Worship
Ascribing worth to God through adoration and service
Overview
Worship constitutes humanity's highest calling and creation's ultimate purpose. The English word derives from "worth-ship"—declaring and demonstrating God's supreme value. True worship involves the whole person: mind comprehending God's greatness, heart responding with love and awe, will submitting in obedience, and body expressing reverence through posture and action.
Scripture reveals that God seeks worshippers who worship "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Worship "in spirit" means genuine, heartfelt engagement—not mere external ritual but internal reality. Worship "in truth" means worship informed by Scripture, responding to God as He has revealed Himself rather than as we imagine Him. Both dimensions are essential; one without the other produces either empty formalism or misguided enthusiasm.
While worship includes corporate gatherings, it extends to all of life. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). Every activity can become worship when offered to God with gratitude and performed for His glory. Work becomes worship, relationships become worship, even rest becomes worship when consciously rendered to God.
The worshipping life produces profound benefits: intimacy with God, transformation of character, liberation from self-focus, and joy that transcends circumstances. Yet these benefits are not worship's goal—God Himself is. We worship not to get something from God but to give something to God: the honor, praise, and devotion He infinitely deserves.
Subtopics
Spirit and Truth
How God desires worship
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John 4:23-24
— In spirit and in truth
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
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Psalms 95:6
— Come, let us worship and bow down
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
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Hebrews 12:28
— Serve God acceptably with reverence
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
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Romans 12:1
— Your reasonable service
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
God Alone
Exclusive worship of God
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Matthew 4:10
— Worship the Lord thy God only
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
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Exodus 20:3-5
— No other gods before me
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
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Revelation 22:9
— Worship God
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
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Psalms 29:2
— Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Expressions of Worship
Ways to worship
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Psalms 150:1-6
— Praise Him with instruments
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
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Psalms 100:1-2
— Serve the LORD with gladness
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
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Colossians 3:16
— Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
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1 Chronicles 16:29
— Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Study Guidance
Topical study benefits from reading verses in their broader context. Click any reference above to view the complete passage and surrounding verses. Consider comparing how different biblical authors address the same theme across various contexts and time periods.
Cross-reference study deepens understanding. Many verses listed here connect to other passages—use the cross-references provided on individual verse pages to trace theological themes throughout Scripture.