What does Sunday morning worship have to do with making disciples?

Since Christ’s commission to all believers is to “make disciples” (Matt. 28:19-20), it’s only reasonable for us to make sure that all the church’s activities seek to fulfill that commission. Worship is one of those.

Most the words in the Bible translated “worship” carry the idea of “bowing down.” What a vivid picture! As believers, there we are in the presence of God Almighty with our hearts and minds and bodies compelled to lower themselves before the majesty of the One, the Creator of all. And as we consider Jesus, His life, death, and resurrection, we respond in worship as did Thomas when he experienced the resurrected Christ face to face exclaiming, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28) Wouldn’t it be interesting if we said, “Let’s go to church on Sunday and bow down.” Well maybe that’s a bit radical, but you get the point.

Disciples are Spirit-born followers of Jesus who have experienced God’s mercy and grace. Disciples are apprentices of the Messiah, living lives of love that do justice. And, disciples are worshipers. I’ve come across four truisms to help me remember what true worship for disciples is all about.

1. Worship is more about meaning than about preference.

We know what we like, and we like what we know. Familiarity can be our friend and our enemy. Just as we might have a favorite flavor of ice cream, we might have favorite hymns and songs and Bible verses that help make life feel comfortable and predictable. But public Christian worship (bowing down!) is more about retelling the story of God’s great love, grace, and mercy to us through faith in Jesus than it is having a sing-along of our favorite hymns and choruses. The weekly gathering of God’s people in praise and thanksgiving and lament in utter dependence is the reason we meet.

2. Keep first things first

Worship songs cannot usher us into the presence of God. The death and resurrection of Jesus already has. Music is a wonderful vehicle for expression in worship, but it’s not the foundation of our closeness to God. Music is not the “first thing” of worship; Only Jesus is.

3. Worship is our response to meeting with God

We don’t “experience worship,” we experience God. Our response to that experience is worship. Worship is not a means to something else. To bow before (worship) the God of our salvation is the reason for the Church’s existence.

4. Content is more important than the Container

Musically strong tunes never justify theologically weak words. Music can have a powerful influence: melody, rhythm, phrasing can cause us to feel great toe-tapping elation. But the truth of a song is carried by its words. The very best songs used in gatherings for worship are those songs which have a beautiful synergy of music and lyrics.

If you are a follower of Jesus by God’s grace through faith, then you are a disciple – and you are a worshiper!