Worship & Praise

Scripture: Psa 86:12-13 With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever,  13  for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.

Take Another Look:

How does he praise the LORD?

For how long does he plan to give glory to His name? 

What reasons does he provide the lead him to praise God in this manner.?

Insight: God values worship that flows from a grateful heart and that calls to mind how much God loves us and what God has done to save us.

Takeaway: When you worship, examine your heart; and seek to offer God genuine praise from a grateful heart.

Scripture: John 4:23-24 – “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth...”

Take Another Look:

How do true worshipers worship?

Why do you think God seeks true worshipers?

Insight: Worship is authentic when the heart is aligned with God's truth and the Spirit is engaged fully. It’s relational, not ritualistic.

Takeaway: In worship, focus on the truths that are being communicated in the songs...and go beyond just the mechanical side of playing an instrument or using your voice to focus on connecting with the Holy Spirit. When leading worship it is a constant effort to communicate...what is the LORD doing? How is the congregation responding?...where does greater emphasis need to be given? (i.e. dynamics in the song, a focus on specific words etc)

Scripture:
Psalm 103:1 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!”

Take Another Look:
What parts of ourselves should bless the Lord?
Why is it important that this praise is wholehearted?
How might worship with the soul be different than worship with the heart? 

Insight:
Worship requires full engagement—soul, mind, and body united in adoration of God’s holiness.

Takeaway:

Offer worship that involves your entire being, not just words but your whole heart, soul, mind and strength.

Scripture: Psalm 95:1-2 – “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!”

Take Another Look:

What emotion does this verse call us to?

What is this joy accompanied with?

How is a “joyful noise” different from ordinary singing?

Insight: Joyful worship is heartfelt and expressive. It is not just human emotion, but human emotion which springs from something we remember about God - in this case, He is the "rock of our salvation".

Takeaway: When leading worship choose a variety of songs, but don't forget from time to time to include "a joyful noise" is an important and biblical precedent for our time together. Make room for this and let our worship be energized by gratitude and enthusiasm because of what Jesus has done.

Scripture: Psalm 22:3 – “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.”

Take Another Look:

Where is God enthroned?

How does praise become a throne for God?

Insight: Worship creates a throne, a place where God’s presence rests. We understand that God's presence is everywhere, but a unique sense of His presence can be found in praise...It is in this environment where the LORD moves and does His work among the the hearts of the people in worship. 

Takeaway: Lead worship expecting God to inhabit the praises of His people. Expect that God will meet with us in this unique way, and people will leave the service with the sense they have touched the heart of God.

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 – The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the LORD with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD.  14  The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God.

Take Another Look:
What happened when the instruments and singers praised the LORD?
What happened to the priests?
What is it that filled the temple?

Insight: Instruments and singers, together aligned their hearts to praise and give thanks. This created an environment for the presence of God to show up in a tangible way. 

Takeaway: Cultivate harmony and oneness in the team before leading worship. Also remember that instruments praise God as much as voices. We are not just accompaniment. Learn to worship the LORD on your instrument.

Psa 98:4-6   Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!  5  Sing your praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song,  6  with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the LORD, the King!

Scripture:
Psalm 145:3 – “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.”

Take Another Look:

How great is God?
How does His unsearchable greatness inspire me for worship?
If "He is greatly to be praised" what might need to change or be added to my expressions of praise to God?

Insight:
God’s incomprehensible greatness calls for our highest praise and awe.

Takeaway:
Let the vastness of God’s majesty lead you to deep, reverent worship.

Scripture: Acts 16:25-26 – “Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns... the prison doors were opened.”

Take Another Look:
What were Paul and Silas doing in prison?
How did worship impact their circumstances?
What does this say about worship’s power today?

Insight: Worship is a spiritual weapon that opens doors and can totally change situations through God’s power.

Takeaway: Lead worship with faith in God’s mighty intervention. We don't know what chains, obstacles or prisons people may find themselves in when we gather to worship. Let God do His work as we worship Him together.

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 – After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!”  22  At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.

Take Another Look:
As the people sang, what was the content of their worship?

What happened at the very moment they began to sing and give praise?

Insight: Worship is a frontline tool in spiritual warfare that brings victory through God’s power. It turned the peoples' focus from "Oh no, we are surrounded by the enemy!" to “Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!”  and it was then the LORD intervened.

Takeaway: Approach worship as a powerful weapon in your spiritual battles. Once again, we never know when we gather what struggles people are facing. We need to help them lift their eyes off the circumstances and onto the greatness of our God.

Scripture: 1Samuel 16:23  And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.

Take Another Look:
What happened when David played the harp?

Insight: Worship can break spiritual strongholds and bring freedom from oppression. In this case an evil spirit departed from Saul. Note too, this was an instrumental scenario...it says "David played, and the spirit departed".

Takeaway: There is a place for the ministry of instruments during worship...to bring peace, and freedom.  This can happen during transitions, during spiritual gifts, during times of prayer...the instruments need to be sensitive during these times realizing God may be at work.

Scripture: Hebrews 13:15 –  "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”

Take Another Look:
What does “continually offer” mean?
How is worship a sacrifice?

The sacrifice of praise, called "the fruit of lips" that  do what?

Insight: Worship is a lifestyle not an event. All that we say and do is a praise to God. 

Rom 12:1 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.

Takeaway: Cultivate daily times of worship, but also recognize all you do is a worship unto the LORD.

Scripture: Psa 33:1-3  Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.  2  Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.  3  Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Take Another Look:
What two ways the verse speak about singing to the LORD?
How does he tell us to play?
What part does joy play?

How do we express our joy?
What do we do with the harp?

Insight: Joyful singing and skillful playing both honor God. Practice your skills, and set your righteous and upright heart before him. Let praise bubble with joy. Also a New Song is not a new song we get from CCLI...it is a song that has never been sung, a song from your heart, a spontaneous expression of praise to God. This is also an aspect of worship to learn and nurture within the church.

Takeaway: Strive for both heartfelt joy and skillful playing, all springing from an upright heart.

Scripture: Psalm 100:2 – “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”

Luke 4:8 "It has been written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.'"

Take Another Look:
With what heart do we serve the LORD?
How do we come into His presence?

Insight: Serving the Lord isn’t limited to being on the worship team—it’s much broader. A life lived as a servant of the Lord with a glad heart naturally complements a life of worship. The two go hand in hand. When our hearts are set on serving Him joyfully in everyday life, our worship becomes even more authentic, and when we worship, it deepens our desire to serve.

Takeaway: Serve the Lord gladly in everything you do, and count it as an added blessing when He allows you to lead others into His presence. Let your worship strengthen your serving, and let your serving drive you deeper into worship.

Scripture: 2Ki 3:15-16  But now bring me a harpist." While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came on Elisha  and he said, "This is what the LORD says: I will fill this valley with pools of water.

Take Another Look:
When did the hand of the LORD come upon Elisha?
What did Elisha do when the hand of the LORD came upon him?

Insight: Worship creates space for God’s spirit to move and work prophetically.

Takeaway: Worship with expectancy that God will act. As musicians, we are creating an environment for the Spiritof God to move within the congregation.

Scripture: 1Samuel 10:5-6  ... As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.  6  The Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you [Saul], and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.

Take Another Look:
What were the prophets doing as the were coming down from the high places?
In what way did this impact Saul?

What did the Spirit of the LORD do?

Insight: Worship can carry God’s message, moving hearts beyond intellect into spirit-led encounter. 

Takeaway: Expect God to speak through your worship, to stir others to be used in spiritual gifts, but even as musicians  you can lead the way in being inspired to prophesy.

Note: When we enter God’s presence in worship, He can move in powerful ways through the gifts of the Spirit. Prophecy, in particular, has a unique way of opening hearts—both of believers and of those who may not yet know Him.

1 Corinthians 14:24-25 "But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, 'God is truly here among you.'"

Scripture: Psalm 40:3 – “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.”

Take Another Look:
Who put a new song in my mouth?
What is the essence of a new song?

Insight: A new song is one given by God - it is a praise to our God. There are times you may do this on your own, and there are times we may do it as a congregation.

Takeaway: Practice singing a new song to the LORD in your devotions. Open the psalms, grab a guitar or sit at the keyboard and put a psalm to music. Aim to worship and pray with both your heart and mind. Let your spirit connect deeply with God, and let your understanding guide your words and music so your worship is both heartfelt and meaningful. Also just set your heart before the LORD as you pray and let it be as a song.

1 Corinthians 14:15 – “What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.” 

Scripture: Psalm 100:4 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!”

Take Another Look:
How do we enter God's gates?
How do we enter His courts?

Insight: Thanksgiving and praise opens hearts and ushers us into his presence.

Takeaway: Lead worship rooted in deep gratitude for God’s goodness. 

Scripture: Ps 95:2 – “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”

Take Another Look:
How do we come into God's presence?
How does this verse describe the character of songs of praise?

Insight: Once again we see that thanksgiving and praise ushers us into his presence. Have you ever wondered how the presence of God in worship is different than the presence of God that is everywhere all the time. (Psa 139:7 "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?")

Takeaway: Leading worship is about helping people to experience the presence of the LORD. A person can attend a concert of their favorite artist and have a wonderful experience, but in a small church with a group of dedicated singers and musicians, people can experience the presence of God.

Scripture: Psa 95:6-8 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,

Take Another Look:
When we come before the LORD, what posture dominates these verses?

The first part of verse 7 tells us why — He is our God, and we are His people.

The end of verse 7 and beginning of verse 8 show us where true worship leads: obedience.

Insight: This bowing or kneeling can be a physical posture, but it can also be an inward bowing of the heart in submission and honor of the LORD. Both are legitimate biblical responses that ultimately lead us toward obedience. Scripture pairs worship with serving — they belong together:

“You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.” (Mt 4:10; cf. Deut 6:13)

Takeaway: When we lead people into God’s presence in worship, it’s not just about an experience — it shapes their lives. True worship results in obedience, and with obedience comes the blessing of God. 

Scripture:
Revelation 5:13 – “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Take Another Look:
Who is the focus of eternal worship?
What does eternal praise tell us about God’s worthiness?

Insight:
God and the Lamb command eternal praise for their infinite glory.

Takeaway:
Join the heavenly chorus in worship that transcends time and space. 

Scripture:
Luke 19:37–38 – “The whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen...”

Take Another Look:
How did the whole multitude of disciples rejoice and praise God?
What motivated the disciples’ loud praise?
What does this tell us about public expressions of praise within a multitude?

Insight:
Celebrating Jesus publicly magnifies His works and builds faith among the community.

Takeaway:
Engage in joyful corporate worship, lifting voices together in praise. 

Scripture :
Psalm 19:1  "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship."

Take Another Look:
What words describe how the heavens and skies communicate about God?
How does creation “proclaim” or "display" God’s glory and craftsmanship without using words?
How can knowing these things encourage or inspire my worship of God?

Insight:
Nature itself reveals God’s character. The sky’s beauty, order, and vastness remind us of His creativity, power, and attention to detail. Worship includes noticing and responding to these truths.

Takeaway:
Take a few minutes today to observe the sky. Let the grandeur of creation lead you to verbal or silent praise of God. 

Scripture:
Psalm 148:3–4 "Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the skies!"

Take Another Look:
Which parts of creation are specifically called to praise God in this passage?
What does it mean for something like the sun or stars to “praise” God?
How does the inclusion of the “highest heavens” expand the idea of praise beyond what we normally see?

Insight:
The universe itself testifies to God’s greatness. Every star, every planet, every ray of sunlight silently glorifies its Creator. Worship is not just a human response—it’s woven into the fabric of creation.

Takeaway:
Tonight, look up at the stars. Let the vastness of God’s creation inspire your heart to praise Him with awe and gratitude. 

Scripture:
Psalm 65:8 "The whole earth will come to worship you; it will sing your praises, too. Our oceans roar with joy, and the fields and their crops will burst out laughing."

Take Another Look:
Which elements of nature are described as praising God here?
How do words like “roar” and “burst out laughing” help you imagine creation worshiping?

Insight:
Creation is designed to reflect God’s glory. Mountains, trees, oceans, and crops “sing” and “burst out laughing” in praise, showing that worship is not just human; it’s a universal response to God. Jesus once told us if WE don't praise him the very rocks and stones would cry out.

Takeaway:
Next time you are outside—whether in mountains, forests, or by water—pause and imagine creation singing alongside you. Join in with your own words or heart in praise. 

Scripture:
Psalm 13:6 NLT — “I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me.”

Take Another Look:
Why does the psalmist choose to sing to God?
What does it mean that God is “good to me”? How might recognizing God’s goodness shape your own response?

Insight:
Worship often begins with remembering God’s character and blessings. Singing is an outward expression of an inward joy and gratitude for God’s kindness, even in difficult times.

Takeaway:
When you notice God’s goodness in your life, respond with your own “song”—through words, music, or simply a grateful heart. Let thankfulness guide your day.