Real Worship?

 This post was written by Larry Davis, a pastor at Oak Ridge Baptist Church in Salisbury, MD.

What helps someone worship God in a genuine way? Is it tied to form, a place, or a philosophy? Many people are confused about worship and I think it is because those of us that have the opportunity to lead confuse them.

We place our focus many times on the task ahead of us based on our weekend responsibilities and in so doing we focus our folks on the urgent and not the ultimate goal of worshiping our Creator.

No matter where you look in the Bible, worship always involves an offering of something to God that comes from the heart. In the book of Romans Paul gives a very succinct definition. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Rom 12:1 [NIV])

If we are honest with ourselves all of us from time to time are too self-absorbed to surrender our wants, desires, and dreams to God in worship. Our week is full of our agenda, our job, and our hobbies.

Rick Warren, author of "Purpose Driven Life", says that there are three barriers that typically keep us from this kind of worship: trusting God, a lack of self-awareness, and a lack of surrender. At different times as a person and as a leader I have found all three of these barriers to be real in my life and my ministry.

What barriers listed above have been hardest for you? If you are a leader have you shared those barriers with those that you lead? How did you overcome and push through to a place where you offered all of who you are to God as a genuine act of worship (ROM 12:1)?

Consider meditating, memorizing, and talking about the above passage with those you are doing life with this week.