INTRODUCTION:

Most Christians like you and me think of worship primarily as a sensory experience—one that is tied up to specific religious events, music styles, and emotional encounters. This limited view can lead us to believe that God is absent during seasons of trials and spiritual dryness especially when we don’t feel His closeness as before. And when we doubt God’s presence in our lives, we are susceptible to the schemes of the enemy to discourage us and make us fall away from the faith. That is why we need to understand what True Worship is all about. To help us, we will look into what the Apostle Paul taught the believers in Romans 12:1-2. I believe that if we will open our hearts and minds to the work of God, we will be able to see worship deeply and differently. And if we do, we will be able to experience God’s presence and worship Him no matter how we feel and no matter what we are going through. Today, we will be discussing three deeper realities about True Worship. My hope and prayer is that we may hear God as we study His word together. Let’s begin.

What is True Worship?

Three Deeper Realities about True Worship

1. True worship is a response to God’s saving grace. (Romans 12:1a)

After teaching the Christians in Rome about the ongoing work of God’s saving grace through Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul strongly encouraged them to respond to God. “In view of God’s mercy” meant that believers must dwell in and remember God’s saving grace to them. Because of that, they should make a choice to respond to God in worship. True worship is not just about attending church services and singing christian songs; rather, it is about responding to God out of a grateful heart for all that He has done and for all that He is continually doing in our lives. This means that no matter what we feel, we choose to recognize Jesus for who He is—our Lord and Savior, full of mercy and grace. We ascribe all glory to Him because He is worthy.

2. True worship requires our full surrender. (Romans 12:1b)

And what must be the believer’s response to God’s saving grace? The Apostle Paul continued his exhortation by urging them to offer their bodies as living sacrifices. The emphasis on offering the body lies in the fact that it’s through our bodies that we interact with God and the world. Offering our bodies to God also means offering our whole lives, making it our spiritual act of worship. True worship is impossible without the complete surrender of our whole being to God. This involves learning to practice the presence of God in our daily lives, not just during Sundays. Whether we are at home, at work, alone, or with others, our entire lives are a reflection of whom or what we worship. As followers of Christ, our lives must be a continuous expression of our worship to God. By recognizing that worship is about surrender, we can engage with God 24/7 and experience HIs presence in every circumstance of our lives.

3. True worship results in a deeper relationship with Jesus. (Romans 12:2)

In the next verse, the Apostle Paul addresses the role of our minds in worship. He exhorts all believers to be aware not to allow the world to mold our minds into its ungodly ideas that lead them away from God. Instead, they should renew their minds so the Holy Spirit can transform them. Our sinful nature will naturally go with the ways of this world. However, by choosing to train our minds and grow in our knowledge of God through His word, we can have a deeper relationship with Him. We study the word of God prayerfully, not as a mere to-do list, but as a spiritual discipline that helps us to engage with and experience Jesus in our lives. As our minds learn more about God’s greatness and worthiness, our souls are led to worship Him. Through regular study, prayer and worship, we are transformed, our relationship with Jesus grows, and we gain a deeper understanding of God’s will for our lives.

CONCLUSION:

1. Our deep and ongoing intimate relationship with Jesus is our truest worship.

2. True worship is not about music, events or emotions. It is about our ongoing intimate relationship with Jesus. If we understand this truth, we will be able to continually worship God no matter what we experience in this life. Through this deep understanding of what worship is, we can express our worship to God through music and through our actions such as singing, dancing, raising or clapping our hands etc. all because we know that He is worthy of our lives.

3. Psalm 16:8 encourages us to set the Lord always before us. This week, as we apply what we’ve learned about the spiritual discipline of worship, I encourage you to begin practicing God’s presence wherever you are. Imagine the Lord standing before you. In this moment, remember all He has done and is still doing in your life this season. Express your gratitude to Him through words and, if you feel like singing, sing your heart out. Believe that the Lord is with you and begin to practice worshiping Him wherever you are, whenever you have the opportunity. He deserves our worship.

DISCUSSION:

1. How does the concept of true worship as a response to God’s saving grace challenge your understanding of worship? How can you develop a more grateful heart for all that God has done and continues to do in your life?

2. In what ways can you offer your body as a living sacrifice in your daily life? How can you practice the presence of God in various situations and environments, not just during church services?

3. How does renewing your mind through studying the Word of God contribute to a deeper relationship with Jesus? What are some practical ways you can incorporate regular Bible study and prayer into your spiritual discipline?

4. Reflect on the role of emotions and sensory experiences in your understanding of worship. How can you ensure that these elements do not overshadow the importance of an ongoing intimate relationship with Jesus in your worship?

5. Discuss the significance of setting the Lord always before you, as mentioned in Psalm 16:8. How can you intentionally practice His presence in your daily life, and how might this affect your experience of worship