Worship and Service

Worship and Service
Weekly Observance or Joyful Lifestyle?
What is Worship ?
We talk constantly about worship …
Worshipping God, worship service
How does scripture define worship?
How is worship used in the Bible?
What applications can we make to our assemblies and our lives today?
Worship: words used
Proskuneo (worship) 60 times in NT
Thayer’s: to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence; to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence
Arndt and Gingrich: custom of prostrating oneself before a person and kissing his feet, the hem of his garment, or the ground; to fall down and worship, do obeisance or reverence to…

Worship: words used
Latreia (to serve – 18 t.) (to worship publicly – 4 t.)
Thayer’s: service rendered for hire; any service or ministration; the service and worship of God according to the requirements of the Levitical law; to perform sacred services
Arndt and Gingrich: to serve, in our literature only of carrying out religious duties, especially of a cultic nature, by human beings

Comparing the terms
Proskuneo – refers more directly to worship, bowing before God
Latreia – refers more indirectly, spiritual service done as worship
Usage of Proskuneo (more direct worship)
Matthew 2:2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
1 Corinthians 14:24-25 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
Acts 10:25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
Usage of Proskuneo (more direct worship)
Numbers 22:31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.
Ezekiel 1:28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one speaking.
Matthew 17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
Usage of Latreia (more indirect service)
Romans 9:4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;
Hebrews 9:1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.
Hebrews 9:6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.
Usage of Latreia (more indirect service)
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Worship: modern usage
Confusion between worship and the assembly
“Worship” defined in terms of the assembly; the assembly becomes the “worship service”
Acts of worship – we think worship can take place only in the assembly
Worship: modern usage
What is the assembly and its purpose?
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Acts 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
Worship: modern usage
Acts in the assembly not directly called worship
Lord’s Supper – 1 Cor 11:23-30 has both direct and indirect purposes
Singing – Col. 3:16 also has both direct and indirect purpose
Prayers – 1 Cor. 14:16 also both direct and indirect
Worship and Service
The Bible distinction is not on being assembled or not, but between direct and indirect focus

Worship and Service
Prayer – 1 Cor 14:15-17
Lord’s Supper – 1 Cor 11:23-26; 10:16-17
Singing – Eph 5:19; Col 3:16
Preaching – can be both

Giving – 1 Cor 16:1-2; 2 Cor 8-9; 9:1-2
Rom 12:1 – living sacrifice
Heb 10:24-25 – assemble to edify and encourage one another

Summary and Applying to Us
The acts of worship are certainly worship, yet all the acts are supposed to lead to encouragement and service
The acts in the assembly are worship, but the service we render daily is also worship
Is it wrong to call it “worship service” – No, as long as we understand it is not confined to the assembly but is to carry into all of life and touch the lives of others