Worship should be a top priority in the church according to what the Bible teaches. The church is meant to gather together to worship God, encourage one another, learn from God’s word, and go out into the world to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Here are 9000 words on what the Bible says about making worship a priority in the church:
The book of Psalms is filled with calls to worship and praise God. Psalm 95:6 states “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” Psalm 100:2 says to “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Psalm 150 encourages praising God with music and dance. The psalmist frequently declares things like “I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart” (Psalm 138:1) and calls on others to join him in praise. Lifting up the name of the Lord in worship was a regular part of life for the people of Israel.
In the New Testament, Jesus puts a high priority on worship. When questioned about the greatest commandment, Jesus replied that the first was to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). This points to making God the number one priority in our lives. Jesus emphasized that true worshipers would worship God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). This means approaching God with sincerity and integrity. At another time, a woman poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet as an extravagant act of worship. Jesus rebuked those who scolded her, saying “Leave her alone. She has done this to prepare me for burial. This woman has done a beautiful thing for me” (Matthew 26:10-13). Jesus valued worship and defended this woman’s desire to honor him.
The apostle Paul instructed the church to be diligent in worship. In Romans 12:1 he urged “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” In 1 Corinthians 14:26, he told the church when they come together, each person should have a contribution: a hymn, a word of instruction, a revelation, etc. Corporate worship services provided a place for the early church body to offer praises to God. Paul and Silas even worshipped while in prison, singing hymns together at midnight (Acts 16:25).
The book of Revelation provides a glimpse of worship in eternity. The crowds worship God saying “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!” (Revelation 19:6-7). The angels around God’s throne continuously cry out “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8). Heaven is filled with praise to God. Clearly worship seen as a high priority as the church joins in the songs of heaven.
The scene in Revelation 5 vividly displays worship around God’s throne. The angels, elders, and living creatures all bow down and sing praises to the Lamb of God. Here worship consists of direct interaction with God, an awe and reverence for His glory, a celebration of who He is, and thankfulness for what He has done.
With all these examples, there is a strong biblical basis for making corporate worship a priority in the church. Singing praises, hearing preaching, giving tithes and offerings, praying, reading Scripture, observing baptism or the Lord’s Supper—these are elements of the worship service designed for God’s glory.
The church is cautioned not to neglect meeting together (Hebrews 10:25). When the early church met, there were times of prayer, reading Scripture, teaching, prophesying, singing, sharing communion, etc. (1 Corinthians 14:26). The purpose was to use their various gifts to build up the church—with God as the audience.
Jesus promised that “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). Therefore, when the church gathers, it makes sense to meet with a heart of worship because God is present.
Singing is especially emphasized as a way to worship God together. Ephesians 5:19 instructs us to “speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.” Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Worship requires active participation—not passive observation. 1 Corinthians 14:26 gives the picture of everyone coming with something to contribute. Hebrews 10:24-25 talks about spurring one another on. Worship engages emotions, intellect, spirit, and body. Heartfelt praise, deep reflection on God’s truth, joyful singing, kneeling in humility—all have a place.
The Father is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). As Christ’s ambassadors, the church has the privilege of offering worship that is pleasing to God each time they gather. This brings Him glory as the church reflects His worth back to Him.
Besides the weekly worship service, individual worship is also part of the Christian life. Romans 12:1 urges dedicating all of life as an act of service and worship to God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Worship should be an active orientation toward God in all of life.
Having a heart of worship involves gratefulness. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says to “rejoice always.” Philippians 4:6 says “in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” A worshipful perspective sees God’s blessings and gives Him praise.
Worship also requires humility. When Isaiah saw the glory of God, he cried out “Woe is me for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5). Isaiah’s humble response shows the appropriately fearful worship of a holy God.
Additionally, bringing tithes and offerings to God is an act of financial worship. These offerings fund ministry so that God’s name can be taken to the nations. Giving generously shows that God—not money—is our security and priority. Everything we have is from His hand, so gratitude motivates giving back a portion.
Overall, Scripture paints a picture of worship as more than a Sunday ritual. Lifting up Christ’s name in praise through song, reflecting on His Word, serving others, and living all of life for God’s glory are forms of worship. Corporate worship an essential way that the church honors and exalts God together. But individual worship is also integral to the Christian life. When both are embraced, worship is rightly positioned as a top priority.
Practical Implications for Making Worship a Priority
With the biblical basis established, what does it look like practically for churches and individuals to make worship a priority today? How can worship move from a Sunday morning obligation to a weekly delight and daily orientation of the heart?
For churches, pastors and worship leaders must teach on the biblical importance of worship. Too often worship is seen as simply the opening songs before the sermon. People need to understand that worship encompasses the entire service—songs, prayers, giving, preaching, and response. Communicating this bigger vision casts a God-centered mindset rather than a consumer mindset.
Churches can also provide training for those involved in leading worship, whether music, sound, arts, etc. Having excellent skill enhances the professionalism and excellence of worship. Time invested in rehearsals pays off in the impact of worship. Creative planning puts together services in a cohesive, impactful way.
To improve participation, churches can print out lyrics, use projection, and have music available online. Worship leaders can give clear direction on body postures like standing or hand raising that engage the whole body. Leaders should also model authentic worship for the congregation to follow.
Beyond music, churches must give attention to other creative arts that facilitate worship—drama, dance, painting, film, etc. Art in various forms helps people connect with God at an emotional level. Churches should ask how to incorporate more arts, not eliminate them.
Another approach is occasionally tweaking the service format to teach on elements like communion, offering, baptism, Scripture reading, etc. Explaining the significance of each component trains the congregation on ways to worship and encounter God during corporate gatherings.
For individuals, making worship a priority starts with preparing our hearts. Taking time for confession and centering our thoughts on God before the service puts us in a receptive posture. Scripture urges coming to God with reverence and awe (Psalm 2:11, Hebrews 12:28). A prepared heart engages more readily.
Participating actively is also key—not only singing but also attentive listening to preaching, echoing prayers, focusing intently during spiritual practices, etc. Engaging with thoughts, words, emotions, and actions creates immersive worship.
Another way to prioritize worship is involvement in ministries of the church related to worship. People can serve on the worship team, arts team, sound and media team, welcome team, ushering team, and so forth. Giving time and talents to facilitate meaningful corporate worship experiences for others cultivates a lifestyle of worship.
Individuals can also make space for personal worship beyond Sunday mornings through practices like meditating on God’s Word, listening to worship music, singing own songs to God, creating worship art, and spending time in nature reflecting on God’s glory. Disciplines like solitude, prayer, fasting, and simplicity are forms of worship as well.
Ultimately, worship must align with obedience. Jesus said true worshipers live according to the Father’s will (John 4:23-24). So eliminating idols, repenting of sin, and yielding our lives to God’s commands are essential steps of worship.
With focused teaching, strategic planning, creative arts, and personal preparation, worship can move from routine to priority. Both churches and individuals must embrace their roles in this process. But the payoff is a community encountering the presence and power of God in ways that transform lives.
Cautions to Keep Worship God-Focused
In elevating worship as a top priority, it remains crucial not to lose sight of the object of worship—God himself. Worship should be done in spirit and truth (John 4:24). There are potential pitfalls that shift the focus away from God. So certain cautions must be heeded.
First, beware of performance-based worship where impressing others with talent overshadows offering praise to God. Worship leaders can slip into performing for the congregation rather than leading them in honoring God. While musical excellence is beneficial, skill should point people toward God not distract with showmanship.
Another temptation is tradition-based worship where predictability trumps spiritual vitality. The same order of service repeated endlessly can seem stale. While liturgy provides structure, tradition should not stifle fresh encounters with God. Both new and old worship expressions can direct hearts Godward.
It is also easy to slip into comfort-based worship where pleasant rituals replace bold faith. Sometimes churches cater to musical preferences that create a soothing but shallow experience. Corporate worship should still push participants beyond their comfort zones to deeper intimacy with God.
In addition, churches must avoid catering to consumer-based worship where the attendee becomes the customer. While services should connect with people, the audience is actually God. Consumerism focuses on style preferences over transformational substance. The needs of seekers for a meaningful encounter with God should trump catering to personal taste.
Furthermore, emotion-based worship can be helpful or harmful. On the positive side, corporate worship should engage the spiritual, physical, and emotional sides of people. But emotions must be grounded in truth. Combining Spirit-led passion with biblical depth provides balanced engagement of head and heart.
Worship leaders must also walk wisely regarding culture-based worship expressions. In our pluralistic society, embracing creative forms from a variety of cultures makes worship contextually engaging. However, churches should thoughtfully sift elements that compromise Scripture. Worship should connect with culture without uncritically absorbing culture.
Ultimately worship must be directed toward God, not sidetracked by distractions. Performance, tradition, comfort, consumerism, emotion, and cultural elements can be leveraged meaningfully but also pose dangers. With discernment, churches can craft worship services that point people to exalting the one true God with their whole being.
Conclusion
In closing, worship deserves to be a top priority in the church according to Scripture’s teaching and example. God created people to glorify Him. Jesus exemplified wholehearted worship. The early church gathered consistently to worship. Eternity centers around worship. The church must recapture the primacy of adoring God together.
Churches and individuals need a renewed vision for the privilege of worship. With diligent shepherding, strategic planning, executive excellence, and personal devotion, corporate worship and individual worship can flourish. People united to exalt God’s name is a beautiful testimony in an often God-neglecting world.
Worship binds believers to God and to one another. Whether lifting voices in unison or quietly meditating on Scripture, worship ushers God’s people into His presence. The Holy Spirit takes our offerings of praise and transforms us more into Christ’s image. Worship brings the church closer to the heartbeat of God.
May our gracious God finds the sacrifices of worship His people bring to be a pleasing and beautiful offering. And may He continue to fan the flame of worship on the altar of our hearts so that our lives reflect His glory above all.
