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Various Forms of Worship in the Church Part 1

Worshipping God Through Various Forms of Music

Praise with Joy of the Lord
Worshipping God with words and music is a practice older than time itself. Angels and humans alike lift their voices and instruments to honor and glorify the Creator of all.

Catholic or protestant, in quietness or with loud exuberance, in small and large groups, in freedom or in secret, Christians around the world gather to worship. Expressions of worship vary between assemblies, but homage is offered to the same God, the same Lord and Christ.

It has long been debated which form(s) of musical praise and worship are the best, the most effective, the more acceptable to God. Scripture supports multiple forms of musical worship:

  • Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:19 NKJV).

  • Rehearsed Music: "Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night." (I Chronicles 9:33 NIV)

  • Spontaneous Music: "Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises."(Psalm 98:4 NASB).

  • New Songs: "Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the saints." (Psalm 149:1 NIV).

  • Singing with Understanding and Singing in the Spirit: "I will sing with the spirit and I will also sing with the understanding." (I Corinthians 14:15 NKJV).

  • Solos: "I will sing praises to Your name." (II Samuel 22:50 NKJV).

  • Choirs: "The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God." (Nehemiah 12:40 NIV)

  • Instruments: "The Levites were appointed as singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbal, to raise sounds of joy." (I Chronicles 15:16 NASB)


      • John 4:24 exhorts mankind to worship God in spirit (human spirits connecting with His Spirit) and in Truth (using His Word as a guideline). Throughout the Old and New Testament there are multiple references regarding acceptable ways to honor God. In particular, the book of Psalms is the most comprehensive guideline to honoring Him through music.

      (See also MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, DAVID AND HIS HARP, WORSHIP AS WARFARE PART 1,2,3)

Written by: Connie Ruth Christiansen