Worship Bible Study

1. What comes to mind when you think of "worship"? How would you define "worship"?

Read Romans 12:1; John 4:19-24

2. What do these passages say about what worship is and isn't? (Note: Richard J. Foster says, "Worship is our response to the overtures of love from the heart of the Father.")

• Worship is:

1.    
2.    
3.    

• Worship isn’t:

1.   
2. 
3.    

Now let's look at how some people in the Bible responded to their encounters with God.

Read Isaiah 6:1-8

3. How did the seraphs respond to the Lord's presence? What was Isaiah's reaction?

4. What was the result of Isaiah's encounter with God?

Read Revelation 4:8-11

5. How did the living creatures respond to God? What about the elders?

6. What does it mean that "they lay their crowns before the throne"?

7. How important should worship be in our lives? (Note: "Just as worship begins in holy expectancy, it ends in holy obedience. If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship. To stand before the Holy One of eternity is to change." - Richard J. Foster)

Read Luke 10:38-42; Mark 12:28-31

8. Does this change your answer any?

Read Matthew 5:23-24; Acts 16:22-25

9. From these passages and your experiences, what are some things we can do to prepare for worship?

10. Do you believe that true worship actually involves entering the presence of God? Why or why not?

11. What does it mean "to lead worship"?

12. How will you approach worship differently as a result of what you've learned?