Three Uses of Worship

In one paragraph

Brian opened with a brief, honest update before turning to the main subject: worship, what it is, why every person already does it whether they know it or not, and what it can actually do for you in the middle of real life. This was the first of two planned weeks on worship, sitting inside a longer stretch of conversations about the word, worship, and tithing as three foundational practices for...

Read together

1. Psalm 150 read aloud in full as the main text for the sermon on worship
2. 1 Samuel 16:14-23 David playing the harp to drive away the tormenting spirit that troubled Saul, used to illustrate worship as a weapon in combat
3. 1 Samuel 30:1-8 David strengthening himself in the Lord after Ziklag was raided, used to illustrate worship as a calibration tool
4. 2 Samuel 6:14 David dancing before the Lord with all his might, used to illustrate worship as celebration
5. Psalm 91 briefly referenced as hiding under the shadow of his wings, used to encourage running to God through worship
6. Isaiah 64:1 paraphrased as a prayer that God would rend the heavens and come down, used in a prayer for God to reveal himself to people in the valley

What was said

• Pick one Bible verse from the memorization series and repeat it out loud every day this week until it starts to stick.
• The next time anxiety, fear, or a hard situation hits you this week, put on a worship song instead of reaching for your usual distraction, and sing along even if it feels awkward.
• Think of one person in your life who is outside the church and pray this week that God would reveal himself to them the way he revealed himself to Saul on the road to Damascus.
• If there is someone you have not forgiven, bring that specific name and situation to God this week and ask him to apply his forgiveness to it, even if you have done it a hundred times before.
• Before you make a decision about a difficult situation you are facing right now, spend a few minutes in worship first to get calibrated, and then ask God what he wants you to do.

Talk about it

1. Brian said that every human worships something, and that self-worship is probably the default before a person meets Jesus. Where do you see that playing out in the people around you, and honestly, where do you still see it in yourself?
2. One person in the room described worshiping Bob Dylan before she knew the Lord, spending her time, money, energy and thoughts on him. What did you give that kind of devotion to before you followed Jesus, and how did it leave you?
3. Brian defined thanksgiving as the natural response to encountering what God does, praise as the natural response to encountering who God is, and worship as the natural response to encountering his presence. Does that distinction land for you, or does it raise questions?
4. The story of David at Ziklag shows him strengthening, or calibrating, himself in the Lord before he could even ask God what to do next. Can you think of a time when you tried to hear from God or make a big decision without getting calibrated first? What happened?
5. Brian said worship used in combat, the way Jacob and his friend sang over their fear on October 7 in Israel, or the way David played the harp for Saul, is something we have to train ourselves to do rather than something that comes naturally under pressure. What would it look like practically for you to build that kind of muscle memory this week?