*Click on the references to read the Scripture passages.*

The term “worship” broadly refers to both praise and worship: worship is the adoration we give God for Who He is; and praise is the honor and appreciation we bestow on Him for what He has done. We are commanded in the Word to give God both.

• Worship is an important part of our Christian lives, since worship takes our focus off ourselves and our troubles and brings us into His presence where we can be transformed and receive God’s help (Psalm 22:3Psalm 22:3
  
  But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel., 95:2Psalm 95:2
  
  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms., 100:1-5Psalm 100:1-5
  
  Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.; Romans 12:1-2Romans 12:1-2
  
  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.; Matthew 6:33Matthew 6:33
  
  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.; James 4:8James 4:8
  
  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.).
• In worship, we tell God that we love Him (Psalm 18:1Psalm 18:1
  
  I will love You, O Lord, my strength. ); we thank Him for His goodness (Psalm 107:8Psalm 107:8
  
  Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men) and praise Him for being our Rock, our deliverer, our strength (Psalm 18:2Psalm 18:2
  
  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.); we thank Him for our salvation (Psalm 18:46Psalm 18:46
  
  The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted.) and for specific victories He has given us (Psalm 18:35-36,39,49Psalm 18:35-36, 39, 49
  
  You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. 36 You enlarged my path under me, So my feet did not slip. 39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. 49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name.).
• Corporate worship provides an atmosphere for God’s Spirit to minister through the entire church body and to edify it (I Corinthians 14:26I Corinthians 14:26
  
  How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.). It also prepares individuals to receive the Word of God that will be preached (as is exemplified in Nehemiah 8:5-8Nehemiah 8:5-8
  
  And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.). For this reason, worship occurs first in our church services and should not be routinely missed by late arrival.
• Worship can take the form of loud praises, with clapping of hands and shouting to God (Psalm 33:1Psalm 33:1
  
  Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful., 47:1Psalm 47:1
  
  Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!, 98:4Psalm 98:4
  
  Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.) or may be done in silent reverence with lifting up of hands (Psalm 95:6Psalm 95:6
  
  Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.; Nehemiah 8:6Nehemiah 8:6
  
  And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.).
• Whatever the form, our worship of God must be sincere and from the heart (Ephesians 6:24Ephesians 6:24
  
  Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.; Matthew 15:8Matthew 15:8
  
  These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.; John 4:23-24John 4:23-24
  
  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.).