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From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Living in Colorado, we're surrounded by breathtaking beauty - the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, countless mountains and hiking trails. Yet many locals never visit these wonders, taking them for granted until a visitor reminds them of the treasure in their backyard. Similarly, we can become so familiar with worship that we forget its profound beauty and purpose. What Is Worship Really About? To an outsider, our worship gatherings might seem strange - people coming together to sing, pray, and focus on someone they can't see. But worship isn't about entertainment, musical preferences, or even making ourselves feel better. It's Not About Us One of the most important principles to understand is that it's not worship until it's not about us . If worship is about us, it becomes idolatry rather than true worship of God. We don't worship because we like the music style or because we need emotional comfort - though these things may happen as byproducts. The Foundation of Worship We worship God for three fundamental reasons:
When we come to worship, we enter the intersection of these three realities - who God is, what He's accomplished, and how it has changed us. This convergence creates something powerful and life-changing. God Is Holy - Set Apart and Unique Understanding God's Holiness The word "holy" literally means "set apart." God is utterly unique, unlike anything in creation. He didn't emerge from this universe - He created it and exists completely separate from it. As Psalm 99 declares three times: "Holy is He." “The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!" (Psalm 99:1-3, ESV) What God's Holiness Means for Us Here's the amazing truth: because God is holy, He has made us holy through Jesus. What seems impossible from a human perspective - making sinful people pure and set apart - God accomplishes through Christ's sacrifice. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21, ESV) We have become "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9). This isn't something we achieve - it's something God has done for us through Jesus. God Is Mighty - Powerful Beyond Measure The Power of Our God Scripture repeatedly calls God "Almighty" and describes His incredible power. Psalm 89 paints a vivid picture of His might: 8 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness all around you? 9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them. (Psalm 89:8-9, ESV) God spoke the entire universe into existence. He parted the Red Sea, delivered His people from Egypt, and performed countless mighty works throughout history. Victory Through God's Might But the greatest display of God's power wasn't just in creation or the exodus - it was in raising Jesus from the dead. Through this ultimate demonstration of might, God won victory for all who believe. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57, ESV) …in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37, ESV) God Is Worthy - Deserving All Praise God's Inherent Worth David captures this beautifully in Psalm 8: "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! " God is worthy of worship simply because He exists. His worthiness doesn't depend on what He does for us - though He does incredible things. Guilt Removed, Righteousness Given God's worthiness becomes even more amazing when we consider what He's done about our unworthiness. He has completely removed our guilt through the cross. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14, ESV) The phrase "all our trespasses" should be circled in your Bible. When Satan reminds you of your failures, remember this truth - God has forgiven ALL. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV) We don't just receive forgiveness - we receive Christ's own righteousness. The Power of True Worship More Than Singing Worship is incredibly powerful. When believers gather to worship God in spirit and truth, something profound happens. Even unbelievers can witness this and sense there's something more going on than meets the eye. Creating Space for God Our goal isn't to create the perfect musical experience or make everyone happy with song choices. Instead, we aim to create an atmosphere with the fewest barriers, allowing the Holy Spirit to work as we focus on who God is, what He's done, and how He's transformed us. Life Application This week, challenge yourself to approach worship differently. Instead of focusing on musical preferences or personal comfort, intentionally enter worship by remembering:
Ask yourself these questions:
When you truly grasp who God is and what He's accomplished for you, worship becomes not just something you do on Sunday, but a natural response to the incredible reality of your relationship with the Creator of the universe.
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From a message by Jon Alsdorf
When we think about worship, many of us immediately picture Sunday morning services with singing and music. But worship is far more comprehensive and powerful than we might realize. At its core, worship is expressing love to God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength - just as Jesus described in Mark 12:30 when asked about the greatest commandment. The Foundation of Biblical Worship Jesus taught us that "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). This means our worship should be guided by the Holy Spirit and grounded in God's Word. While Scripture gives us rich descriptions of worship throughout the Psalms and other books, it doesn't prescribe one specific way to worship. This allows for beautiful variety across cultures while maintaining unity in our focus on God. Four Essential Principles of Worship Worship Is Formation - You Become Like What You Worship Here's a truth that might surprise you: you were created to worship, and you will worship something. Every person is a worshiper by nature. If you don't worship God, you'll worship something or someone else. The Psalms warn us about this reality: "Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them" (Psalm 135:18). When we worship idols - whether ancient carved images or modern substitutes - we become like what we worship. Modern Idols That Shape Us Our culture is filled with idols that promise much but deliver nothing: Money and Materialism promises security and control but leaves us never satisfied, anxious, and emotionally distant. We become calculating and hard when money becomes our god. Image and Approval promises identity and belonging but makes us unstable, performative, and inauthentic. We become addicted to validation and fear people more than God. Power promises safety and influence but makes us controlling, manipulative, and resistant to surrender. We lose the ability to trust others. Pleasure and Comfort promises happiness and ease but leaves us undisciplined, easily bored, and unable to endure any suffering. When we worship God instead, we become more like Him - alive, compassionate, steadfast, humble, and holy. God is the only one who delivers on His promises. Worship Is Warfare - Declaring Allegiance in Enemy Territory Why Worship Creates Conflict When we worship God, we're making a declaration in enemy territory. We're stating our allegiance to heaven while living in a world that worships other gods. This is why throughout history, proclaiming the Gospel has often led to riots and persecution. Every religion seeks to destroy the idols of other religions. As Christians, we're called to stand against falsehood and demolish the works of Satan. But those who worship other idols have the same goal - to destroy what threatens their gods. You Are God's Image Bearer You were created in God's image, and you bear His image in this world. This makes you a target for those who worship other gods. The cultural battles we see around us are often attempts to destroy or desecrate the image of God that you carry. Worship Is Obedience - Submitting to God's Will and Word Following Biblical Commands for Worship Throughout Scripture, we find commands about how to worship: "Lift up holy hands," "Clap your hands, all you people," "Sing to the Lord a new song." These aren't suggestions - they're acts of obedience. When we raise our hands in worship, we're practicing surrender - the same gesture children make when they want to be held. When we clap our hands, we're joining the band, recognizing that we're all participants, not an audience watching a performance. God Is the Audience In worship, we're not the audience - God is. We're all participants in offering praise to Him. This perspective changes everything about how we approach worship gatherings. Worship Is Sacrifice - Surrendering Yourself to God Abraham's Ultimate Act of Worship When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, Abraham's response reveals the heart of worship as sacrifice. He told his servants, "We will go up there, we will worship, and then we will return to you" (Genesis 22:5). Abraham trusted God completely, even in the most difficult circumstances. Your Life as a Living Sacrifice Paul writes in Romans 12:1: "Present your bodies as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." The sacrifice isn't the energy it takes to sing or how long you can stand. You are the sacrifice - your life, heart, work, family, time, and talents. When we bring our whole selves to God rather than to the idols of this world, He shapes and forms us to be more like Jesus. Life Application This week, examine what you're truly worshiping. Look at where you spend your time, energy, and thoughts. What promises are you believing? What are you hoping will bring you security, identity, or happiness? Challenge yourself to identify any idols in your life - whether materialism, image, power, or pleasure - and consciously choose to worship God instead. Remember that worship isn't just Sunday morning singing; it's a daily surrender of your entire life to God. Questions for Reflection:
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Apply it!Next Steps is a collection of articles drawn from the sermons of Pastor Jon Alsdorf, and guest speakers, written to help you connect God's Word to real life. Each post is designed to inspire, challenge, and encourage you to live out your faith in practical, everyday ways -- because following Jesus is more than words, it's actions. Archives
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