Greg reminded us of the importance of worship, praise and celebration. We sometimes tend to collapse all three of these words together and associate it with the singing portion of a church service, but there’s much more to it that that.
Watch/Listen
Praise & Celebrate
• Greg Boyd
Show Extended Summary Hide Extended Summary
Greg reminded us of the importance of worship, praise and celebration. We sometimes tend to collapse all three of these words together and associate it with the singing portion of a church service, but there’s much more to it that that.
We worship when we ascribe worth to God (Romans 12:1). Our whole lives can be expressions of worship to the extent that we are mindful of God and offer up our lives to God no matter what it is we are doing at the moment. This could be as simple as silently expressing gratitude to God while doing the dishes or mowing the yard. Of course, ascribing worth to God as a community on Sunday mornings is also worship.
We praise God when we express the truth about God as we address God directly. An example of this is found in Psalm 71:22: “I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God.”
We celebrate God when we proclaim the truth about God both to God and to one another. Examples of this include Psalm 98:4, 6: “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music…with trumpets and the blast of the rams horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King.”
Some things that happen when we praise and celebrate include:
- It brings us into God’s presence, whether we “feel” it or not. (see Psalm 100:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 5:13-14)
- Often it encourages us deeply. (see Psalm 27:4,6)
- It transforms us. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
- Praise and celebration is spiritual warfare. (Psalm 8:2)
Greg closed by reminding us that praise and worship must be passionate so that it reflects rightly the worth we ascribe to God. This doesn’t have to mean “rowdy” but deeply heartfelt and involving our whole self. (see Psalm 103:1) Finally, praise and celebration sometimes involves sacrifice. We don’t always “feel like” praising and celebrating but God is worthy of it none-the-less. (Hebrews 13:15 and Psalm 57:6-9)
Hide Extended SummaryDownloads & Resources
Focus Scripture:
-
Romans 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 true worship.
One thought on “Praise & Celebrate”
Leave a Reply
I was searching on YouTube for “worship in spirit and truth”. I was frustrated, and then I KNOW the Holy Spirit dropped it in my heart to seek a sermon by Greg on this very subject. …… I attended WH Church until August of 2009. This message makes me ache to be at WH again.
This is full of quenching my thirst for all I was seeking. Thank you, Pastor Greg.
Love and affection in Him,
Lindy Combs, New Braunfels, TX