Self-giving worship also includes evangelism, Paul, in Romans, says that his purpose was to bring the people to God’s altar, "That my offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." (15:15-16) The biblical goal of evangelism is to produce worshipers, not just to save the lost from the fires of hell or to enlist more recruits (Sally Morganthaler, Worship Evangelism), but to bring to God those who truly love Him and desire to live for Him.

In the church of Acts 2, unbelievers had only to be exposed to the true worship of believers, and they were saved. The Jerusalem Christian community attracted people to Christ because of their zeal for worship and brotherly love. A healthy, loving church will grow in numbers. The conversion of three thousand souls at Pentecost was the result of a worship service, of believers praising God and loving each other. Evangelism and worship go together, but for a believer to be a true evangelist, one who brings unbelievers to love Jesus Christ, that believer must first love and worship Jesus Christ. "Let Jesus Christ be central in the heart of a man and he is going to be burdened and troubled because millions have never heard of Christ. It is going to disturb him and bring him into action. . . . Without true passion for Christ, nothing works consistently. It loses its power." (Joseph Carroll, How to Worship Jesus Christ)

Ultimately, all of our life is worship, and all of it is surrender and submission to our mighty King and loving Father. We bring him our bodies as living sacrifices, our praise, our petitions, our money, our good works, and our converts. As we do this, we get out of ourselves and focus on him. If we leave even one of these aspects of worship out, we have not surrendered all that we are or all that we have.

When worship becomes a simple, active search for God, He will respond. I want the fear and pride of giving myself completely in worship to be broken, so that I can worship boldly and openly, as one available to the glory of God always being in me . . . and I pray, in the midst of all of us, of His church.

My prayer for you today is that Jesus Christ will become the ruling passion of your life, and that "The Sacrifice of Worship" will become your greatest joy.