Initial Remarks on ‘Worship’:
‘Worship’ (Old English ‘weorthscipe’= ‘worth-ship’) originally referred to the action of human beings in expressing homage (or reverence) to God because He is worthy of it. It covers such activities as adoration, thanksgiving, prayers of all kinds, the offering of sacrifice and the making of vows… Worship is the formal expression of spiritual attitudes which should characterize God’s people at all times. — New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, IVP.
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. (Romans 12:1)
Main Texts:
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. (Romans 6:17)

Pertinent Questions:

1. By referring to Romans 12:1, what should be our comprehensive understanding of the term ‘worship’?

Worship is the formal expression of one’s humble recognition, thanksgiving and reverence for the exceeding worth of God. True worship demands that Christians offer ALL of ourselves as living sacrifices for God’s pleasure and it should be the attitude that we remain in at all times and in all of life’s engagements.

2. What has Romans 6:17 got to do with worship?

Romans 12:1 tells us that true worship is about offering ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. Romans 6:18 echoes this theme of true worship by reiterating that Christians offer themselves up as slaves to righteousness, a pleasing sacrifice to God. So Romans 6:17 is in fact instructing us the means of engaging in true worship, which is by wholeheartedly obeying the form of doctrine to which we were entrusted.

3. What are the three main faculties engaged in the act of true worship as stated in Romans 6:17? And what is the order of each involvement?

Mind, Heart and Will, in that order.

4. What is the problem of worshipping only with the heart?

The danger is in developing a flaky spirituality, or spiritual consumerism based on emotional needs only. Once the particular emotional need is somewhat met, there is no more desire to press on to maturity of faith and greater godliness. The problem of ‘no feelings, no God syndrome’.

5. What is the problem of worshipping only with the mind?

Intellectual orthodoxy is extremely important, but by itself, is insufficient for true worship. In Wesley’s words, there may be a right opinion of God without either love or one right temper toward Him. Satan is a proof of this. Worship with truth but no love is profane worship.

6. What is the problem of worshipping only with the will?

Causes a person to have legalistic tendencies—stoic conformity to the law of righteousness, without heartfelt joy or assurance of steadfast truth. Legalists erroneously think that they can earn salvation by sheer willpower without divine grace and mercy that comes from Jesus Christ. Worship without heartfelt love for God is drudgery.

The Challenge:
Pray for the Spirit to search our hearts and bring to our consciousness, the impurities and imbalances of our worship to God. May divine truth and Spirit guide our mind, heart and will in our worship, that we may evermore please Him and more worthily magnify God’s glory.