WHAT IS WORSHIP?

Little did I know that the same year my husband and I became followers of Jesus, 2000, World Help would launch Children of the World International Children’s Choir, which would indelibly impact our family’s view of worship. Several years later we hosted children from the choir in our home from Nepal and the Philippines as they visited our church to minister to our community through song and storytelling. Our church sponsored more children and funded building wells in impoverished areas around the world, while our daughters, aged 8, 6, and 3 at the time, learned that God could be worshiped around the world by people of all ages and backgrounds.

Fast forward through participation in kids ministry musicals, Christmas gospel productions, and discovery that worship of God can occur in all kinds of ways, not just music, our daughters  each individually made faith decisions to become Jesus followers. One of the sweetest moments was the baptism of our youngest in the Bay near Crissy Field followed by a simple round of songs accompanied by acoustic guitar. The worship they had observed happening around them for years became real to each of them as it overflowed out of their heartfelt love of the Lord.

When our kids were teens we traveled to Uganda in 2018 with Epic Church and Compassion International, experiencing the active participation in worship by kids and adults on a typical Sunday morning, exiting the church shiny and smiling from the joy and sweat of worship of our Lord. They learned that worship wasn’t about what you looked or sounded like to each other, but a powerful collective experience between people who loved Jesus and the God of all creation.

According to Webster, worship is first a verb – to honor or show reverence for, as a divine being or supernatural power. We can express worship not only in song or music, but also in how we work for God’s glory, how we follow His commands to love one another, how we offer our best talents, or in how we pray and connect with God. Worship can be individual and communal. Sometimes, worship is HARD and sometimes it’s EASY. Why? Because people (especially kids!) are naturally egotistic – we have to be taught to have humility. It’s easier to revere the Lord when we invite the Holy Spirit to help us.

‍God’s Holy Spirit is an active participant in worship and if we stay attentive, we can feel His presence! Inviting the Holy Spirit into our soul and space as we worship can change the experience from a passive listening of songs we hear on Christian radio to life giving direction from God to emotionally connect with Him, confessing, receiving, and rejoicing in His love.

‍Psalm 103 starts with gratefulness, which is a key part of worship:

Let all that I am praise the Lord;

    with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

Let all that I am praise the Lord;

    may I never forget the good things he does for me.

He forgives all my sins

    and heals all my diseases.

He redeems me from death

    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

He fills my life with good things.

    My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

The Apostle Paul continues that teaching of gratefulness in the New Testament as he gives us a template of the character for the new believer in Jesus who worship as a response to God’s love:

‍Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. 

Colossians 3:12-17

What’s exciting is that we can teach kids to experience this rich joy found in worship. As we model this special aspect of our faith it helps to know what worship is all about. Take time to understand worship – this article could help.

Epic Kids is steadily enhancing our Kids Worship on Sundays. At 9:30am, a small group of Students are now playing live music just for our Epic Kids* in the Connection Center! Younger children can participate and observe how teens are expressing their love of Jesus through music and song. The group prays together and then kids return to their classrooms with their teachers for Bible study and age-appropriate activities. 

At 11am, preteens (4th/5th graders) and their teachers worship in the main gathering and then return to their classroom while younger Epic Kids participate in worship and prayer in their classrooms, integrated with fun activities and Bible study.

At home, you can continue a child’s worship knowledge! Expose your child to worship songs you enjoy, or share what instruments or activities bring you closer to God. Create a playlist of favorite worship songs that you can listen to together in the car or over breakfast. Need some recommendations? Here’s a couple from Pastor Will: Seeds Family Worship & Glory Revealed. You set the atmosphere at home, and worship of the Lord should be an integral part of orienting your family’s life around Jesus.

Grace and peace,

Annikki

*Epic Kids preK and up participate in live worship at 9:30am only.

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August Epic Kids Elementary Unit Verse:

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