WE WORSHIP A LIVING GOD

Every Sunday we prepare our hearts and our minds to worship a living God. But, what does that really mean? The definition of worship is “the service of praise, adoration, thanksgiving and petition directed toward God through actions and attitudes. Christian Worship is Trinitarian in form, as praise is offered to God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Worship is at the very heart of the church’s life. All that the church is and does is rooted in its worship. The community of faith gathers in response to God’s call and is formed in its worship, so worship is the principal influence that shapes our faith and is the most visible way we express the faith. In Worship, through Word and Sacrament, the church is sustained by the presence of Christ, joined in worship to the One who is the source of its life, and through our Source, the church is empowered to serve God joyfully in the world.

Christian worship joyfully ascribes all praise and honor to our Triune God and it is God who brings all things into being through the Word: written, preached, proclaimed, through song and in the Sacraments. The people of God in turn acknowledge God’s presence in the world and in their lives by responding to God.

Here are a few biblical examples of worshipping a living God…

Psalm 66 1Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.

Psalm 95 1O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice!

Psalm 98 1O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. 5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD. 7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it. 8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy 9 at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 100 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 148:1-14 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! 3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! 4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. 6 He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! 9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! 12 Young men and women alike, old and young together! 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. 14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 149:1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Psalm 150:1-6 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that breathes praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!


Jesus says… I am the Light of the world, I am the Door, and I am the Good Shepherd. Jesus has absolute power over life and death. Jesus is the Good Shepherd because His light shines in the darkest of circumstances, and can open any door even the door of death. Jesus is Alive!

There are four things necessary to sustain life: air, food, light and water. However, Jesus came not only to sustain life, but also to give life and ultimately eternal life.

On Sunday, April 12, we celebrate the Risen Lord! Jesus said, I am the Resurrection and the Life. That is why we worship a living God every Sunday. We are called to Life from the Giver of Life.

Easter Morning and every Sunday let’s join and celebrate ‘life’ together as we worship a Living God!


Live Enthusiastically,
Pastor Bev