Humans have an innate tendency to worship, but it is often misdirected (Acts 17:22-23). Worship is an act of showing reverence and adoration for a deity. In Christianity, it involves expressing devotion and honor to God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As our Creator and Redeemer, the Lord is worthy of our highest devotion (Ps. 29:2).

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you (Acts 17:22-23).

Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in holy array (Ps. 29:1-2).

Acceptable worship includes participating in divinely authorized actions and involves the heart and attitude of the worshipper, requiring a sincere and respectful approach that recognizes God’s holiness and majesty (Isa. 66:1-2). In summary, worship is a profound expression of love, respect, and devotion to God, encompassing both actions and attitudes that honor Him.

Thus says the LORD, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word” (Isa. 66:1-2).

Since God has shown us the kind of worship He desires through His word, so we strive to conform to the biblical pattern. In the New Testament, worship includes five distinct acts: observing the Lord’s Supper, singing, praying, giving, and preaching the gospel of Christ. We should give attention to each of these expressions of devotion.

The Lord’s Supper

A central part of worship, observed in the right way and with the right attitude (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-30).

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42).

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight (Acts 20:7).

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep (1 Cor. 11:23-30).

Singing

Offering praise and encouragement through song (Matt. 26:30; Acts 16:25; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:18-19; Col. 3:16).

After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives (Matt. 26:30).

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; (Acts 16:25).

What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also (1 Cor. 14:15).

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; (Eph. 5:18-19).

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Col. 3:16).

Praying

Expressing dependence on God through prayer (Acts 2:42; 12:5, 12; Eph. 6:18-19; Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Thess. 5:17-18).

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42).

So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God (Acts 12:5).

And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying (Acts 12:12).

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, (Eph. 6:18-19).

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7).

pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 5:17-18).

Giving

Offering a portion of our blessings back to God (1 Cor. 16:1-2; Rom. 12:8; 2 Cor. 9:6-7).

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come (1 Cor. 16:1-2).

or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Rom. 12:8).

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

Preaching and Bible Study

Growing in knowledge and edifying one another (Acts 2:42; Eph. 4:11-16; 2 Pet. 3:18).

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42).

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11–16).

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18).

Worship must be in spirit and truth, with the proper attitude and form (John 4:23-24). It is meant to please God, not entertain men, and should follow the New Testament pattern (Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:11).

“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23–24).

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:17).

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:11).