the synagogues.  

Even though Jesus traveled much, His custom was to go to the synagogue every
Sabbath “And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and
stood up to read” (Luke 4:16).  

Even when His life was threatened by the rulers of the people in the city of Jerusalem,
He found Himself drawn to the house of God—the temple “I was daily with you in the
temple teaching, and you did not take me” (Mark 14:49).

I doubt that Jesus ever missed a worship service then... I know that Jesus never misses
a worship service now “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am
there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).  

The New Testament church is the Lord’s temple today—not the building that Christians
meet in, but His people themselves “having been built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole
building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also
are being built together for a habitation of  God  in  the  Spirit” (Ephesians 2:20-22).  

God “does not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 17:24), but He dwells in the
hearts of the men and women He created and spiritually renewed.

Everyone has the ability to join in the act of worship.  Therefore, we are commanded to
worship God “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you
shall serve’” (Matthew 4:10).  The very fact that we are commanded to worship God
makes it important.

Worship must be performed in God’s prescribed way, but just as importantly, worship
must flow from the heart outward, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and
honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9).  

Jesus opened a door which was closed to man.  The privilege of worshipping God was
given to the priests to discharge for the people under the Old Testament law.  Now,
through the blood of Jesus, a new way has been opened for us to approach God
“Therefore brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a
new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is His flesh, and
having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies
washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22).  

How we worship God reflects our impression of God (Psalm 98:1-4).  How we worship
God reflects our thankfulness (Hebrews 13:15; Ephesians 5:19-20; Philippians 4:6-7).  
How we worship God reflects our hope of eternal life—because heaven will be a place
to worship Him forever (Revelation 4:8,11; 5:11-14).  

Worship is what we give back to God, that He can receive in no other way.  Without the
voluntary spiritual offerings of those who adore Him, God would not receive worship.  
God seeks true worshippers, not just those who give Him a little bit here and there.  Will
you be one?

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1).

--Rob Harbison