Worship/Praise

To honor and adore someone who is worthy of such high honor. The English word was originally worthship to show that the one being honored was worthy of praise. True worship involves not only the things we do but also the thoughts and feelings we have as we do them. God wants His people to worship only Him. During Jesus’s temptation, when Satan promised to give Him all the kingdoms of the world if He worshipped him, Jesus told him, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” (Matt. 4:10 esv).

God is worshipped publicly and privately. After the people of Israel left Egypt, they worshipped God publicly at the tabernacle set up in the wilderness. Later, when the temple was built in Jerusalem, the Israelites worshipped together in a more highly organized way. The people sang many psalms as part of their worship in the temple.

First-century Christians met in homes to worship God. Their worship included preaching, reading the Scriptures, praying, singing, celebrating the Lord’s Supper, and using other gifts the Holy Spirit gave them. Today, Christians meet in church buildings and other places to worship God.