Different Types of Worship

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What are the seven different types or ways in which we can worship God?

The English word "worship" is recorded 108 in the King James Bible. The book of Psalms writes the most about this topic, surprisingly followed by the book of Revelation.

The first thing we need to consider, before we begin to worship God, is our attitude. Jesus told the woman at the well, recorded in John 4, something profound in this regard. He states that those who wish to worship the Father must do so in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Many scriptures command that we reverence God such as Genesis 35:1, Exodus 15:1, 1Chronicles 16:29, Haggai 1:8, Mark 1:44 among several others. There are at least seven Biblical types or ways we can worship our loving Creator.


Praise

We can exalt our Creator through a grateful declaration of praise that is either public or private. This declaration can also be made through prayer.

Giving thanks at all times for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20, HBFV throughout).

A very special praise and thanking to the Lord took place when Solomon completed the temple, with voices and many instruments of music praising the God of heaven (2Chronicles 5:13).

Joyful Songs

We can worship our Maker through songs like the Psalms. King David especially called on people to make a joyful shout to the Lord and to come before him with singing on our lips.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing (Psalm 100:1 - 2, see also James 5:13 and Colossians 3:16).

Dancing

King David not only offered sacrifices to God when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, he also danced as a form of worship!

And it came to pass that when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was girded with a linen ephod (2Samuel 6:13 - 14).

There was dancing for joy before God when the sea, through a miracle, killed Pharaoh's army as they were pursuing the fleeing children of Israel.

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a drum in her hand. And all the women went out after her with drums and with dances. And Miriam answered them, "Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider He has flung into the sea" (Exodus 15:20 - 21).

Observing annual feast days

Jesus observed the Feast of Passover during his entire ministry (Matthew 26:17). He also faithfully kept, as his disciples and family did, the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2, 10). The disciples even honored God by keeping the Day of Pentecost after Jesus had died and rose from the grave (Acts 2:1).


Cheerful help to others

God especially loves those who help others not grudgingly or of necessity but out of a willing heart of service and love.

Each one as he purposes in his heart, so let him give, but not grudgingly or by compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver (2Corinthians 9:7, see also 8:1 - 2 and Acts 2:44 - 45)

Using our spiritual gifts

We can worship God through the proper use of our natural and supernatural-given gifts he gave us to serve as many people as we can.

Now there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit . . . But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the benefit of all (1Corinthians 12:4, 7, see also Ephesians 4:7, 11 - 13, 15 - 16).

Be a living sacrifice

The last of seven ways we can worship God is by being a living sacrifice. This type of sacrifice is manifested when we dedicate our entire lives to serving our Creator and being a blessing to others!

So then, my friends, because of God’s great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1).

May you be richly blessed as you worship the Eternal in "spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).

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