Worship: Why We Were Created

What is the main purpose of the church? "Worshiping and honoring God is the most important purpose of the church.”   Hmmm.  Is that accurate?  Is sharing the gospel and bringing the lost to Christ the most important?  I want you to check for accuracy on this one. 

Many people would answer, “to teach the Bible,” “to serve others,” “to evangelize,” or “to build community.” Yet there is something even greater.

Yes, worshiping and honoring God is the most important purpose of the church. Worship means basically, "Who do I love the most? Who do I think about the most?" The power of the Holy Spirit IN us is the umbrella for witnessing.

Witnessing is an outcome, not the driver or overarching priority. We cannot give what we do not first have. We must be disciples first before we can make disciples.

Jesus did not say, "Go make converts." He said, "Go [as you are going] make disciples... (Matthew 28:18-20) and the authority is by His power.

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him," said John Piper. 

When we find our ultimate joy in God, we are inherently declaring to the world that He is infinitely valuable—which is exactly what it means to glorify Him.

This is the first and most important commandment that Jesus verified: "Love the LORD Your God with all your heart...."   

Witnessing and bringing others to Christ is not the first priority. The church is people. Witnessing can merely become good works. Being is more important than doing. Being a worshipper of God is a heart issue more than any good works done in human power of rule-based religion. Remember, Christianity is about relationships, not religion.

“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” (Revelation 4:11)

The primary purpose of the church is worship. It is the one activity we will continue forever in heaven. Teaching prepares us. Evangelism reaches the lost. Discipleship matures believers. But worship is our eternal calling.

What Is Worship?

Many people think worship is singing songs on Sunday morning.

Singing can be an expression of worship, but worship is much larger.

Worship is our response to who God is.

It is the heart's recognition that God alone is worthy of glory, honor, power, praise, obedience, and affection.

Who do I love the most? Who or what do I think about the most?
That's who or what I worship the most.

Worship happens when we see God as He truly is and respond with wonder, surrender, gratitude, and love.

The word worship comes from the idea of worth-ship—declaring the worthiness of someone. Worship is acknowledging God's supreme value above everything else.

The Problem: We Create God in Our Own Image

One of humanity's greatest temptations is to create a version of God that looks like us.

We imagine a god who agrees with our opinions, approves of our preferences, and dislikes the same people we dislike. We shrink God down until He becomes manageable and comfortable.

But the God of Scripture refuses to fit inside our assumptions.

He reveals Himself through creation, through His Word, through the history of Israel, and most fully through Jesus Christ.

True worship begins when we stop inventing God and start meeting Him as He really is.

The God We Meet Is Holy

When Isaiah saw God seated on His throne, he did not applaud. He did not congratulate himself for being spiritual.

He trembled.

“I saw the Lord sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.” (Isaiah 6:1)

The angels surrounding God's throne cried:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” (Revelation 4:8)

Notice what they repeat.

Not "love, love, love."

Not "mercy, mercy, mercy."

Not "power, power, power."

The defining attribute repeatedly celebrated around God's throne is His holiness.

But what does "holy" mean?

Definition #1: Holy Means God Is Set Apart

The first meaning of holy is set apart.

God is utterly different from us. He is not merely a bigger version of humanity. He is the Creator. We are the creation.

He is eternal.
We are temporary.

He is all-knowing.
We are limited.

He is self-sufficient.
We depend on Him for every breath.

Isaiah discovered this when he saw the Lord "high and lifted up."

True worship begins when we realize:

He is God, and we are not.

Definition #2: Holy Means Perfectly Pure

The second meaning of holy is absolute moral purity.

God contains no darkness, no corruption, no selfishness, no sin.

When Isaiah encountered God's purity, he immediately became aware of his own sinfulness.

“Then I said, ‘It's all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man.’” (Isaiah 6:5)

The closer we move toward God's light, the more clearly we see ourselves.

Worship is not merely admiration.

It is also humility.

The Three Responses of True Worship

When people encounter the living God in Scripture, three responses consistently emerge.

1. Wonder

• We stand amazed before God's greatness to recognize His majesty, power, wisdom, beauty, and glory.
• Wonder says: "There is no one like You."

2. Conviction

• We become aware of our sin and need for grace, not crushing condemnation, but honest recognition that we fall short.
• Conviction says: "I need Your mercy."

3. Gratitude

• We rejoice that God has made a way for sinners to come near.
• Gratitude says: "Thank You for saving me."

These responses form the foundation of genuine worship.

The Good News: God's Love Makes a Way

The story does not end with Isaiah's fear. God sent an angel carrying a burning coal from the altar. The coal touched Isaiah's lips, and the angel declared:

“Now that this coal has touched your lips, your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” (Isaiah 6:7)

This moment points directly to Jesus Christ.

At the cross, God's holiness and God's love meet.

Jesus took our guilt.
Jesus bore our punishment.
Jesus opened the way into God's presence.

Because of Christ, worship is no longer about trying to earn God's acceptance. It is the joyful response of people who have already received it.

Worship Today, Worship Forever

Revelation 4 and 5 pull back the curtain of heaven and show us what is happening right now around God's throne. The redeemed are worshiping. The angels are worshiping. Creation is worshiping.

And one day, every believer will join that eternal song.

Worship is not simply something we do.

Worship is what we were created for.

When we see God as He truly is:

• We bow in wonder before His greatness.
• We bow in humility before His holiness.
• We bow in gratitude before His mercy.

And in doing so, we discover the very purpose for which we were made.

“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” (Revelation 4:11)