What is the purpose of worship?

The purpose of worship is a worthwhile question for the believer to ask from time to time. It’s doubtful that a Christian doesn’t understand the need to worship, but remembering the purpose of worship can get lost. There is a sense in which a Christian is always worshiping God in the daily living out of their life, but the Bible clearly speaks to a formal setting for worship as well.

How Scripture answers "What is the purpose of worship?"

The purpose of worship is to come together^2,3 to honor and glorify God¹. It’s done according to His command^1,4, and while we see a certain authorized frequency and other authorized activities, another explicit purpose of worship is to remember His Son while reflecting on our own faithfulness to Him². This “coming together” for the Lord’s Supper also highlights the relational and physical aspect of the purpose of worship when we encourage and strengthen each other³ in our Christian walk.

Answer built on scripture-blocks below

1

John 4:23-24

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

What does it say?

A time will come when true worshipers will worship in “spirit and truth.” God seeks these worshipers and it is how they “must” worship Him since He is spirit.

What is the context?

Jesus is speaking to the woman at the well in Samaria at the very beginning of His public ministry. It’s a time when Jews considered Jerusalem the center of worship (still under the Mosaic covenant). Conversely, the Samaritans had developed their own center of worship – an offshoot of the traditions passed down from their Jewish heritage. Worship location is very much the context in which Jesus is speaking. Immediately preceding he says, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.” (vs 21)

How does it apply here?

Worship is to and for God.

2

1 Corinthians 11:33-34

So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

What does it say?

As a result, when the brethren gather together to partake of the Lord’s Supper, they should wait for each other. Satisfy your hunger at home so as not to bring condemnation from the Lord when you come together.

What is the context?

Paul in his letter to the church in Corinth gives many admonitions and instruction about their worship practice. In this case, he’s admonishing about the divisions created in their inappropriate Lord’s Supper practices.

How does it apply here?

A purpose for worship is to “come together to eat [the Lord’s Supper].”

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

And while partaking of this meal, the Christian is to take stock of their own faithfulness by “examining himself” (vs 28).

3

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

What does it say?

Lets all think about how to provoke each other to love and good works by not skipping worship as some are doing, but coming together to encourage each other more and more as the final day of judgement draws near.

What is the context?

This letter to Jewish Christians that were now scattered throughout the region contrasts their Old Covenant worship practices (e.g. sacrifices, High Priest, etc.) with the New Covenant under Jesus Christ. Specifically here, the writer is relating the practice of the High Priest entering the Holy Place to the Christian’s responsiblity to do the same (in worship).

How does it apply here?

Meeting together for worship should not be neglected since it is for encouraging and compelling (e.g. “stir up”) others in their love and righteousness (e.g. “good works”). This is all done with an eye toward and in anticipation of “the Day drawing near.”

4

Mark 7:5-8

And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands? And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.

What does it say?

The Scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples didn’t abide by the tradition of the elders by eating with unwashed hands. Jesus responded by calling them hypocrites and saying that Isaiah was prophesying about them when he said that God’s people were only worshiping in words/actions, and not their hearts/minds. They elevated tradition over God’s command and thus worshiped in vain.

What is the context?

Jesus is responding to the Pharisees and scribes that were challenging him. He is quoting from Isaiah 29:13, a context where God is speaking out against the false prophets of the day.

This exchange is also recorded in Matthew 15:1-9, where He adds an example of a specific command of God that they had “altered.”

How does it apply here?

Jesus says that worship can be in vain — if not done with one’s heart and not according to God’s commands.

end of scripture-blocks; go back to the answer

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How Scripture answers "What is the purpose of worship?"

John 4:23-24

What does it say?

What is the context?

1 Corinthians 11:33-34

What does it say?

What is the context?

Hebrews 10:24-25

What does it say?

What is the context?

Mark 7:5-8

What does it say?

What is the context?

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