Worship is an important part of the believer’s relationship with God. It is our way to express love, adoration, and gratitude towards Him. After all, God seeks those who will worship Him with sincerity, authenticity, and intentionality. Romans 12:1 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Intentional worship involves offering ourselves fully to God, not just in song, but also in how we treat others. God has set us apart from the world to serve Him. So when we love others, are generous with our belongings, and help those in need, we worship God the way He intended.
Serving others is not just about doing something for them, it is an opportunity to help us and others focus on God. 1 Peter 4:8-11 says “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies-in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” We worship God when we love others, demonstrate hospitality, use our talents to serve, rely on God’s strength when serving, and use our words to reflect Jesus.
One worship-filled act of service that King of Kings is honored to be a part of is the chapel services at the Union Gospel Mission. Greg Hammond organizes the King of Kings Traveling Praise Team and the Men’s Ministry Team a few times a year to help lead the chapel service every 5th Monday of the month (about four times a year). The intention of the service is to encourage that God is always close by, accessible, and longing for us to be in a relationship with Him.
For over 100 years, the Union Gospel Mission Saint Paul has held nightly chapel services for the homeless and recovering men of the area, utilizing many local churches and ministry groups to lead worship, offer prayer teams and donations of clothes and food, and give messages.
The Union Gospel Mission emergency shelter provides guests with food, shelter, and vital care—including mental health services. Once immediate needs are met, the staff walk alongside residents for up to two years, providing Bible study, professional counseling, group therapy, education, mentorship, job-skills training, and financial skills instruction needed to thrive and live successfully in the community.So far this year, the King of Kings Traveling Praise Team and Men’s Ministry Team have led worship and given the message on January 30th and July 31st; with the next and final Monday coming up! Greg Hammond uses his skills to serve God and the community by speaking at the chapel services. Greg tells listeners “It’s not about getting our lives cleaned up and then going to Jesus. It is about Jesus accepting us right now just as we are: dirty, messy, and sinful…and through His greatness making us whole and healing us.”
Acts of service toward others can be acts of worship. Acts of service are also the action part of living a Christ-filled life! Like going to the gym, we can tell others all we are “gym rats” or that we “plan” on going to the gym “soon.” However, if we don’t actually go to the gym, we are not really putting our words into action or being completely truthful. So, the choice is yours to make. You can serve, but not impact others for Christ – OR – you can serve and be an instrument that loudly proclaims God.
How do you serve God as a form of worship?