Don’t Confuse Worship with Fellowship

Sometimes we tend to think relate worship with a worship service that includes fellowship with other believers. However, we need to be careful because the terms “worship” and “fellowship” are not the same thing.

What is Worship?

Romans 12:1-2 actually defines worship as: “…to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

So, the true definition of worship is:

– Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God
– Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world
– Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
– Be able to test and approve what God’s will is

Worship is a way of life and a life of service, where we daily surrender our bodies (prostrate ourselves) to God for his service; we ignore the pattern of this world; and, we renew our minds through His Word. Once we are in this state of temporal fellowship with God (with all sins confessed–1 John 1:9), then we will even be able to successfully determine what God’s will is for every move we make.

Worship means service for God; rendered for hire; respect or reverence offered to God; to perform sacred service; or ministry. It can also mean to render religious homage to God; prostrate in homage to God; bow down; fall down; stoop; humbly beseech; or, to do reverence. Of the 250 occurrences of the word “worship” in the Bible, over 50 of them have to do with the idea of bowing down, or falling down in worship.

The important thing to note here, is that worship is performed privately–between you and God.

What is fellowship?

Fellowship (1 John 1:7) means sharing, participation, or contribution. We fellowship in Sunday school, or in church service. Fellowship is singing together, sharing testimonies, or perhaps enjoying a dramatic skit together.

Conclusion: Worship means fellowship with God. Fellowship is participation with others. So, you can worship without going to church.

Examples: Continual prayer is worship (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Singing praises (privately) to God is worship. Going to church or singing hymns together is fellowship, although in the right circumstances they can also be worship.

One Response to “Don’t Confuse Worship with Fellowship”

  1. Rena Lamb says:

    Thank you. In these times when people have grown accustomed to going to a mortar building for worshipping and depending on the priest, pastor, ect., the isolation should awaken them to the reality of what exactly they have been doing every week for years and years. Prayerfully they’ll begin to worship in their homes from their hearts and recognize the true Creator, that HE is omnipresent. Shalom, Rena

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