What will you present to God in worship?
As we worship God together, our prayer is that you will sense God’s presence in an atmosphere that accepts individual expression. At the same time, please do not feel forced to worship in an uncomfortable manner.
There are nine expressions of worship described in the Bible:
- With the voice, scripture says to speak, sing, and shout.
- With the hands, scripture says to lift them, clap, and play instruments.
- With the body, scripture says to stand, bow, and dance.
We encourage these expressions accompanied by a sacrificial attitude of love toward God and people. Our individual worship must not distract from the bigger picture, which is our corporate focus on God and His presence among us. In Romans 12:1, we are encouraged to “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service.”
Why do we clap our hands?
“Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!” Psalm 47:1
Why do we lift our hands?
“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.” Psalm 134:2
Why do we play instruments and dance?
“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:1-6
Why do we speak in tongues and prophesy?
“And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” Acts 2:4
“Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.” Acts 19:6
