In the worship service, the congregation comes together to hear the Word in the Scripture readings and in the preaching and in the calling upon the Lord in prayer. The congregation sings the Word in its psalms and hymns. In what is sung, the congregation expresses the Word and its answer to it in words. With song, the congregation expresses itself in Word and answer.

How can the element of praise be given meaning and content in the worship service? From time to time, one can hear the comment that the praise element with reference to personal experience is too often missing. I am not judging the accuracy of such remarks. I acknowledge that I have heard them. Those remarks give reason to rethink the question of how we use praise and worship in the worship service.

It can be said that the whole worship service reflects the glory of God. Everything that happens in the church service is focused on the glorification of God. That does not imply that all of the parts are praise parts. There is also the confession of guilt, the expression of humility. Content must also be given to these. Not only praise songs may be sung in a church service. There is a legitimate place for laments and psalms of penitence. The Word wants to express itself in all its multiple facets and wants to receive voice and attention. However, the songs of praise may not be missing because at issue is the preaching of the gospel of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel,” Paul calls out in 1 Corinthians 9:16. Also in the service where a sermon is preached with the message of the seriousness of sin and the reality of the wrath of God over sin, there is a place for the song of praise. The final word always comes from the gospel. For now is still the time of grace.

I see broadly three possibilities for giving content and depth to praise in the worship service.

When the minister of the Word assembles the liturgy and seeks out that which he will give to the congregation to sing, he must keep in mind, continually, how he will allow the congregation in her song to praise and glorify God. Putting together the liturgy is a responsible task. As much as possible, this must indeed remain the task of the minister! He makes the sermon and during the making of the sermon certain specific psalms and songs will come to his heart. Very often, fitting psalms and songs will naturally come to him in the preparation of the sermon. One can allow the congregation to begin with a song of praise. One can also allow it to end with one. Variation is recommended. At a minimum, one or two songs of praise must be given to the congregation to enable them to lift their voices in worship. When a sermon ends with praise and worship to God, then it naturally follows to allow the congregation to connect with and follow the sermon with a song of praise. When the congregation takes over the praise of God and expresses this in song, that is a beautiful part of the worship service. It is advisable to stir up the congregation from time to time to experience with the heart what they are about to sing with their mouth. Singing with heart and mouth! Those are glorious moments in the church service.

The pure praise and worship may also be given a place in the sermon. Why not once in a while fill out a sermon with words of thanks and worship? It must happen in a fitting manner. The praise and worship in the sermon must form one complete unit, together with the sermon. It is noteworthy how often in the letters in the New Testament words of praise are inserted. Especially Paul is strong in this! The gospel brings one to worship! Praise as a complement to the sermon is of more significance than our saying a “Halleluiah” once in a while. I do think that there is a place in the sermon for the exclamation “Halleluiah.” But one can also incorporate worship passages into the sermon. Does the Lord not have a right to that? Would the Lord not be pleased to listen to that? Would the congregation not thankfully follow in the bringing of that praise? As minister of the gospel, one may often experience how the Spirit of God works in the hearts when the riches of the gospel may be displayed. Then the Holy Spirit himself urges the congregation to praise and worship during the sermon. We may ask the Lord that he would bring about such worship moments in our hearts during the preaching of the Word. It will bring about thankful and surprising reactions in the congregation.

The most direct possibility for praising and glorifying God is received by us in the service of prayer. Prayer is a gift and a command. Praying is sensitive and difficult. For every new prayer with and for the congregation, the one who leads in prayer is totally dependent on the Holy Spirit. In personal prayer in preparation for a new worship service, the request for the right words and issues should be a regular feature. When we have previously asked the Lord that we may receive words of worship and that we may express them in the worship service, we will during the prayers also be more focused on this. How powerful it is when the praying pastor and the praying congregation are brought to worship through the Spirit! Those are unforgettable moments. That is a direct foretaste of the eternal praise in the magnificence of the kingdom of God. How good it is to praise God. What a glorious feeling when the heart is opened wide for pure worship. What a moment when the congregation, filled with the Holy Spirit, raises its voice in “Maranatha” and prays for the return of Christ. Those are high and holy moments. The Holy Spirit wants to give those and work them in us!

It appears to me as a matter of course to end with this praise and worship in the prayer of thanksgiving in the afternoon service. At that time, we are no longer asking for things for ourselves. We receive everything in pure adoration, in our calling for the return of our Lord and Saviour. “The Spirit and the Bride say ‘Come’” (Rev. 22:17). Then the Holy Spirit himself prays with the congregation. The congregation has a right to this prayer. It asks much from the one who leads in prayer, but there is no more thankful work imaginable. What a rich fruit of the Sunday when the congregation may go home with this worship in their hearts. It changes how we view the coming week. Light is cast over it, the light from God, who came to us in the gospel and whom we were privileged to praise and glorify. His glory would shine upon us in the service of praise and worship.

Church services may be spiritual highlights. They must be that! The Lord has a right to his honour and praise, to worship. In the first place, those who are ministers of the Word must ask themselves how praise and worship functions in their own lives. When they, in their inner chamber, practice and know this worship, they will be enabled to more richly communicate the worship of the congregation in the worship service.