1. What is Worship?

• “Worship is the total alignment of our heart, soul, mind, and strength with the will of God. It is our wholehearted response to God’s extravagant love and mercy.” -Tim Hughes
  The English word ‘worship’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon ‘weorthscipe’ which literally means to ascribe worth to something. If something captivates our heart’s affection, our mind’s attention and our soul’s ambition, it effectively has our worship.

• Worship Reveals Our Purpose.
  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. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
  Our ultimate purpose is to worship God. Until we discover our purpose in God, we will never be satisfied. St Augustine once prayed ‘You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.’

• Your purpose is found in the tension.
  Worship isn’t about music, style, or preference. It’s humble obedience to the Great Commandment Jesus gave us.
  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

2. Worship Transforms Our Environment

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. Acts 16:25-26

• They re-set the environment with worship.
  Even though they’d been beaten and thrown in prison with their feet shackled, they sang hymns and prayed. The power of praise freed not only their chains but everyone’s chains.

• God Inhabits the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3)

• Our worship lifts our focus from our problems onto the God, who is greater than our circumstances.

“When we thank, praise & worship God, we prime our circuits for high intellectual function, & every cell in our body is positively affected.” -Dr. Caroline Leaf.