In the book of John, Jesus met with a woman at Jacob’s well and the question on worship was contemplated (Read John 4:1-24). But what is worship? Worship is to ascribe praise and reverence to God in response for His goodness to us. It comes from the Hebrew word “Shachah” meaning to bow down or prostrate oneself before God. Worship can be done as an individual, family or in a corporate setting.

Worship has 4 components: Prayer, Study of the Word, Thanksgiving & Praise and Fellowship.

“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him” (Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ pg. 93)

Prayer was a key part of Jesus’ experience with His father and we must learn to pray too. Just like a married couple that must have “pillow talk” (a heart to heart connection), we need to connect with God every day. The apostle Paul tells us to pray because we are in a spiritual warfare.

There are some profound texts in the Bible about the importance of studying God’s word.

“Every home should be a place of love, a place where the angels of God abide, working with softening, subduing influence upon the hearts of parents and children...Spread out the word of God before your families in love, and ask, “What hath God spoken?” (White, Adventist Home, pg. 18 & 19)

The assumption in worship is that God has already been good to you. Stop focusing on what you don’t have and praise Him for what you have. Even when Job lost everything, but his life, he was able to say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him...” (Job 13:15)

Some may assume because I have my personal devotional life, I don’t need family worship and I don’t need to go to church. That is not true.

“When Christ is in the heart, He is brought into the family...In the home it is possible to have a little church which will honour and glorify the Redeemer.” (Ellen G. White, Adventist Home pg. 323)