Expressions of Worship get_app

We know that God wants to hear the praise and worship of His people. In fact, He delights in it! Read Psalm 147:11 if you want proof of that. Psalm 22:3 says God is literally enthroned on, or dwells in, the praises of Israel (which would be His chosen people – that is you and me now, who call ourselves believers and followers of Jesus Christ). Think about that: when you worship the Lord outwardly or inwardly, God is dwelling in it! Wow! So, when you and I decide to express ourselves in worship – and truly understand worship is both in spirit and in truth – God is pleased.

Read Psalm 149:1-4.

• List the different expressions of worship in this passage.
• What promise is found in verse 4?

Read Psalm 150:3-6

• Again, list the ways that are given to worship the Lord.
• Who is encouraged to praise the Lord?

God made every living thing to bring Him praise. That especially includes people. We are made in His image to bring Him praise. Think about that! God didn’t make us so we could worship ourselves or anything else. He made us to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever (from the Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q1)!

How does it make you feel to know God wants to hear your praises?

In addition to what we read above, Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19 give us direction for what to sing and the attitude we should have in doing so (list these as you go). Psalm 95:6 gives us a posture we can have in worship (what is it?). Many other verses speak of praying and reading Scripture as bringing praise to God. And still more Scripture speaks to serving others as bringing joy to our Lord. Could it be that there are endless ways to worship God?

Read Colossians 3:17.

• Based on this verse, what do you think can be used or done to worship to God?

Read Micah 6:6-8.

• What does Micah say is required of His followers; and is this worship to God?

In ALL things, we can bring God worship. This isn’t just about singing or praying or a certain posture or any few specific things. It is about making every single thing we do an act of worship to God! Your work, your play, your relationships, your use of money and time... ALL of it! Remember what we learned yesterday about how we are to worship God? (in spirit and truth) Can we do that in every aspect of our lives? Of course, we can. Don’t skip out on parts of worship that we are commanded to do because you don’t feel like you do them well. Begin by saying how you WILL worship the Lord, not what you won’t do. After all, He delights in all of our worship.

List the things you do during the day and talk about how you can make these things an act of worship.

Sing or listen to “The Heart of Worship” and discuss what limits you have placed on your worship. Then pray together that everything you do will be worship to God.