Redefining Worship

Pastor Chris Hobby         

Sunday Morning’s message 9th of March 2025

citywestchurch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdRcBfB9CpQ

What comes to mind when you think of worship? Is it the songs sung during a church service? The act of raising your hands and getting emotional? Or perhaps it’s the formal rituals? Worship can often be misunderstood as simply music or an emotional experience. But what if worship is far more than that? Let’s explore together what true worship looks like, drawing from Scripture and real-life examples.

Worship is a Response to God’s Call

Genesis 22:1-13 “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.

2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.”

The first mention of "worship" in the Bible is found in Genesis 22:1-13, where Abraham is called to offer his son Isaac. Despite the terrifying command, Abraham responds with unwavering obedience. The key moment is when Abraham says, "Here I am," to God.

Discussion:

• Have you ever felt God’s call in your life? How did you respond? Was there immediate obedience, or did you struggle?

• How does Abraham’s response shape our understanding of worship?

Worship is not just about songs or rituals; it’s a response to God’s call and His sovereignty. Abraham’s willingness to offer his son shows that true worship costs us something. It’s about surrendering our plans, desires, and even our most cherished possessions to God.

Worship is Intimate and Corporate

Psalm 95:6 “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” 

This verse invites us into both personal and communal worship. Worship requires a posture of humility, whether done individually or together with others. It’s an acknowledgment that God is our Creator, deserving of our honour and submission.

Discussion:

• In your personal worship, do you approach God with reverence and humility?

• How does communal worship (e.g., attending church or praying together) affect your relationship with God?

Worship is both a personal act and a corporate one. Together, we bow before God in humility, submitting to His will and acknowledging His greatness. Worship should not only be internal but expressed through our actions, in both private devotion and public gatherings.

Worship Requires Action and Obedience

In Luke 7:36-50, a sinful woman worships Jesus by anointing His feet with perfume, washing them with her tears, and wiping them with her hair. This act of worship was both a personal sacrifice and an outward expression of love. Worship involves not just feelings, but actions.

Discussion:

• What does it look like for you to worship God through actions, not just words?

• How does serving others in your daily life reflect your worship of God?

Worship isn’t just about feelings of warmth; it’s about action and obedience. Just like the woman who served Jesus with her costly perfume, our worship is shown through our lives and service to God and others.

Worship is Bowing in Reverence (Proskuneo)

The word Proskuneo means to bow down in reverence, an act that signifies total surrender to God. Jesus says in Matthew 4:10, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." Worship is not about what we get out of it but about giving our lives in full submission to God’s authority.

Discussion:

• How do you show reverence for God in your daily life?

• How can the act of bowing before God (physically or metaphorically) help deepen your worship?

Worship is a posture of humility, recognising God’s greatness and submitting to His will. It's not about our preferences but about offering ourselves completely to God.

Worship is Service (Latrueo)

True worship is also about service, as Romans 12:1 teaches us: “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” Latrueo is the Greek word for worship through service. Every act of kindness, every moment spent helping others, is an offering of worship to God.

Discussion:

• Can you think of a time when you served someone in a way that was an act of worship?

• How can we shift our mindset to see service as an integral part of our worship?

Worship goes beyond church services. It’s about how we live out God’s commands, particularly in serving others. When we serve, we worship God by loving others, just as Jesus did.

Practical Example: Living Worship Through Service

A worship leader, who was unable to lead worship due to her responsibilities as a mother, experienced a shift in perspective. In that moment, she realised that her act of worship was not limited to music but extended to serving her children for God’s glory. Worship isn’t confined to a stage—it’s in the everyday acts of life.

Discussion:

• How does your everyday life reflect your worship?

• Do you ever struggle with seeing mundane tasks as acts of worship?

True worship can happen in the most ordinary moments, like serving our families or doing the work that God has called us to do. Worship is not about our location or position, but the heart behind the act.

Worship is Everything We Do

Worship is more than just singing; it’s about how we live, serve, and submit to God’s will. Whether it’s through bowing in reverence, serving others, or responding to God’s call, worship is a lifestyle. Let’s remember the command in Mark 12:30-31: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. Worship is both a heart posture and a way of life.

Closing Reflections:

• What areas of your life can you dedicate to worship this week?

• How can you serve others as an act of worship?

Worship isn’t confined to a Sunday service but is lived out every day through our obedience, service, and reverence toward God.