Worship in the Beauty of Holiness

“O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 96:9)

Worship is a response to the Only Awesome God (Acts 2:42-47)

• God and His activity
• Our response to God and His activity

Worship is a gathering and a lifestyle (Acts 2:46-47; 3:1)

• The worship gathering
• Gathered In
• Around the Word
• Around the Table
• Sent Out
• The worship lifestyle

Worship is centered in the Triune God (Ephesians 1:3, 13-14)

• Father – blessing the One who blesses us
• Son – praising the One who purchases us
• Holy Spirit – savoring the One who seals us

Worship is an extravagant echo of eternity (Revelation 4:2-11)

• The extravagance of God
• The extravagance of worship

When is a time that you have experienced total awe – maybe a scene of nature, a personal experience, or something else? Describe it.

2. As we continue our series “Roots” this week we will explore the topic of worshipping God by looking at many Scripture passages. Begin your study in prayer by asking God to speak to you.

3. Read again the description of the life of the early Jerusalem church in Acts 2:42-47.

Take a moment to specifically reflect on the descriptions of reverence or worship for God in verses 43, 46, and 47. Based on these verses, how would you describe the Jerusalem church’s worship?

4. There are at least four different aspects of worship mentioned in this passage: awe (2:43), regular gathering (2:46), joy or gladness (2:46), and praise (2:47). Which one might you need to develop or grow in most right now?

5. The psalms are considered the worship or prayer book of the Bible. They are saturated with exhortation to worship God. Psalm 96:9 reads: “Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.”To worship is“to attribute reverent honor and homage to God.” Another description of worship is telling God how much He is worth. Why would you say that God deserves worship?

6. Background: Throughout the New Testament times, Christians worshipped God based on the Jewish tradition from which our faith arose. At first, the Jerusalem believers gathered in the Temple, as well as in homes. However, as time went on, Christians were excluded from Jewish gatherings, and had to develop their own. Paul’s writings, particularly 1 Corinthians 11 and 15, show us that the first Christian gatherings of worship usually involved the Lord’s Supper, Scripture reading, hymn-singing, and some sort of exhortation for the church.

7. The final book of the Bible, Revelation, contains many scenes of jubilant and lavish worship of God “in the beauty of holiness.” Read through the many songs of worship in that book, and reflect on why God is worth worshipping according to Revelation:

• 4:8
• 5:13
• 11:16-18

• 4:11
• 7:9-10 • 15:2-4

• 5:8-10 • 7:11-12 • 19:1-8

• 5:11-12 • 11:15

8. How is God speaking to you about living a life of worship in response to Him? What is one specific thing that God is drawing your attention to right now? If you are with a small group, discuss that with one another and pray for one another. If you are studying on your own, write it down and share it with someone this week.