A Bigger Picture of Worship
Worship is a topic that has always been close to my heart. As we dive in, I’d like to start with a few questions to help us reflect:
What drives you to worship—not just on Sundays but throughout the week?
What keeps your mind and heart in a posture of worship?
And perhaps the biggest question of all: what is worship, anyway?
If I’m being honest, I struggle with answering these questions myself. Even after many years of practice, I’ve found there’s no easy answer. My journey with worship began in high school when I led a youth group praise band, wielding my trusty Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar. Later, in college at North Dakota State University, I helped lead worship for our InterVarsity Christian Fellowship chapter. Fun fact: that’s where I met my wife—she was part of the worship team, too! (Consider this a fair warning: your future spouse might be on your team!)
With all this experience under my belt, you might think I’ve become some sort of expert in worship. But the truth is, the more I learn about worship, the more I realize how vast and deep it truly is. Worship is so much bigger than we often imagine or define.
Unpacking Worship: More Than a Song
We often speak about worship in ways that can make it seem narrow or limited. We use the term to describe a church service, a specific song, or even a musical style. Over the past few decades, worship as a genre of music has exploded within Christian culture, gaining its own subgenres and becoming a major element of how we experience worship corporately.
But is worship just a style of music? Is it merely the 20-minute segment between announcements and the sermon? I surely hope not.
Through studying Scripture, reading books, hearing sermons, and engaging with other believers, I’ve come to a humbling conclusion: worship is so much bigger than the box we tend to put it in. At its core, worship is not about music—it’s about the posture of our hearts. Music is a powerful and beautiful expression of worship, but it is only one of many ways to ascribe worth to God.
Worship as a Way of Life
Worship, at its essence, is all-encompassing. It’s a lifestyle, a continuous act of surrender, and a reflection of God’s worth in every area of our lives. Romans 12:1 puts it this way: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
This means worship isn’t confined to Sunday mornings or the songs we sing. It’s expressed in every part of who we are and what we do:
- How I serve my spouse and children is worship.
- How I spend my time and money is worship.
- How I treat my coworkers and neighbors is worship.
- What I say—and choose not to say—is worship.
- Who I am when no one else is around is worship.
In all these areas, we are ascribing worth to something or someone. The question is: are we ascribing worth to God?
Worship as Preparation
When we live in a daily rhythm of worship—seeking God, honoring Him, and walking in His ways—it changes the way we approach corporate worship. If we’ve been worshiping in the “trenches” Monday through Saturday, Sunday becomes the culmination of what we’ve already been doing all week. Psalm 100:4 encourages us, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Worship on Sunday feels richer and more natural when our hearts are already tuned to God throughout the week.
Creating Space for Worship
This summer, I encourage you to carve out space in your day to reevaluate what worship looks like in your life. With the busyness of fall just around the corner, it’s vital to make time for intentional worship and connection with God. Worship doesn’t happen by accident—it requires effort and intentionality.
Here are some ideas to help:
- Start Your Day with Worship: Spend time in prayer or Scripture first thing in the morning. Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”
- Worship in the Ordinary: As you work, run errands, or spend time with family, invite God into those moments. Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
- Make Rest a Priority: Take time to unplug, rest, and listen for God’s voice. If you’re struggling with rest, check out my earlier blog, Learning to Rest, for practical tips.
A Heart Check
Finally, I challenge you—as I challenge myself—to ask: “How well am I worshiping today? Am I giving God my best?” God doesn’t deserve our leftovers; He deserves our first fruits. Worship is how we give Him our best, and it’s happening all the time—24/7.
As we pursue a bigger picture of worship, let’s strive to honor God in all we do. Whether through music, relationships, work, or rest, may we live lives that reflect His glory.
God bless you, friends! I’m praying for you as we journey together in worship. Let’s give Him the praise He deserves—not just on Sunday, but every day.
I can be reached at info@derekcharlesjohnson.com
God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. Psalm 29:2
Written By: Derek Charles Johnson. Derek is a friend of the Froot Group family and is a church worship leader residing in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Check out Derek’s website to find out more about who he is, listen to his songs or read more of his blogs. We think he’s a swell guy and you will too!
