Key Takeaway
Worship is not confined to an hour on Sunday but is a lifestyle shaped by the fear of the Lord and a right view of the gospel.
At Passion City Church, one of our core values is simple but life-changing: worship is a lifestyle. Worship isn’t limited to one hour on Sunday—it’s every hour of every day. Real worship flows from a proper view of the gospel, and that view is grounded in the fear of the Lord.
Psalm 34 reminds us: “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips… Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” Worship is constant, not occasional. It shapes our lives, not just our gatherings. The psalmist also shows us that freedom from fear, anxiety, and shame is possible when we rightly fear God: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”
Yet throughout Scripture, God’s people often lost this reverence. In 1 Samuel, Israel treated the ark of God like a lucky charm in battle. Instead of honoring the presence of the Almighty, they tried to use His glory for their own purposes. The result was devastating—lives were lost, the ark was captured, and the glory of God departed. The awe of the Lord had been forgotten.
Later, David sought to restore the ark to Jerusalem. But when Uzzah touched it to steady it, he was struck dead. Why? Because even in their excitement, the people had missed God’s instructions. The ark was never meant to be carried on a cart—it was to be lifted by the Levites on poles. Only when they returned to God’s way did His presence return in blessing, and only then did David rejoice with all his might.
The lesson is clear: worship requires both reverence and obedience. When we fear the Lord rightly, we don’t live in fear of everything else. Worship becomes more than songs or services—it becomes a rhythm of life, a response in every moment. It’s not just coming to church; it’s coming already worshiping, praising as we gather, and going out to live in worship.
Even today, we live in a culture filled with worship songs and movements, yet often lacking holiness and awe. True worship will never be found in convenience, shortcuts, or performance. It begins with the fear of the Lord, a gospel perspective that humbles us before God’s greatness and fills us with gratitude for Christ, who bridges the gap between our brokenness and God’s holiness.
Worship is not an hour. It is every hour. And when we see God rightly, everything becomes worship.
Discussion Questions
How do you typically define worship—songs, services, or something more?
Why is it important to see worship as a lifestyle and not just a Sunday experience?
What does “the fear of the Lord” mean to you, and how does it shape true worship?
In what ways can misunderstanding the fear of God weaken our worship?
What lessons can we learn from Israel’s misuse of the ark in 1 Samuel?
How does David’s response to God’s holiness challenge the way we approach worship?
What are some “carts” (shortcuts or cultural influences) you’ve seen the church rely on instead of God’s way?
How does a right view of the gospel expand your daily view of worship?
How can we bring expectation and reverence into our gatherings so that “the kickoff goes off” when we come together?
What is one practical step you can take this week to live worshipfully every hour, not just in church?
