The Goal Of Worship
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bible Lessons on Worship
We sit through a play, we attentively watch the actors onstage. If we are sufficiently entertained, we show our gratitude with applause. The church assembly should be the exact opposite of the theater. When we worship, God is the audience.
What matters most takes place within the hearts of the congregation — not onstage behind the pulpit. When we leave a worship service, we should not ask ourselves, “What did I get out of it?” but rather, “Was God pleased with my worship to Him?” (John 4:23-24).
God took great pains in specifying the details of animal sacrifices for the ancient Israelites in their worship (cf. Leviticus 1-9). Yet He said that He didn’t need their animals:
“I will not take a bull from your house, nor goats out of your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:9-10).
What He did want, was their worshipful praise and obedience (Psalm 50:23).
By focusing only on the externals of worship, we too miss the point. The Lord is interested in a sacrifice of the heart, an internal attitude of submission and thanksgiving (Romans 2:28-29).
The goal of worship then, is nothing less than to assemble (Hebrews 10:24-25) and please the Lord (John 8:29; cf. John 4:34; John 5:30; John 6:38).