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We believe that discipleship is central to Christ's message of the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Reclaiming what it means to be Christ-followers, by implementing the principles and practices He taught us, will bring about lasting life-change and spiritual offspring. DEM seeks to educate, inspire, equip, and train everyday followers of Christ to adhere to the will and ways of God our Father, thus becoming more like Christ in our inner person and outer practice.
2024 Christmas News LetterPage 2
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What is The Difference Between Worship and Praise?

Hi Friends,

We often use the words worship and praise interchangeably—but the Scriptures make a clear distinction between them. If we’re going to grow in our love for Yahweh and lead others to do the same, we need to understand what we’re actually doing when we say we’re “worshiping” or “praising.”

Psalm 138:2 says…

“I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.” — KJV

Did you catch that? God has magnified His Word above His Name! His Word reveals who He is more fully than His Name alone ever could. That’s why getting these terms right matters so much.

Don’t Be Sloppy With Biblical Words

Words like love, grace, worship, tolerance, and praise have become so generalized that they’ve lost their impact. Many of them have even been hijacked by secular culture.

But the Bible defines words clearly—and so should we.

Want help? Head over to blueletterbible.org to explore the Hebrew and Greek meanings behind key words. It’s a tool I use every week!

What Is Worship?

The Hebrew word for worship is Shachah (sha-KHAH) — meaning to bow down low, to prostrate oneself in reverence.

Worship is physically bowing before God in humility—and rising up in obedience to His Word.

It’s not just a feeling. It’s not just music. It’s a posture of reverence and a life of obedience.

What Is Praise?

The Hebrew word for praise is Yadah (yah-DAH) — meaning to speak or sing out loud in honor of God’s character.

Praise is declaring—vocally and publicly—the greatness of Yahweh God.

Praise is never silent. It’s singing. It’s shouting. It’s testifying. It’s vocalizing the goodness of God so others can hear it too.

Worship vs. Praise

Worship Praise
Bowing low physically Lifting your voice publicly
Reverence and submission Proclamation and celebration
Often quiet, personal, humble Always vocal, visible, communal
Leads to obedience Elevates God’s character

Both are powerful. Both are needed. But they are not the same—and Scripture treats them distinctly.

What You Can Do This Week:

  1. Create and memorize your own biblical definitions of worship and praise. Share them with at least 3 people.
  2. Kneel in worship—physically bow, confess your sin, and give thanks to God for His mercy.
  3. Start using the phrase “Praise Team” in your church language. Why? Because it aligns with Scripture—and might spark some good conversations.
  4. Share this with your church’s praise leader and ask for their feedback. Or invite them to call me directly:
    Dale Ebel – 503-957-4547

I’ll be writing more on praise and its expressions in the weeks ahead. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it!

Bowing in worship and praising Yahweh God with you,
—Dale