What Is Praise and Worship?
A Study of the Hebrew and Greek Words
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
You probably are thinking to yourself, “who is this person to be writing a study on praise and worship”? You’re probably right, who am I? I’m not an ordained minister. I haven’t taken formal religious classes. But the one thing I do have is the Bible and I can read. Just like you! I’m the type of person that likes studying the Bible. I like looking up what words mean back in the Bible days. I also have the Holy Spirit who is the Teacher.
Let me give a little background of how I came to write about this topic. I was a member of Christ Sent Ministries (CSM). CSM was a small church in that we didn’t have a lot of members. There was a need for someone who could lead praise and worship. Anyone who knows me knows that I CAN’T sing, rather I make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Well, one thing that I did know was praise and worship songs. So what I did was put a series of songs together to play and my role was to give the words to the song. So, that was our praise and worship. I then led the sign language ministry in which we did songs in sign language. There were a couple of women (eventually one man) who were involved. I then thought that I would like us to be on one accord in why we do this. My focus was to have us minister unto the Lord with our hands and also bless the congregation. I also wanted us to have a meaning of what praise was and what worship was.
It was then I decided to do a study on praise and worship. I took out my trusted Strong’s Concordance and looked up the words praise and worship. I then took the words and looked up the scripture verses. I then had a better understanding of what praise was and what worship was. I then wrote it up with exercises in it to get an even better understanding of how my life can include these definitions in it. It was a blessing to do, so I decided to give it to the women in the sign language ministry. We went over it weekly when we met for practice. They told me it was a blessing and they learned from it.
I’m now a member of another church, Christ Centered Ministries (CCM). Presently I’m the head of the sign language ministry in which we call Hands In Praise. So I’m still praising God with my hands. I’m NOT doing the praise and worship. We have a worship team with musicians. I’m in the congregation praising and worshiping God with the team. I also am a part of the Offering Ministry. We alternate months for giving the exaltation to give to the congregation. That’s like a mini-message. I also occasionally assist with the Audio Department when the main person is away or when the women do the service.
Fast forward seven years from when I initially wrote the study to today. I got an email from this Publishing Company about self-publishing. I figured this was a perfect opportunity to get this study published in a book form. It’s finally here! I pray and hope that you find it a learning experience. I pray that you begin to praise God with your mouth and body and worship Him with your life. God bless!
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INTRODUCTION
“I just want to praise the Lord”
“I’m here to get my praise on”
“Praise and worship was g-o-o-d, we danced and shouted all night”
We often use these two words interchangeably. However, they mean two different things. You can praise God, but not worship Him.
When we have praise and worship, we are entering into His tabernacle. When the Israelites had the tabernacle, outside was where the priest offered up thanksgiving and sacrifices. Once the priest entered into the Holy of Holies, that’s where he met God. It was a place of reverence and holiness. If the priest didn’t perform his’ duties correctly, he was dead. The priest also didn’t walk up in the Holy of Holies with shabby garments, he had fine linen and gold (read Exodus 28).
This sets the pattern for praise and worship. First enter His gates with praise and thanksgiving. Once you entered in, you reverence and worship the Lord.
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DEFINITIONS
According to Webster dictionary:
PRAISE – to express approval; to glorify (to worship and give distinguished praise or honor.
To break this definition down further:
Express: to formulate in words; verbalize; to state; to communicate through some medium other than words or signs.
Approval: to express a favorable opinion.
Distinguished: to recognize as being different.
Honor: to hold in high regard or respect.
To put it all together:
TO WORSHIP AND TO SAY WORDS THAT GIVE A FAVORABLE OPINION OF GOD THAT’S DIFFERENT FROM MAN AND WHICH HOLDS GOD IN HIGH REGARD OR RESPECT. WORSHIP – reverence for a sacred object, high esteem or devotion for a person; to revere; attend a religious service.
As you see, praise is more what you say and worship is more what you do. As I discuss more of the Hebrew and Greek words for praise and worship, you will clearly see the difference. You’ll understand why I said, “You can praise God, but not worship Him”. My desire is that you will participate in both Praise and Worship.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Have you ever wondered what it means to praise and worship? Everyone has their own way of doing this, which is your personal decision. But what does the Bible say about it? This book will answer that question. It goes through all the words in the Bible that means praise and worship. This book is also a study in which there are questions to answer on how it relates to you. So take out your Bible and your Strong’s Concordance and let’s get to work!
About the Author
At the age of fifteen was when the author asked Jesus into her heart. It took place at Fellowship Chapel, which was a Brethren in Christ church. She continued attending Fellowship Chapel, in which the foundations of the faith were instilled in her.
The author then attended college in Springfield, Massachusetts, where attended an Assembly of God church. There she continued to grow in the faith. When returning from college, she began attending Crossway Church, which was also an Assembly of God church. There she continued to grow in the word of God.
Since then, the author attended two other churches as she moved away from NYC. Both churches, Redeeming Love Christian Center (RLCC) and Christ Sent Ministries (CSM), were instrumental in developing her desire to truly study the word of God. It was at CSM where she led praise and worship and began the sign language ministry, which ministered songs in sign language. It was there where the author developed the idea of this book. She wanted herself and the people who were involved in the sign language ministry to get a better understanding of what praise and worship is about. She didn’t want to have any preconceived ideas of what it was. She wanted to see what it actually meant by studying the Hebrew and Greek words.
Hopefully by reading and studying this book, the reader will have a better understanding of what praise and worship is all about.