Worship is to the Christian life what the engine is to a car. It is the most essential element. In Psalm 45:1, David says, “My heart overflows with a good theme.” The Hebrew word for “overflow” means “to boil over,” and in a sense that is what praise, or worship, actually is. The heart is so warmed by righteousness and love that, figuratively, it reaches the boiling point. As God warms the heart with righteousness and love, the resulting life of praise that overflows is the truest expression of worship.

The New Testament uses several words for worship. Two of them, in particular, are noteworthy: The first is proskuneō, a commonly used term that literally means “to kiss toward,” “to kiss the hand,” or “to bow down.” It is the word for worship used to signify humble adoration. The second word is latreuō, which suggests rendering honor or paying homage.

Both terms carry the idea of giving because worship is giving something to God. The Anglo-Saxon word from which we get our English word is weorthscipe, which is tied to the concept of worthiness. Worship is ascribing to God His worth or stating and affirming His supreme value.

Modern Christianity seems committed instead to the idea that God should be giving to us. And while God does give to us abundantly, the essence of authentic faith and true worship is wrapped up in the honor and adoration that we render to God. That consuming, selfless desire to give to God is the defining element of all genuine worship. It begins with the giving first of ourselves, and then of our attitudes, and then of our possessions—until worship is a way of life.

A key adjective, often used in the New Testament to describe proper acts of worship, is the word “acceptable.” Every worshiper seeks to offer that which is acceptable, and one category of acceptable worship specified in Scripture is praise.

Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” As we look at worship in its Godward focus, we discover that its distilled essence is simply thanksgiving and praise.

Here at Grace Church, we are blessed with this kind of God-exalting praise each week. The Lord has gifted our church with skilled instrumentalists and vocalists who give melodic expression to our praise. In reflecting on the ministry of our Music Department, we want to express our gratitude to Dr. Bill Brandenstein for faithfully serving our congregation for the past 25 years. Bill’s passion to exalt Christ is clearly evident in every piece played and every hymn sung. Hearts that are filled with the Word of Christ inevitably overflow with expressions of worship to Christ, in the form of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16). We give thanks to the Lord for using the faithfulness of Bill and his team to facilitate the corporate expression of our praise and thanksgiving to our Savior. To God be the glory!