This We Believe: Worship as a Building Block of Faith
In our faith journey, understanding what we believe is essential. The world constantly teaches us its values through social media, television, and other influences. Without a clear foundation, we might easily adopt these worldly values. That’s why exploring the building blocks of our faith provides us with something meaningful to cling to—values that can guide our lives in a different direction.
Why Focus on Building Blocks of Faith?
There are two primary reasons why discussing the building blocks of faith matters:
- The world will teach us its ways if we don’t have alternatives
- We come from different traditions, even within Christianity, and need common ground
These building blocks come from years of teaching confirmation classes, distilling essential theological elements that help us understand what we believe and how we operate as a church.
What Is Worship?
The first building block we’ll explore is worship. According to Merriam-Webster, worship is “the expression of reverence or adoration.” Notice this definition doesn’t specifically mention God or faith—because humans can worship almost anything.
This is precisely the problem. The world can lead us to worship things other than the Lord. However, in Exodus 20, God clearly commands: “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Why Is God Alone Worthy of Our Worship?
Psalm 95:6 captures this beautifully: “Come, let’s worship and bow down. Let’s kneel in front of the Lord our Maker.”
God alone is worthy of our worship because:
- He is our Creator
- He provides for our needs
- He offers mercy for our sinfulness
What Does True Worship Look Like?
Two scripture passages help expand our understanding of worship:
The Woman at the Well
In this story, the Samaritan woman asks Jesus where the right place to worship is—the mountain where Jews worship or where Samaritans worship. Jesus responds that true worship isn’t about location or outward rituals. It’s about connecting our need with God’s provision.
True worship happens when we:
- Bring our need before God’s provision
- Bring the reality of our sinfulness to the assurance of God’s mercy
A Sacrifice of Praise
Hebrews 13:15 tells us: “Therefore, unto Jesus let us offer a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”
The writer of Hebrews explains that in the Old Testament, animals had to be sacrificed and blood shed for the cleansing of sin. But Christ changed everything by becoming the ultimate sacrifice—the Lamb of God who shed His blood for our forgiveness.
Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we no longer need to sacrifice animals. Instead, we can bring a “sacrifice of praise”—giving something of ourselves in worship to the One who is worthy of our adoration and reverence.
Why Is Sunday Worship Like a “Mini Easter”?
Our Sunday worship becomes like a “mini Easter”—a celebration in the midst of ordinary time. Just as Sundays aren’t counted in the 40 days of Lent (making them “mini Easters” or breaks from Lenten disciplines), our worship services provide spiritual refreshment and renewal.
Life Application
Why is worship a building block for our faith? For two essential reasons:
- Because the Lord commands it. The commandment “You shall not worship any idols” stems from “You shall have no other gods before me.”
- Because we need the fellowship, teaching, comfort, and joy that comes from being in the presence of the Lord and one another.
As you go through this week, consider these questions:
- What or whom am I truly worshiping with my time, attention, and resources?
- How can I make worship more than just a Sunday activity but a lifestyle of reverence toward God?
- In what ways can I offer a “sacrifice of praise” to God, even during difficult circumstances?
- How might connecting my needs with God’s provision change my approach to worship?
Remember, worship isn’t just about what we do on Sunday mornings—it’s about recognizing that the Lord alone is worthy of our reverence and adoration in every aspect of our lives.
Sermon video on YouTube: Contemporary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etryjqeeTtU Traditional: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V9bGIMLvNs
[Blog post created by Sermon Shots from original sermon content preached by Rev. Kent F. Jackson on September 7, 2025.]
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