What is Christian worship?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The entire Bible is God's Word and contains a unified message, so worship in the Old and New Testaments, though outwardly different, has the same foundation. Old Testament Mosaic Law presented required worship rituals, including animal sacrifice, which is not part of Christian worship because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (John 1:29). But underlying Old Testament worship was the core commandment to love God with all one’s heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5), which Jesus later described as the “great and first” commandment (Matthew 22:36–40; Mark 12:28–34). That commandment is still at the core of all worship. But the particulars of Christian worship are largely based on the teachings and principles contained in the New Testament. True worship is in spirit and in truth (John 4:23–24), a lifestyle response to God, not just something done through music at church (1 Corinthians 10:31). Christian worship is also not merely individual, but communal (Acts 2:46–47; Hebrews 10:25). It can involve many different acts of reverence—singing, praying, and more (Acts 4:31; 16:25; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). Christian worship puts the focus on God, rather than self (Romans 12:1).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Worship during Old Testament times was specific and ritualistic, highlighted God’s holiness versus the people's sinfulness, and pointed to Christ (Exodus 12; Leviticus 16; Numbers 19).
• But even in Old Testament Mosaic Law, the key command was for believers to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and might (Deuteronomy 6:5). Jesus later identifies this as the most important command (cf. Matthew 22:38).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus told the Samaritan woman that “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23–24). Genuine worship is more than going to a place and performing rituals. Christ’s worshipers are “new creations,” and their worship is pure and true (2 Corinthians 5:17).
• The type of worship Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman was about loving the Lord with all of a person's heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:36–40; Mark 12:28–34).
• Christian worship is not just personal, but also communal. Acts 2:46–47 describes the early church: "And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” These believers regularly praised God both personally and together (cf. Hebrews 10:25).
• Christian "worship" includes praying, singing, and other reverential elements. Worship can be in many forms, including service (Acts 4:31; 16:25; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).
• In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he wrote, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). The goal of worship is not to feel better personally, though this is often a result. Instead, worship may include actions contrary to personal desires (e.g., repentance of sins) to give honor and glory to the Lord. In other words, worship is to lift up the Lord, rather than to lift up self.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

“Worship” is a word that people use loosely. A husband might “worship” the ground his wife walks on, but we don’t picture him paying homage to dirt. A teen with a case of celebrity “worship” might download her favorite singer’s songs or go to a concert.

Christian worship is much more significant and consequential than those types. That’s because we’re worshiping the almighty God, the only One who is worthy of true worship. Worshiping God means revering Him for who He is. Isaiah had a spontaneous instance of true worship when he saw a vision of God and recognized his own sinfulness by contrast: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5).

Maybe you worship by praying throughout the day or raising your hands while singing Christian music in church or giving of your time, talent, and treasure for God’s kingdom. We may not express our worship exactly the same, but if our hearts are focused on revering our Lord, we’re worshiping “in spirit and in truth,” as Jesus said we would (John 4:23–24).

UNDERSTAND

• Christian worship is centered on loving and honoring God with all we are.
• True worship is both personal and communal, expressed in spirit and truth.
• Worship is about glorifying God, not ourselves.

REFLECT

• How are you expressing your love and reverence for God in your daily routines—not just in church, but in how you live?
• How do you prioritize God above your own preferences or comfort when you worship?
• How does your understanding of worship as a lifestyle challenge or deepen the way you relate to God?

ENGAGE

• How can we help one another worship “in spirit and in truth,” both in personal devotion and in communal settings?
• What are some barriers that can shift the focus of worship from glorifying God to satisfying ourselves, and how can we guard against them?
• How does the early church’s example of communal worship inspire how we gather and serve today?