Worship, elements of

Praise and thankfulness are important elements of worship, which also includes confession of sin, the reading of Scripture and music.

Worship with awe

Deuteronomy 10:12 See also Leviticus 10:1–3; 2 Chronicles 7:3; Psalm 2:11, Psalm 68:35, Psalm 96:9; Ecclesiastes 5:1

And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Worship includes trust

Psalm 4:5 See also Psalm 37:7; Hebrews 11:6

Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the LORD.

Worship includes praise

Psalm 22:22, Psalm 107:32; Hebrews 13:15 See also 2 Chronicles 31:2; Nehemiah 9:5–6; Psalm 150:1–6; Hebrews 2:12; Revelation 7:11–12

I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the assembly.

Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.

Worship includes thanksgiving

Psalm 100:4; Revelation 11:16–17 See also 2 Chronicles 7:3; Psalm 50:14, Psalm 50:23; Ephesians 5:19–20; Philippians 4:6; Revelation 7:11–12

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.

And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give thanks to You, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.

Worship with joy

Psalm 95:1 See also Psalm 27:6, Psalm 43:4, Psalm 100:2; Luke 24:52–53; Acts 2:46–47

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation!

Worship includes the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord

Hebrews 13:15

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.

Worship includes confession of sin

Hosea 14:2 See also Leviticus 16:21; Nehemiah 9:2; Psalm 66:18

Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.

Worship includes the reading of God's word

Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 4:13 See also Nehemiah 8:5–6, Nehemiah 9:3

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.

Worship includes music and song

Psalm 95:2–3 See also 2 Samuel 6:5; Psalm 100:2; Ephesians 5:19–20

Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him in song. For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.

Worship includes dance

Psalm 149:3 See also Exodus 15:20; Psalm 30:11

Let them praise His name with dancing, and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.