How Do You Define Worship? with Michael Schroeder —


How do you define worship?

In some churches today there are unfortunate worship style battles over the subject of worship.
We sometimes see churches hurt by the demands from those in worship style wars who see their preferred approach as the only relevant and meaningful worship style appropriate for all, and sadly
people leave churches over worship styles.

Are we more concerned about what worship does for us than the object of our worship?
Is it more about what we get than what we give, when worship isn’t about us at all?

How do you define worship?

If you asked most people to define worship, you would find they answer the question one of two ways.
The first group of people would say that’s something we do for an hour a week at a church building, while the other group would answer in a way that defines worship by describing their service style or music style.

I am here today to tell you that worship isn’t a service style. Worship isn’t a music style.
WORSHIP IS A LIFESTYLE!

It’s important for us to understand that whether we prefer to worship in the style of David with harps and dance before the Lord unashamed, — or whether we prefer to use an organ and a service style from the 1600’s,— or whether we prefer to use a piano and guitar in today’s contemporary style,
it’s Important to understand that this is not the source of our worship, but merely
an expression of our worship.
The source of worship is a grateful heart that has been touched by the spirit of God.

God’s says in
John 4:23 (NIV)
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the
true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and
in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father
seeks.

If you look at the topic of worship in Romans 12, you find it doesn’t say anything about worship being a music or service style, but describes worship as a lifestyle, as it tells us to live a life of worship by using the gifts we’ve been given, to serve one another, to give to one another, to show mercy, kindness, compassion and God’s love to the world around us………as God’s word to us starts this chapter on living a life of worship by saying;

Romans 12:1 (NIV) A Living Sacrifice
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of
God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Another way to put it is at the end of

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.


A life of worship is something more than an hour a week at church, but each day whether you are at home, work, the grocery store, post office, car, school, or wherever you are,
ask yourself:
Did you talk to God here?
Did you praise Him there?
Did you thank Him here?
Did you witness him there?
Did you confess your sin here?
Did you spend time listening to God in His Word the bible?
Did you do more than tell the world about Jesus, but show the world around you who He is, by showing them the love of Christ?

Our whole life should be one great big worship service, one unbroken, continuous act of honoring and glorifying God in all we do, between our times of corporate worship when we come together.
The next time your church service ends, instead of thinking you have just completed your hour of worship for the week, think of it as the beginning of your week of worship in the mission field God has placed you.

Worship isn’t a service style. Worship isn’t a music style.
WORSHIP IS A LIFESTYLE!

Gift Of Worship - Music/Video

Artist info at www.michaelschroeder.com