Why does worship have to be so active with some people? There are just sometimes when our whole body wants to praise God! There are examples in the Bible that help us to realize that God wants us to worship Him with our whole spirit, soul, and body! As we seek to bring glory to God by praising Him it is important that we never make it a religious form or ritual.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37 (NIV)

Our Goal in Worship

Our goal in worship is to meet God. This verse shows how God filled the temple when there was active praise going on.

The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 (NIV)

Methods of Worship

Many times people are only familiar with the quiet, reverent style of worshipping God. This is a valid way to worship God. But in the Bible this method is the exception rather than the rule. Listed below are many other methods of worshipping God that He enjoys. As you can tell from the verses our God loves activity, joy, and exuberant praise!

SINGING

Sing to the LORD, you saints of his…Psalms 30:4

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.Psalms 95:1

Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. Psalms 47:6

KNEELING

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;Psalms 95:6

LIFTING UP HANDS

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. Psalms 134:2

I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, …1 Timothy 2:8

CLAPPING

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.Psalms 47:1

DANCING
Let them praise his name with dancing …Psalms 149:3

praise him with tambourine and dancing, Psalms 150:4

SHOUTING

May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; …Psalms 35:27

David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals. 2 Samuel 6:5

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Psalms 150:3-5

SINGING A “NEW SONG”

Sometimes during the service, you may hear someone sing out spontaneously a song that you may have never heard before. This is commonly done by a member on the music team. The Bible calls this a new song because He is giving us the words to this “new song” right them. This makes the praise & worship time fresh and alive.

Sing to the LORD a new song; …..Psalms 96:1

Other Questions

Can’t I just praise God in my heart and not out loud?

You can, but the Lord has asked us to do more.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.  Hebrews 13:15

Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; Psalms 66:8

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Psalms 145:21

Is it possible to praise the Lord too much?

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Psalms 34:1

Won’t visitors to our church be “turned off” when they see the whole congregation praising God?

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalms 40:3

Is it ever quiet in Heaven?

Yes. The Bible says it was for 30 minutes in Revelation 8:1.

How should we come into the presence of God?

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs… Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalms 100: 2,4

Do you like active worship? If not, have you tried it? I know once I stepped out of my comfort zone and did something I had never done before it was so freeing!