Why We Worship The Way We Do
Pastor Darryn Scheske | Come Closer | Part 3 | August 17, 2025
You are a worshiper
We all worship something
Worship is our response to what we value most
“The greatest threat to undivided devotion to God is…idolatry” –Dr. Ivan Satyavrata
The whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise in loud voices for all the mighty works they had witnessed: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!” But he said, “If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.” Luke 19:37-40 MSG
Worship is our natural response to who God is
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3
Worship is our natural response to who God is and for what He has done
Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for his surpassing greatness. Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! Psalm 150:1-6
Halel – to rave, boast, celebrate, to be clamorously foolish
I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people. Psalm 35:18
Yadah – to acknowledge in public
I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart. Psalm 138:1
Barak – to bless by kneeling or bowing
Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Psalm 103:1
Zamar – making music to God
It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1
Shabach – to address in a loud tone, to shout loudly
Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:3-4
Towdah – to lift hands in adoration
He who offers praise glorifies me: and to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23
Tehilah – exuberant singing.
I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. Psalm 34:1
O God, my heart is fixed on You, I will sing and give praise (zamar)… I will praise (yadah) Thee, O Lord among the people... I will sing praises (tehilah) unto Thee among the nations. Psalm 108:1,3
1. Worship is a choice, not a feeling
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17-18)
2. Worship expects God to respond
I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies. Psalm 18:3
Come close to God and God will come close to you. James 4:8
3. Worship “all-in” – with all I am and all I have
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” –Jesus, Mark 12:30
Worship is expressing my love to God
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23
Greek: Proskünéō
Verb: “to kiss”