“Worship” is a word that has various meanings depending on conversation. For some it is simply the TIME that you meet on Sundays as a group. For others it is the PLACE that you go to on Sundays. But what does WORSHIP really mean?
At UBC, we believe worship is to delight in, display, and declare the glory of God, equipping His people to spread that delight to all nations through Jesus Christ. Worship enables us to delight in the glory of God as we pray and sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with joyful praise, fervent adoration, and humble gratitude to the Lord. Worship also enables us to display the glory of God in obedience to all He is and all He has done for us. Finally, worship empowers us to declare the glory of God as we are equipped and encouraged both through the fellowship of believers and the hearing of God’s Word to live a life of faithful service and witness for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Worship is delighting, displaying, and declaring the glory of God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Therefore worship cannot be stuck in a time slot or a place, yet we are called to gather regularly to worship the Lord together, spurring one another on to good, God-glorifying works and not forsaking the assembly of the saints (Hebrews 10:24-25).
So, when we gather, we do worship, but when we disperse to our homes and workplace, we do not cease to worship, we simply cease to worship TOGETHER. Our hope is to see the body of Christ worship God continually in word and deed, both together and separate, that we can joyfully declare together “To God be the glory great things HE has done!”
Want to go deeper? Spend some time with the following definition and scripture passages. “Worship is communion with God in which believers, by grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit, center their minds’ attention and their hearts’ affection on the Lord, humbly glorifying God in response to His character and His Word.”
- Worship is communion with God. (Genesis 5:24, 6:9)
- Worship is an act of faith. (Hebrews 11:6)
- Worship is a gift of grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- Worship is instigated by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:26)
- Worship is centering attention on God. (Isaiah 26:3)
- Worship is expressing affection to God. (Psalm 18:1; 43:4)
- Worship is servant-ministry to God. (2 Chronicles 34:27)
- Worship is glorifying God. (Psalm 86:12)
- Worship is responding to God. (Psalm 138:2)
