Are There Different Types of Worship?

Corporate Worship

There is a beauty in gathering with other believers and worshipping Christ. People have been gathering to glorify God since the beginning. Psalm 102:21-22 says, “So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the Lord.”

The Bible teaches that there is order in corporate worship (1 Corinthians 14). The early church gathered together in house churches to praise God together.

Personal Worship

There is also personal worship. This is time to praise God in a private place. Jesus talks of going to close the door and pray in secret (Matthew 6:6). We are called to spend time with the Lord and glorify Him when no one else is around. This is a free space to declare Him glory and draw near to God. You might pray, sing, read the Bible, etc. Personal worship is a beautiful gift to the believer.

Ways of Worship

Worship can be done in many ways. The best definition that I have ever heard of worship was from a college professor who said, “Worship is loving God.” When we think about loving the Lord, we can go to Matthew 22:37 which says, “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” We can worship the Lord with all of our hearts through singing songs, serving Him, and living for Him, we can worship with our souls by prayer and praising Him, and we can worship with our minds in reading His word and pondering Him. Worship of God is vertical and then that relationship overflows into loving Him by loving others too.

What Isn't Worship?

Worship is not a ritual. Sure, there is order to praising our Savior, but worship is not a checklist. Worship is not about us. Many times, we can complain about not have a certain style of music or teaching at a church. It is easy to make worshiping God about how we feel or what we enjoy. However, worship is about Jesus alone. We worship Him because He deserves it and we are called to glorify Him.

“There is nothing wrong with emotion being an aspect of worship. True reverence and reflection of the Gospel will often lead to tears of joy. After all, we’re human. The problem arises when we seek for our own emotional high as the goal—instead of glorifying God. We assert ourselves as the receiver and accepter of our own worship. In doing this, we count our own deceitful desires far more worthy of our worship than the Father. We become glory thieves.”

Why Is Worship So Important?

When asking, “What is worship?” We also ask why is worship so important? Because we are daily living in the grace and mercy of Jesus. There is not a day that goes by that is not a gift. We are called to give honor and praise to the only One who deserves it. When we worship, it humbles us, provides gratitude, and we grow in our relationship with Christ. Worship is a command, but it is also an enormous privilege. No matter what your style of worshipping the Lord looks like today, remember that worship is really loving God with our lives.