Praise & Worship

Memory verse: 1 Chronicles 16:29 Give to the Lord the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him. Oh! Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Praise is defined as – To boast with words or singing, To pacify with soothing words.

Worship is defined as – To attribute worth, To kiss towards, To prostrate oneself with reverence. Worship is giving honor with thought or deed to god. It requires reverence through public expression and service.

Praise and Worship are the most important aspect of Christian Living you will ever learn. We praise or boast about God for what he has done in our lives. We worship or attribute worth to him because who he is.

1.      Discuss 1 Chronicles 16:29 what does it mean to you.[God created all things. The only thing we can give to God is our praise and worship and this we can only do because he enables us to. Glory means heavy or weighty. It describes how impressive or worthy one is. It relates to the unveiling of his loving character. Due to his name represents who he is. His character his attributes his very essence. Bringing an offering was essential to worship. No one presented himself or herself to a king with out tribute. There can be no worship without sacrifice. When we worship God we are giving up ourselves and presenting ourselves as a sacrifice before him. The beauty of holiness deals with the magnificence of who god is and the wonderfulness of worshiping him. 

2.      What does John 4:23,24 tell you about Gods desire for and the nature of worship? [True worshipers of god will worship in spirit and truth for these are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit and his worshipers will worship in spirit and truth. There are few things in the bible that God seeks. Gods seeks glory for his Son (John 8:50). God is also seeking worshipers. God is actively looking for those who would glorify him. Worship is a spiritual practice. It is a personal experience between you and God. When your spirit Honors and gives worth to God. Worship is to be truthful and genuine. We worship God in accordance of his revealed knowledge he has given us. As we grow in the knowledge of his word and in experience with God our appreciation for Gods worth increases

3.      What do the following verses say about worshiping anyone or any thing other than God?

1. Exodus 20:4,5 [making and worshiping idols was strictly forbidden and had effects that lasted generations. God is a jealous God].
2. Judges 2: 11-14[worshipping other gods caused God to be angry and brings bondage].
3. 1 Peter 4:3-5[we will give an account for our idolatry on judgement day]
4. Revelations 21:8[idolaters will have their place in the lake of fire, judgement.

Idolatry is defined as the worship of an object or image. It is worshiping the created rather than the creator. Idolatry was punishable by death. God did not create so that we would worship the creation, but rather we should worship the creator. Anything that comes before God in your life is idolatry.

 In the bible the God’s people are referred to as his bride. So anything that we put in importance before God is an act of spiritual adultery. (Jeremiah 3:6-10)

4.      What do the following verses say about when is the best time to praise God?

1. Psalms 71:6-8 [You have upheld me from birth. You are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually for you. I have become as a wonder to many but you are my refuge. Let my mouth be filled with your praise and your glory all the day]. There is no time for God to not be praised. God has been upholding us even before birth. He did not just make the world and leave us alone but his hand sustains us. Many people won’t understand why we praise God even in our times of trouble. But God is our strong refuge. We are safe under his shelter. So even when we lose everything we have we know we still have God and like Job will lift up the name of the most high.
2. Psalms 146:1-2 [Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord of my Soul! While I live I will praise the Lord. I will sing praises to my God while I still have breath]. Through troubles, sickness, danger and famine let everything that has life praise God.

5.      Worship is more than a feeling you get at a church service. According to the following verses what are other forms of worship.

1. Romans 12:1 [present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship]. Obedience is worship. Worship is when you give worth to God. Worship involves sacrifice. The greatest sacrifice you can give is your life. To lie your life down for another shows loves. But you don’t have to die to do it. God wants you to live for him. To live you’re life putting him first. Doing his will in all situations. This is reasonable due to all he has done for us.
2. 2 Corinthians 9: 7,11-12 [God love a cheerful giver…while you are enriched in everything for liberality, which cause thanks giving to God. for the administration of this service supplies the need of the saints, but also abounding through many thanksgiving to God]. Giving is a part of worship in all cultures. As before stated worship involves sacrifice. God’s people are expected to give to the poor and to provide for those in need.
3. Matthew 4:10, Ephesians 2:10[you shall worship the Lord and serve him only \ we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. Which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them]. Service is also a part of worship. Jesus came to us as the suffering servant to show us example of serving. All believers have their own personal ministries that god has prepared for them beforehand. Ministry means service (to god). We worship by serving God in the area he has called us to be in. in Matthew 4: 10 links worshiping god to serving God. 1 peter 4:11 reads (if anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. if anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…).

6.      What does 1 Corinthians 10:31 say about worship? [Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things to the glory of God].

As Christians we are admonished to glorify god at all times and in everything we do. It is this ministries desire to assist you in developing a lifestyle of worship. It is very important to have private as well as corporate worship. In Heaven we will all worship god together.