The Heart of Worship

Caleb Barnes // Worship Associate

Years ago, worship leader Matt Redman wrote a song called “Heart of Worship.” The hook of the chorus says, “I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You.” This line is simple, but don’t be deceived by the simplicity of the statement. When we strip everything away – the music, the teaching, the lights, the people – it is all about Christ. Worship is for God.

John writes in his revelation, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created” (Rev. 4:11). We also find that there is a multitude of angels surrounding the throne of heaven declaring that the Lamb is worthy. He is worthy of all blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever (Rev. 5:13). We see a great multitude that no one can count. People from all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages falling prostrate before the throne declaring the worth and supremacy of Christ. All throughout Revelation we see that eternity will be spent worshiping the Lion of Judah. The Lamb who was slain. The King of kings. The Lord of lords. Why? Because He is worthy. He created us, chose us, redeemed us, called us by name, and we have been bought by Him. So, if this is what we will spend eternity doing, are we doing it now? Are we preparing for eternity? Over the last several months I’ve been asking myself these questions. What does it truly mean to worship? And, have we missed the heart of worship?

Gerrit Gustafson argues that worship is, “the acts and attitudes of wholeheartedly giving yourself to God – spirit, soul, mind and body.” (The Adventure of Worship) I want to emphasize something here in this definition. It does not explicitly say anything about music. Worship is about the acts (or actions) and the attitudes (or heart/desire) of complete surrender and dedication to the Lord. Recognizing who He is and who we are.

This can come in many different forms. Worship can be expressed through the teaching of the Word (2 Tim 3:16), through prayer (Rev 5:8), through tithes and offerings (Phil 4:18), through any act of obedience to God in faith (1 Sam 15:22), and yes, through music (Ps. 69:30, Ps. 150:3-5). The heartbeat here comes from Romans 12:1 which says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Presenting ourselves, or in other words, wholeheartedly giving ourselves to God, is the way in which we properly worship God.

So, this is what worship is. This is “how you do it.” But my next question is, are we actually doing this? Are we truly worshiping? Would people call us worshipers of God? Or worshipful people? Do we yearn every day to enter into the Lord’s presence and grow in our intimacy with Him? Do we long to enter His house and join other believers in their pursuit of giving honor and glory and power to the King? Or, have we missed the heart of worship? Have we forgotten that worship is supposed to be about God, for God, and to God? Have we turned into worker bees who do Christian things because we are “supposed to?” Do we read our Bibles, say our prayers, go to church, attend Bible study because it’s “what we do?”  

This is why I am writing this article. I want us to see something simple, but also profound. We were made to worship. Our primary job is not to do a lot of things “for God.” Our primary job is to fall at His feet and delight in Him. To quote John Piper, “God is most glorified [worshiped, honored, praised] in us, when we are most satisfied in Him.” (Desiring God) There will be a day when all “Christian work” ceases. We will no longer share the Gospel. We will no longer go on mission trips. We will no longer do discipleship training. We will no longer plan and attend youth lock-ins (praise God!). But there will never be a day when our worship ceases.

We will spend eternity worshiping the King. “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.” (Let the Nations be Glad)

So, as a college ministry, as a church, let us remember this: worship is ultimate because God is ultimate. We exist to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. As a college ministry our goal is not to have the best teaching series, the best outreach program, the best discipleship training, or even the best ministry space (although let’s give our college team a round of applause. The place looks great)! Our goal should be to have the best worship. Worship that brings God the most glory. Our goal is to worship the King and worship Him alone. We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord. We are called to worship. And what is this call to worship? “It is an invitation to a deep-level conversation in which you give up you as your life’s center, and instead begin to live around the true Center of the universe – an invisible King who sits on an invisible throne. It is an offer of transformation in which being blessed is incidental to being a blessing to your Creator-Redeemer and to others.” (The Adventure of Worship)

So, what does that look like practically today? Let me give you a simple question to ask yourself when you have your quiet time today. Open your Bible. Grab your journal. Queue up your favorite worship song. Then ask yourself, what is the heart behind my quiet time? Truly be honest with yourself. If you view this time as a Christian checklist, then ask God to give you a renewed sense of why you spend time with Him. The Christian life is not a list of boxes to check off. It is a lifelong journey of walking with the Lord and enjoying Him. As David Mathis puts it, “Knowing and enjoying Jesus is the final end of hearing His voice [time in the Word], having His ear [prayer], and belonging to His body [corporate worship].” (Habits of Grace)

So, what do you think? Should we repent of this culture of laboring and become a culture of worshipers? If so, then we let us join Matt Redman in singing that we, as a college ministry and as a church, are coming back to the heart of worship. It’s all about Him.

“We were made to worship. Our primary job is not to do a lot of things ‘for God.’ Our primary job is to fall at His feet and delight in Him.”

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Caleb graduated from the University of Georgia in May of 2017 where he received a degree in Communication Studies and a certificate in Music Business. He now serves full time as the worship associate at Watkinsville and is also pursuing a master of divinity in Biblical counseling from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. When he is not at Watkinsville or studying for seminary, Caleb's favorite things include doing anything outdoors, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.

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