Recently I preached a sermon of the same title, “The Purpose of Worship”. Seemed like an easy way to get a post on my blog. Here are a few points from the sermon. The word “worship’ comes from an Old English term meaning to render religious reverence and homage, as to a deity. Isaiah 6 and Psalm 100 are both, great Scriptures that speak of worship. Isaiah 6 speaks of Isaiah’s encounter with the power of the presence of God; his purification (hot coal) and his call (who will go for me? Here am I send me). Ps. 100 gives us a great list of things that should be included in our worship. Seems to me the volume of worship might be a “little” louder than what we’re used to. Check it out for yourself.
I think the purpose of worship includes: 1) to honour God. God should always be the object of our worship. If we worship anyone or anything else, it’s not true worship. One form of worship, prayer, started out a pattern by saying “Our Father, who is in Heaven, “hallowed” be your name.” Starting out by giving honour to God. Worship is about God. It’s not about me; and sorry–it’s not about you either.
2) the purpose of worship includes: drawing us closer to God. We must be afar from God if we need to be drawn closer to Him. John 4:23-24 says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (emphasis mine). In the Old Testament, people had to go to the temple to experience God’s presence (with the odd exception). Thankfully we don’t have to do that today. If we are a child of God, the Scripture says we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit abides in us. We don’t have to go anywhere to experience God’s presence. He is already here.
I believe the third purpose of worship includes making us more Christ-like. Galatians 5:22-23 is a great list of characteristics for which Christians should strive–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When we worship God, these characteristics should be developing in us. Colossians 3:16 says, “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.
As we worship God, may we honour Him, may we be drawn closer to Him, and may we become more like Him.
singcerelyours 