Love, returned—Worship that is expressed and embodied
Drawing on recently seeing Coldplay, Rob Wiseman offers us a powerful thought: “Imagine if no one clapped or cheered, even if they felt excited. It would feel strange and disconnected.” Why? Because we were made to express and embody our love.
Worship is more than just singing songs on a Sunday—it’s about responding in love to the God who first loved us. Last week, Dan unpacked 1 John 4, reminding us that worship is not about trying to earn God’s love but about returning the love He has already shown us. This week, Rob Wiseman writes on what it means to embody worship—how we express our love for God with our whole selves.
The Power of Physical Expression
Have you ever noticed how we naturally express love and appreciation through our bodies? Think about a concert where thousands of people clap, cheer, and sing in unison. I had the privilege of seeing Coldplay live last year, and it was a breathtaking experience—50,000 voices lifted together, hands raised, people swaying, some even moved to tears. The way we physically responded was a reflection of what we were feeling inside.
Or consider what happens when we meet a newborn baby or an adorable puppy. We instinctively change our voice, reach out to hold them, or express our love through gestures. Our bodies naturally respond to what’s happening in our hearts.
The same is true for worship. When we love God, our worship is meant to be more than just an internal thought—it is meant to be embodied.
Worship in the Bible: A Full-Body Experience
In the Old Testament, the Israelites followed prescribed rituals for worship, involving sacrifices and detailed instructions on how to enter God’s presence. Today, because of Jesus, we no longer offer sacrifices of animals, but that doesn’t mean worship has become purely internal. Instead, we are invited to offer ourselves as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1), and part of that includes the sacrifice of praise.
The book of Psalms is filled with examples of how we are to worship:
Clapping and shouting for joy – “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” (Psalm 47:1)
Lifting hands in worship – “I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” (Psalm 63:4)
Bowing and kneeling in reverence – “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” (Psalm 95:6)
Singing and joyful praise – “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalm 100:2)
Dancing before God – “Praise his name with dancing.” (Psalm 149:3)
This kind of worship is not just about our minds—it involves our whole being. True worship requires all of us: physical, mental, and emotional.
Worship Is More Than an Internal Experience
Some might say, “I worship God with my mind. I think thoughts of gratitude and praise.” While engaging our minds is important, biblical worship is more than just a cerebral or internal experience. Imagine being at a concert where no one clapped or cheered, even if they felt excited. It would feel strange and disconnected. Or consider a relationship where love is never expressed outwardly—just thought about but never spoken or shown. That wouldn’t be a healthy, loving relationship.
In the same way, worship is not just about thinking good thoughts about God. It’s about expressing our love, awe, and gratitude to Him in tangible ways.
Psalm 95: A Roadmap for Worship
Psalm 95 has shaped the church’s approach to worship for centuries. It begins with an invitation:
“Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.” (Psalm 95:1-2)
It then provides the reason for worship:
“For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.” (Psalm 95:3-4)
God is worthy of worship simply because He is great, but Psalm 95 goes even further, revealing God’s heart:
“For he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.” (Psalm 95:7)
Not only is He great, but He loves us personally. The Creator of the universe, the One who spoke the world into existence, cares for you. He watches over you. That alone should move us to express our love for Him.
What We Worship Shapes Us
Worship is more than an event—it’s a transformative act. Psalm 115 warns that those who worship idols become like them:
“And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.” (Psalm 115:8)
Whatever we worship will shape us. If we worship money, status, or comfort, we will become consumed by those things. If we worship God, we become more like Him. As N.T. Wright says:
“That is what worship is all about. It is the glad shout of praise that arises to God the creator and God the rescuer from the creation that recognizes its maker.”
Our worship forms us. That’s why we must intentionally direct our worship toward God—because everything else will ultimately leave us empty.
Authentic Worship, Not Performance
Worship isn’t about putting on a show. It’s about responding honestly to who God is and what He has done.
When my wife and I lived in the UK, we visited a small church where the worship felt more like an awkwardly overdone performance—lights flashing, synchronized jumping, and a rehearsed atmosphere. While I can’t judge their hearts, something about it didn’t feel like an authentic response to God’s presence.
God isn’t looking for a performance. He is looking for genuine hearts responding in love. We say this in our worship confession every Sunday:
“We respond to You now with a heart of gratitude and praise. With songs and prayer, with words and silence.”
Worship should be an honest response—whether that means singing with joy, kneeling in reverence, or even bringing our grief before God.
A Choice to Worship
Psalm 95 ends with a warning against hardening our hearts:
“Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness.” (Psalm 95:8)
When we fail to respond in worship, our hearts can grow cold. But when we engage with God in worship, we open ourselves to His love, His presence, and His transformation.
Worship is a choice. It’s not just about how we feel in the moment—it’s about making the decision to bring our whole selves before God, responding to His love with all that we are.
We were created to worship. If we don’t worship God, we will inevitably worship something else. But only worshiping God will satisfy our souls and shape us into His likeness.
So let’s respond to Him. Let’s sing, kneel, lift our hands, and express our love—because He is worthy. Because He loves us. Because worshiping Him transforms us.
This blog post is part of our series at Central Vineyard exploring the depth of worship as a response to God’s love. If this resonates with you, we invite you to join us in worship and community as we continue this journey together.