What Is Worship?

It’s easy to mistake worship as merely singing of songs, jumping around, clapping and bowing down of knees; I too, once had this misconception. You’ve heard it being mentioned that worship is more than just singing of songs; perhaps this puzzles you – like it did to me. So what is worship exactly?

In 2007, after a week-long study on this topic, God granted me understanding: “Worship is the response to the worth of God.” The worth of God is the revelation of God; through His Word, the Holy Spirit and Jesus.

. revelation
God's revealing/disclosure of Himself (His attributes) and His will to His creatures.

In Romans, the apostle Paul gave a clear explanation of what worship is:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your reasonable act of worship."
- Romans 12:1 (NIV)

Worship is the response to the worth of God.
response: offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God
worth of God: God's mercy

In another translation it reads:
“So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.”
- Romans 12:1 (The Message)

Worship is the response to the worth of God. Worship encompasses the entirety of our lives; every hour, every minute, every second. Singing, jumping, dancing and clapping are ways with which we worship (respond to) God.