Worship

Resistance

What most often interferes with your worship?

☐ I evaluate worship mainly by musical style.
☐ I wait until I feel something before participating.
☐ I observe rather than actively worship.
☐ I arrive distracted and expect others to prepare my heart.

Preferences and emotions can influence our experience, but God’s worth remains constant. We worship because he is worthy, even when our feelings lag behind our faith.

Revelation

Romans 12:1–2

• God’s mercy calls us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. 
• Worship involves everyday surrender as God renews our minds and teaches us to discern his will.

John 4:23–24

• The Father seeks worshipers who worship in Spirit and in truth. 
• True worship depends on God’s Spirit and responds to God as he has revealed himself.

Psalm 100:1–5

• Shout, serve, and sing: Worship calls for active, glad participation.
• Acknowledge the Lord: He made us, we belong to him, and he cares for us.
• Enter with thanksgiving: Prepare your heart to join God’s people in praise.
• Remember his character: His goodness, faithful love, and faithfulness give us lasting reasons to worship.

Israel’s call to enter God’s courts with thanksgiving reminds us to prepare for gathered worship. Come ready to continue the praise you have offered throughout the week.

Prepare your heart more than your attire.

Result

Worship nurtures:

• A reoriented heart: God’s mercy reshapes our priorities (Rom. 12:1–2).
• Joy rooted in truth: God’s character gives us reason for gladness (Ps. 100:1–5).
• Unity in the body: We teach and encourage one another as we sing (Col. 3:16).
• Gratitude and reverence: We respond to God’s unshakable kingdom with awe (Heb. 12:28).

Response

Develop a Rhythm of Worship

• Prepare before gathering. Pray, address distractions, and remember who God is and what he has done.
• Participate sincerely. Sing, listen, pray, give, and respond with engaged attention.
• Practice private worship. Turn Scripture into praise and offer ordinary responsibilities to God.
• Sing truth faithfully. Pay attention to the words. Sing what is true, and ask God to deepen your affection for him.

This Week

Read Psalm 100 before coming to worship. Thank God for one truth about his character and sing a song that expresses it. Before Sunday, set aside time to prepare your heart to worship with his people.

One truth I will praise God for: _____________________

How I will prepare for Sunday: ______________________

Come ready to continue the song your heart has been singing all week.