Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God

by Bob Kauflin

Worship is about what we love. What we live for.

It’s about who we are before God.

Worship matters. It matters to God because he is the one ultimately worthy of all worship. It matters to us because worshiping God is the reason for which we were created. And it matters to every worship

leader, because we have no greater privilege than leading others to encounter the greatness of God. That’s why it’s so important to think carefully about what we do and why we do it.

Each of us has a battle raging within us over what we love most—God or something else.

God condemns idolatry repeatedly in his Word. He hates it when we pursue, serve, or are emotionally drawn to other gods, which are not really gods at all. Idols enslave us and put us to shame (Isaiah 45:16; Psalm 106:36).

The most powerful idols are the ones we can’t even see. Things like reputation, power, and control.

like the people described in 2 Kings 17:33: “they feared the LORD but also served their own gods.”

“If you were really hopeless, you’d stop trusting in yourself and what you can do and start trusting in what Jesus accomplished for you at the cross.”

I understood that I couldn’t save myself. I just didn’t think of myself as a very great sinner. Which meant I didn’t need a very great Savior.

When I sought glory for myself, praise for my accomplishments, and credit for my growth, I wasn’t depending on a Savior—I was searching for an audience.

Because I want to make it clear from the start that worship isn’t primarily about music, techniques, liturgies, songs, or methodologies. It’s about our hearts. It’s about what and who we love more than anything.

it’s a fact that what we love most will determine what we genuinely worship.

How do I know what I love the most? By looking at my life outside of Sunday morning. What do I enjoy the most? What do I spend the most time doing? Where does my mind drift to when I don’t have anything to do? What am I passionate about? What do I spend my money on? What makes me angry when I don’t get it? What do I feel depressed without? What do I fear losing the most?

That’s why as worship leaders our primary concern can’t be song preparation, creative arrangements, or the latest cool gear. Our primary concern has to be the state of our hearts.

Isaac Watts once wrote: The Great God values not the service of men, if the heart be not in it: The Lord sees and judges the heart; he has no regard to outward forms of worship, if there be no inward adoration,

him (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

The better (i.e., the more accurately) we know God through his Word, the more genuine our worship will be. In fact, the moment we veer from what is true about God, we’re engaging in idolatry.

Regardless of what we think or feel, there is no authentic worship of God without a right knowledge of God.

A worship leader who barely knows the Bible can’t be a faithful worship leader.

Theology literally means “the study of God.” It includes our concept of God as a result of that study (or lack thereof).

We’re good theologians if what we say and think about God lines up with what Scripture says and affirms.

Doctrine is a word meaning “what is taught.” Doctrine is everything the Bible teaches on a particular topic, such as worship or holiness or the church or spiritual gifts.

Paul requested Timothy to bring him “the books” (2 Timothy 4:13).

He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He has had wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up in the third heaven, and had heard things unlawful for a man to utter, yet he wants books! He has written a major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books!

“He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves he has no brains of his own.”1

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Misconception #1: Studying This Stuff Shouldn’t Be So Hard

There are no shortcuts.

Misconception #2: We Know God Better through Music than through Words

But being moved emotionally is different from being changed spiritually. Music affects and helps us in many ways, but it doesn’t replace truth about God.

Good theology helps us keep music in its proper place. We learn that music isn’t an end in itself but rather a means of expressing the worship

already present in our hearts through the new life we’ve received in Jesus Christ.

Misconception #3: Theology and Doctrine ...

Do we worship Jesus as a champion of social justice, a divine mystic, a revolutionary religious radical, or the Savior of the world? When we’re dodgy about our theology, we’re really saying we want our own Jesus. But our worship isn’t based on people’s personal opinions, ideas, or best guesses about Jesus.

What complicates life is not doctrine but ignorance of doctrine.

our knowledge of God is limited to what he has revealed to us (1 Corinthians 2:11–12). When we understand a truth, it’s because God’s Spirit has opened our eyes and hearts (Ephesians 1:17–19).

2). Good theologians are increasingly humbled and amazed by the God they study.

MIND AND HEART TOGETHER

Strong, passionate desires for God flow from and encourage the faithful, thoughtful study of God—his nature, character, and works.

If our doctrine is accurate but our hearts are cold toward God himself, our corporate worship will be true but lifeless.

more amazed by our God than by our music.

be a very good thing.

He thinks loving God and knowing him through his Word are all he needs. The congregation wouldn’t agree. They think Joe needs skill. And their worship of God is being hindered by Joe’s lack of it.

Skill is the ability to do something well. It’s related to qualities like expertise and competence.

It can contribute to, or hinder people from, engaging with God. That’s why we should make it a priority.

Skill matters to God. It should matter to us too.

Skill Is a Gift from God, for His Glory

As my good friend C. J. Mahaney says, “All gifts from God are intended to direct our attention to God and create fresh affection for God.”1

Skill Must Be Developed