It is easy to make church worship services superficial and something much less than true worship. Actually, it is possible for both the worship leaders and those in the assembly to contribute to superficiality. Such worship is tragic in that God has created us to worship him and he is looking for true worshippers.

In commenting on superficial worship’s contribution to breaking the third commandment, which says that we are not to take the name of the Lord in vain, Dr. Al Mohler writes,

We take God’s name in vain through superficial worship. God seeks worship in both Spirit and in truth. Evangelical worship misses the point of worship by assuming its end is to be fun and creative. As A.W. Tozer points out, ‘worship is the missing jewel of evangelicals.’
The horizon of our worship is too low. Our worship betrays us as we treat God like an invited guest to our services. While contemporary Christian music has its own set of problems, much of it is better than what it replaced. Some contemporary worship consists of 123 songs…1 word, 2 notes, 3 hours. But as John Piper has said, ‘a generation raised on ‘Do Lord, oh do Lord, oh do remember me’ is not in a position to give a critique.

Superficial worship betrays our view of God’s name. There is no clarity on musical taste in scripture, but there is a Name full of dignity and danger declared in scripture on which all worship should focus. This issue even includes feminist efforts to redefine God’s name in worship.

Even though we have concluded our sermon series on worship, continue to keep true worship in focus. Larry, Micah, Chuck, and I all intend to do our part in raising the significance and practice of worship at HHBC. Do your part too. Read these verses during this week.
Gen. 35:1; Ex. 23:17-18; Deut. 12:5–7, 11-12; Deut. 16:6–8; Deut. 31:11–13; Deut. 33:19; 2 Kin. 17:36; Psa. 45:11; Psa. 76:11; Psa. 96:8, 9; Psa. 97:7; Psa. 99:5; Joel 1:14-15; Joel 2:15–17; Nah. 1:15; Hag. 1:8; Zech. 14:16–18; Matt. 8:4; Mark 1:44; Luke 5:14: Heb. 10:25; Rev. 14:7; 19:10.

Absorb the significance that God places on true worship. Then week by week, treat the worship services in such a way that would honor what God says about them. The result will be transforming.