How should I worship God?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Worship is the act of showing reverence, adoration, and devotion to God. True worship goes beyond external rituals and involves a heartfelt, sincere relationship with God, characterized by a commitment to live according to His will, exhibiting love, justice, and righteousness. Worship is a holistic response to who God is and what He has done, and only He is worthy of worship. Exodus 20:3 commands, "You shall have no other gods before me," emphasizing the exclusivity of worship. The Old Testament also outlines specific procedures for offerings, highlighting the importance of the right attitude and obedience of God in worship. These actions are not prescriptive, meaning we can only worship in a specific way, but they are important because they reveal hearts of surrender and submission to God. The New Testament echoes that our hearts toward God are expressed in acts of worship. Worshiping God means dedicating our entire being to Him, aligning our lives with His will, and expressing our faith through love and service to others.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament reveals that worship of God is exclusive. Exodus 20:3 commands: "You shall have no other gods before me."
• The Old Testament also reveals that the attitude and manner in which we worship the Lord matter. For example, Leviticus 1:1–17 describes the procedures the Israelites were to follow in presenting burnt offerings to the Lord. Deuteronomy 12:5–7 instructs the Israelites to bring their sacrifices and offerings to the place God chooses. The tabernacle was constructed to be a transportable sanctuary for God’s presence among the Israelites (Exodus 25:8–9) until a permanent temple was constructed in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:10–11).
• The prophets like Isaiah warned the Israelites about empty rituals and called for them to live justly and righteously (Isaiah 1:11–17). Amos also told the people that God rejects superficial worship and instead demands justice and righteousness (Amos 5:21–24).
• Micah 6:6–8 reveals that our hearts are what God desires, not extravagant sacrifices without obedience or love for God. The verses read: “‘With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’ He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In Matthew 25:31–46, Jesus teaches that true worship includes acts of mercy and justice towards others, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned.
• In John 4:23–24 Jesus told the woman at the well that true worshipers worship God in spirit and in truth rather than at specific locations or through rituals.
• The early church devoted themselves to worshiping God through teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread (Communion), and prayer (Acts 2:42–47).
• Romans 12:1–2 tells us how to worship. It says, "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. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
• First Corinthians 6:19 describes believers' bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, calling us to present ourselves to God as an act of worship.
• James 1:27 describes pure religion as caring for orphans and widows in their distress and keeping oneself from being polluted by the world. By living this way, we worship God.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Reflecting on true worship can transform one's approach to daily life and their response to God—who He is, what He has done, and how we are called to respond as a result. Each day offers opportunities to connect with God through quiet moments of prayer and Scripture reading, allowing His truth to shape our thoughts and actions. Throughout the day, we also have opportunities to serve others as expressions of love for God—from helping a colleague with a task to volunteering at a local charity. Regular gatherings with fellow believers can provide accountability and encouragement in faith, reminding us who God is and why we worship Him (Hebrews 10:19–25). Being driven by God’s love and truth, showing compassion, expressing who He is to others, and giving Him praise are all acts of worship. Worship is a continuous process of aligning our hearts, minds, and actions with God's will. This perspective turns everyday life into an offering of praise, making each moment an opportunity to honor God through our choices, attitudes, and treatment of others.

UNDERSTAND

• The Old Testament commands exclusive worship of God (Exodus 20:3).
• Worship requires the right attitude and sincere actions, not just rituals (Isaiah 1:11–17).
• The New Testament emphasizes worshiping God in spirit and truth, focusing on a genuine relationship with Him (John 4:23–24).

REFLECT

• How can you ensure that your worship is focused solely on God and not on any other distractions or "gods" in your life?
• How can you align your daily actions and attitudes with God’s will to make your entire life an act of worship?
• How do you currently express your faith through acts of love and service to others, and how can you improve in these areas to worship God more authentically?

ENGAGE

• How does understanding the exclusivity of worship in Exodus 20:3 challenge our modern-day practices and priorities?
• What are some practical ways we can worship God "in spirit and truth" as Jesus describes in John 4:23–24?
• Worship is both individual and collective. How can we ensure that collective worship goes beyond rituals and truly reflects justice, love, and humility?