We’ve all been there.
That sudden, unsettling feeling of realizing you’re lost. In times past, we would have had only two options: stop to ask for the correct route or pull out a map and try to find our way. Nowadays, almost all of us have access to navigation systems, whether on our phones, tablets, or in our cars. These systems can zoom in (+) to show you exactly where you are, but to get your bearings, you often need to zoom out (-), allowing the screen to reveal reference points around you. This broader view is essential, and providing these words of encouragement for a praise ministry aims to offer just that – a way to zoom out and reconnect with foundational truths.
Something similar can happen to those of us who serve in praise ministries. Week after week, our focus is on guiding our local church in hymns of praise and songs of gratitude and worship. To do this well, it’s necessary to zoom in on our people, our environment, and our leaders, to be relevant to what we understand God is doing in our midst. But if our focus is solely on that, we run the risk of losing the eternal perspective of our calling and purpose as worshipers of God. It is here that it’s healthy to “Zoom Out,” to refocus on those reference points indicated in the Word of God, ensuring that our worship of God in the local church is on the right path.
Digital tablet displaying a collection of eBooks, symbolizing readily available resources for deepening faith and ministry understanding.
I have found that the following five words are excellent reference points that help us situate ourselves so we never lose the eternal perspective of what is essential when it comes to worshiping God.
Revelation: The Starting Point of True Worship
“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1). Just as the creation story narrated in Scripture begins with God, so too does worshiping God always begin with God Himself. Professor Dan Block, in his book For The Glory Of God, mentions that worship is an “act of reverent submission before the Sovereign God in response to the loving revelation of Himself.”
God has revealed Himself to humanity in the person of Jesus Christ. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, ESV). To know Jesus is to know the character of God and His redemptive purposes. This must always be our first reference point when we come to worship Him.
When planning the elements of a worship service, before asking, “What song is a congregation favorite that we haven’t sung in a while?” or “What’s the most creative way to present this Bible message?”, our first question should be, “How will the character of God, His glory, and His redemptive purposes, as He has revealed Himself, be honored, proclaimed, and exalted in this service?” This focus offers profound encouragement for worship teams seeking depth.
Relationship: Created for Communion
Our God did not create us merely to rule over us by force or to arbitrarily demand that we offer Him worship. The Word is clear in showing us that God created us to live in communion with Him. His will has always been to be in relationship with His creation.
“The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise” (Isaiah 43:21, ESV).
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6, ESV).
In his book Engaging with God, David Peterson describes it thus: “Worship of the One Living God is essentially entering into a relationship with Him, on the terms He Himself has proposed, and only in the way He Himself makes it possible.” Jesus Himself, when He called His disciples, before giving them a ministry to perform in the kingdom, called them to be with Him (Mark 3:14-15).
When we gather as God’s people to exalt His glory and proclaim His gospel, we do not do so as those who show up to fulfill a series of cold religious rites and customs, indifferent to our affections and disconnected from an eternal reality. We gather to recognize and remember that if the most valuable Being in the universe has created us to live in communion with Him, that takes priority over all things. This understanding is key for any praise leader inspiration.
Redemption: The Path to Restored Worship
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself” (2 Corinthians 5:18, ESV).
God has created us to worship Him and be in relationship with Him, but we cannot worship Him until this relationship is restored. The Bible teaches that our sin has damaged our relationship with God; in fact, it has severed it, depriving us of His communion. Only reconciliation can bring us back, and this reconciliation can only happen on God’s terms. These biblical principles for worship are crucial.
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19, ESV).
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Hebrews 13:15, ESV).
It is inconceivable for a worship service to conclude with unconverted individuals sincerely believing they have truly worshiped God. The invitation to come and worship is always there for everyone, but we must be clear and, with wisdom, tact, and grace, emphasize that we cannot worship God unless we first confess repentance and faith in Christ. The message of redemption must be central in our congregational times of praise because there is no way to present ourselves before God to worship Him if we do not do so through our Redeemer and Mediator, Jesus Christ. This is a core aspect of spiritual guidance for worship ministry.
Response: Worship as a Way of Life
Most of the time, when we talk about worship, we focus more on this reference point than any other, and this is where debates and discussions often begin. By concentrating solely on our response, we run the risk of basing our convictions on styles, tastes, preferences, customs, or traditions, rather than on Scripture.
In his book Worship by the Book, D.A. Carson defines worship as “the appropriate response of all moral beings to God, giving all the honor and the glory to their God-Creator precisely because He is delightfully worthy.”
In Scripture, we see that this response is the natural result of having been redeemed by the grace and mercy of our God: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1, ESV). In light of this verse, we understand that our entire life is now a living offering of praise and gratitude to God through Christ. We worship God when we seek His face alone in our devotional time, and we also worship when we gather as God’s people to exalt Him. We worship God when we go for a walk with our family in the park, and we also worship when we work with responsibility and excellence in our respective jobs. This holistic view provides continuous motivation for any praise band or individual in service.
Kingdom: Worship with an Outward Focus
Just as our worship of God does not begin in ourselves, neither does it end with ourselves. Although we are immensely blessed when we worship God, His blessing towards us is not meant to stay with us: it is so that we may be a blessing to others.
The English bishop William Temple formulated one of the most widely used definitions of worship in recent times: “To worship is to awaken the conscience to the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purify the imagination with the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, and to dedicate the will to the purpose of God.” It is important for all those who lead times of congregational praise to keep in mind that worshiping God does not end when we stop singing or when we step down from the platform. God’s purpose is that His gospel be preached everywhere and that we make disciples in all nations.
We should desire for our local churches to have the deep conviction that extending the kingdom of God by proclaiming His gospel of salvation is also an important part of our worship to God. This perspective helps in sustaining a worship ministry with a lasting impact.
Keeping these five reference points in view each time we plan or prepare congregational services will help ensure that our services are centered on God and the revelation of His glory, His desire to relate, and His provision of redemption. Thus, we can respond appropriately and proclaim the kingdom of God to every creature, all for the glory of God. These are more than just encouraging words; they are foundational pillars for any praise ministry.
