Loving God through Worship

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. ³⁵One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: ³⁶“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” ³⁷Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

If loving God and loving neighbors are inseparable elements of the Greatest Commandment, we should be certain of what Jesus meant when He answered the Pharisees’ question. In a word, Jesus was talking about love. Loving God and loving people. The Greek word is agape.

Agape (pronounced ah-gah-pay) is the highest, most sacrificial form of love in the New Testament, and it represents God’s unconditional, selfless love for humanity. It begins with a deliberate choice of the will—rather than a simple sentimental romantic feeling—to to give priority to the best interests of others regardless of their response.

Aspects of Agape Love:

Deliberate Action: It is an act of will or decision, not simply an emotional attraction.
Sacrificial & Unconditional: It advances the best interests of the loved one without expecting anything in return and does not depend on the merit of the recipient.
God’s Love: It is fundamentally the love God shows to people in Christ, exemplified on the cross. It is very similar in meaning to the ancient Hebrew word chesed (חֶסֶד)
Active Goodness: It seeks to provide well-being to others, including enemies.

Biblical Context:

1 Corinthians 13: Defines agape as patient, kind, and not self-seeking.
John 15:13: Demonstrates this love by laying down one’s life for others.
1 John 4:16: Declares that “God is love” (agape), defining the nature of God’s interaction with human beings.

In the New Testament, agape appears 106 times to distinguish God’s selfless love from philia (friendship) or eros (romantic love). It is the foundation for Christian living and the highest ethical standard.

How Do We Express Worship?

When we express our love for God in accordance with these definitions, we worship Him. Worship can be expressed alone, in a small group or in a large congregation. Worship is our response to who God is and what He has done. Notice–and this is important–while we show our love for God through worship, we do not do the same towards our neighbors. God commands us to love our neighbors, just as we love Him. But we are never to worship them. God is the only one worthy of our worship.

God commands us to love our neighbors, just as we love Him. But we are never to worship them. God is the only one worthy of our worship.

Responding to God Together

We gather to:

Honor God
Hear His Word
Respond with our hearts

Worship is not about performance.
It is about meeting with God together.

🎶 Worship Through Music

One Church. Many Voices.

Among the seven congregations at Forest Meadow, you will find many musical voices. Not just the different languages but also different melodies, rhythms and instrumentation. As Pastor Tim says,

“Come into our building at 8:00 AM on Sunday, you will be in Ethiopia. By the end of the day you will have travelled spiritually around the world to Asia, Africa, Mexico and the heartland of America.”

🎼 Types of Worship Music

Hymns

Examples: , Amazing Grace, There is a Fountain Filled With Blood, Holy, Holy, Holy, It Is Well, All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, In Christ Alone, Alas and Did My Savior Bleed? In the Garden, Fairest, Lord Jesus

Songs that teach us about God–the Grand Subject of our praise.

Rich in Scripture
Focus on God’s character
Help us grow in faith

Gospel Songs

Examples: Victory in Jesus, When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder, Take My Hand, Precious Lord, The Old Rugged Cross, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, Oh Happy Day, Why We Sing, Jesus on the Main Line

Songs that express personal faith.

Tell the story of Salvation– the Grand Author and Finisher of our praise
Encourage response
Often joyful and expressive

Contemporary Worship

Songs that speak directly to God— the Grand Object of our praise

Examples: How Great Thou Art, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, 10,000 Reasons, Way Maker, I Speak Jesus, Goodness of God, Thank You Jesus for the Blood Applied, Rey de Mi Corazon, What a Beautiful Name, Praise

Simple and repeatable
Easy to sing together
Help us engage in worship

🌍 Worship Across Cultures

We are one church made up of many cultures.
That means worship may look different from one congregation to another. Some worship very quietly, while others are very exuberant in their praise. Some dance, lift hands and shout while they sing, while others worship listening quietly to the still small voice of God’s Holy Spirit. Below are descriptions of some of the typical worship expressions you’ll find in our congregations.
The most joyous times of worship are when we all join together in worship. It is always a reminder of what heaven will be like according to the Bible:

^“After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰And they were shouting with a great roar, Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” ¹¹And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. ¹²They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”Revelation 7:9-12 (NLT)

African/Anglo American Worship

Gospel music and strong voices
Call-and-response participation
Deep expression of faith
Typically follows a structured “Free Church” liturgy, which may range from traditional hymn-led services to modern, technology-enhanced contemporary worship.

Latin American Worship

Joyful and energetic
Rhythmic and relational
Strong sense of connection
Known for high-energy, joyful music (often with Pentecostal influence) and “personal connection” styles of prayer

Zomi / Chin Worship

Strong choral singing
Unity through shared songs
Deep reverence
These groups prioritize indigenous hymnody and choral music, often using the faith to buttress ethnic identity.

South Sudanese Worship

Movement and celebration
Focus on community and hope
Worship is highly participatory and rhythmic, often incorporating communal dancing and songs that emphasize themes of suffering, reconciliation, and resilience.

Amharic Worship

Ancient roots and tradition
Reverent and rhythmic
Strong sense of God’s holiness
Deeply influenced by Ethiopian Orthodox roots, often featuring traditional chanting (Zema) and rhythmic drumming (Kebero).

📖 Worship and the Word

At The Churches at Forest Meadow, the Bible stands at the center of our worship. Everything we do flows from God’s Word. The truths we sing in our hymns, gospel songs, and contemporary worship music are rooted in Scripture. Our prayers echo biblical language and promises. Our sermons are built on the careful teaching of the Bible, not the latest fads, opinions or trends. We believe God speaks today through His Word, shaping our hearts, guiding our lives, and forming us into His people.

This commitment is reflected even in the way our worship space is arranged. The pulpit stands at the center, reminding us that the proclamation of God’s Word is central to our gathering. From that place, Scripture is read, explained, and applied. It is not one part of worship—it is the foundation of worship. We gather to hear from God, respond to Him, and be transformed by His truth.

We believe:

God speaks through His Word
Preaching matters
Truth transforms lives

🙏 Worship as Response

In our worship, God speaks first through His Word. As Scripture is read, sung, and preached, it is not just information—it is God addressing His people. He reveals His character, His will, and His love, calling us to trust Him and follow Him. Worship, then, is not a one-way experience. It is a conversation. God speaks, and He invites a response from every heart.

That response can take many forms. We respond by singing and lifting our voices in praise, by praying and bringing our lives before Him, and by listening with open and obedient hearts. At times, our response is expressed through verbal praise or even movement and dancing, reflecting joy in His presence. Ultimately, the truest response is commitment—a willingness to align our lives with His Word. In this way, worship becomes a living dialogue between God and His people.
At FMBC, worship includes:

Singing
Prayer
Listening
Responding

You are invited to participate at your own pace.

🎯 What Matters Most

Worship is not about style. What matters most in worship is that it is rooted in the Bible. We do not gather around preferences, trends, or personalities—we gather around God’s Word. Scripture shapes what we sing, what we pray, and what we preach. When worship is grounded in the Bible, it keeps us centered on truth and aligned with God’s heart.

Worship should also be life transforming. It is not just something we attend; it is something that changes us. As we encounter God, we are called to grow in agape love—a self-giving love that reflects His heart. We express that love by honoring God with our whole lives and by loving our neighbors in practical ways. True worship leads us beyond the moment and into daily obedience. It calls us to follow Jesus more nearly, becoming more like Him in how we live, love, and serve.

As you seek a place of worship, keep these things at the forefront of your prayers.

It is about:

Focusing on God
Responding to His truth
Honoring Him with our lives