What is a "worship service?"

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

lrs68

Well-known member
Dec 30, 2024
973
265
63
#22
Thank God for the Upper Room worship consisting of 120 people filled with the Holy Spirit [when 2 or 3 are gathered together in the NAME of Jesus He is there] that led to 3,000 people coming to Salvation and by the end of the week another 5,000 were saved.

True worship, especially corporate worship, can lead to God moving in ways most people today and on this very forum have no idea nor ever experienced.
 

Musicmaster

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2021
1,578
333
83
#25
Really? I have never been to a service in the dark, with a smoke machine, light show, stage performance and loud music. I have heard of services that include loud music, but not the other four things.
You haven't lived until you see a rock concert "worship service..." (eyes rolled to the ceiling)

MM
 
Oct 19, 2024
5,016
1,071
113
USA-TX
#26
Thank God for the Upper Room worship consisting of 120 people filled with the Holy Spirit [when 2 or 3 are gathered together in the NAME of Jesus He is there] that led to 3,000 people coming to Salvation and by the end of the week another 5,000 were saved.

True worship, especially corporate worship, can lead to God moving in ways most people today and on this very forum have no idea nor ever experienced.
Not sure what ways you have in mind,
but beware of equating emotionalism or mob psychology with true worship.
 
Oct 19, 2024
5,016
1,071
113
USA-TX
#27
Sure, but this passage isn't referring to corporate worship. It is instruction for daily living.
Rom. 12:1-2 refers to godly worship as both individual and corporate service or ministry,
including learning and teaching GW for mind-renewal.
 

lrs68

Well-known member
Dec 30, 2024
973
265
63
#28
Not sure what ways you have in mind,
but beware of equating emotionalism or mob psychology with true worship.
It's not unusual to see people going to the altar and surrendering themselves to God or see health miracles take place like paralyzed people in wheelchairs suddenly get up and begin walking and then jumping up and down praising God or other examples.

Now, not sure how some people would classify that as but I classify it as it must be sincere and real true worship to create such a beautiful atmosphere where God is not only present but God is creating miracles.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,207
1,808
113
#29
Usually if you are reading an English translation of the Bible and come across the word 'worship', the word actually means 'prostration'-- to bow down like Eastern Orthodox or Muslims do. That's why John 'worshipped' the angel, and the OT says "I will worship toward your temple." The woman at the well wanted to talk about the proper place to bow down to God with ones head to the ground.

Another word translated worship might be translated service and is also used of temple rituals.

There is no mention of the church gathering 'to worship' in the Bible. The one person who worships at a Christian gather is the hypothetical unbeliever or uninstructed one who hears prophecy that makes manifest the secrets of his heart and says that God is truly among you.
 

lrs68

Well-known member
Dec 30, 2024
973
265
63
#30
^

Don't forget King David, the man God chose to come from his lineage and said was a man after God's own heart, literally danced and sang and prayed in his example of worship and God exalted him mightily.
 

Musicmaster

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2021
1,578
333
83
#32
Usually if you are reading an English translation of the Bible and come across the word 'worship', the word actually means 'prostration'-- to bow down like Eastern Orthodox or Muslims do. That's why John 'worshipped' the angel, and the OT says "I will worship toward your temple." The woman at the well wanted to talk about the proper place to bow down to God with ones head to the ground.

Another word translated worship might be translated service and is also used of temple rituals.

There is no mention of the church gathering 'to worship' in the Bible. The one person who worships at a Christian gather is the hypothetical unbeliever or uninstructed one who hears prophecy that makes manifest the secrets of his heart and says that God is truly among you.
From my perspective, the One who defined true worship that is acceptable before the Father said we shall worship in "spirit and in truth." That's more than enough for me. I don't need to do what was done by my ancient ancestors (the Jews) or any other religion in order to offer up what is that which the Father seeks. Those two words describe to me a way of life, and in those moments what the way of life in spirit and in truth bring me to my knees before the Lord in my prayer closet in secret, then it shall ever be between the Lord and myself, not some freak show of religious ritual and mood music garbage. Just my thoughts on the matter.

MM
 

Musicmaster

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2021
1,578
333
83
#33
Rocking for Jesus (hopefully).
I'm not one to judge another man's praise. I leave that to the Lord. What I DO know is that praise and worship are not synonymous nor interchangeable. They are distinctive.

MM
 
Apr 29, 2012
1,301
904
113
#34
I'm not one to judge another man's praise. I leave that to the Lord. What I DO know is that praise and worship are not synonymous nor interchangeable. They are distinctive.

MM
This is spot on. Even pastors, teachers usually interchange the two.