Mission-Driven Worship: How Singing Connects Us to God's Global Kingdom

This is the second article in this series. We recommend reading the first two articles before this one.

Four theologically rooted reflections from Psalm 96 to help you lead Sundays with deeper affection, greater awe, and a vision that stretches beyond the stage.

Worship leaders, let's talk about something that'll shift how you see your Sunday calling. We can get so focused on the mechanics – the song flow, the transitions, getting that mix just right – that we miss the massive scope of what we're actually doing.

Psalm 96 isn't just a call to worship – it's a summons to mission. Verses 3 and 10 say, "Declare his glory among the nations... Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns!'" This isn't just about our Sunday gathering. This is about bold proclamation to the entire world that God is King.

Here's the foundational truth that changes everything: "Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't" - John Piper. We go to the nations not primarily to make converts, but to make worshipers. The ultimate goal isn't just changed lives – it's lives that worship the Lord.

Understanding God's Mission Through Israel

To grasp what Psalm 96 is calling us to, we need to understand what God was doing with Israel. This isn't just worship instruction – it's missional theology. When God freed Israel from Egypt, He said, "You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:5-6).

What do priests do? They represent God to people, and people to God. That was Israel's job – to be a whole kingdom of priests for the rest of the world, showing the nations who God is. Psalm 96 isn't introducing a new idea. It's reinforcing the main idea of the whole story: God saved His people so that the nations would praise Him.

God always had a plan for redeeming the world – the nations – and that would come through His people Israel. This Psalm is them singing about what they should be doing: declaring His glory among the nations. This isn't drudgery; it's delight.

Just as Israel was called to declare God's glory among the nations, now in Christ we are called to do that. We gentiles have been adopted into the chosen family, and we have a Savior we need to sing about.

From Sunday Songs to Global Mission

Listen, this is why we care about global missions. To harken back to Piper's quote – we go so that worship can be rightly directed. Our desire isn't to go and just make converts, but to go and make disciples, to make true worshipers of our amazing God.

Have you ever seen someone from a different nation worship? I've seen it a few times, and let me tell you, it is beautiful. To see those that are different than us, be saved by the radical grace of Jesus, and to worship Him fully with all joy is amazing.

But here's what hits closer to home: we have some of the world in our own backyard. We long to see all those who call our communities home to hear of His salvation, respond to it, and to join in the song of the redeemed. Some of "the nations" is right here in our neighborhoods. What are we doing to reach them?

The Watching World in Your Worship

When we gather on Sunday, we need to recognize this reality: we have three audiences. Our Triune God is both the object of worship and one of its audiences, but we also need to pay attention to two other audiences – the gathered church and the watching world.

There are those we love that gather with us every single Sunday and they don't quite get what it's all about yet. Maybe they haven't met Jesus and invited Him to be the Lord of their life. Maybe they're more checking things out, observing, and seeing what this Christianity thing is all about.

If the watching world is watching your worship, will it lead them to consider Christ because it is authentically passionate and surrendered? How can we know if we worship in a way that helps those who don't yet worship our God maybe consider Him as their only hope for salvation?

Our worship is a weapon to push back the darkness and to help people see Jesus. And worship is what happens when they do rightly see Jesus – they respond in authentic praise.

Declaring His Glory Where Worship Doesn't Exist

Here's the reality we can't escape: you are born worshiping. The problem is that you are born worshiping the wrong thing. What the gospel does is takes your worship and aims it at Jesus – the author and perfecter of your faith.

"Missions exists because worship doesn't." Every place where the gospel hasn't gone, every heart that hasn't been transformed, every life that hasn't been saved represents a place where authentic worship of the true God doesn't exist. We go, we send, we support missions because there are still tribes and people groups, friends and coworkers, family members and strangers, who do not worship our Father.

This is why your church should care about Mission Trips. This is why you should pray for missionaries. This is why you should invite your neighbors to church. We have some of the nations right in our own backyard, and we long to see them hear of His salvation, respond to it, and join in worshiping the redeemed.

The Heart Behind Our Sunday Gathering

Remember, our worship today is a foreshadow of that day to come when every tribe, tongue, and nation will gather around the throne of our King, worshiping Him with all that they have. Somehow, the rhythms, melodies, and flavors of every nation will come together in some miraculous and harmonious sound to our God.

Every time your congregation sings, they're rehearsing for the day when the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. When we understand that our Sunday singing prepares us for that eternal reality while declaring God's kingdom today, worship takes on eternal significance.

From Declaration to Action

So, worship leader, here's what this means practically: This Sunday, lead with this global vision in mind. Help your congregation understand that their voices join a chorus that will one day include every nation, tribe, people, and language.

But don't stop there. Maybe get that courage up to actually befriend your neighbor, or if you're already friends – be like Jesus to them, love them and help them begin to ask questions about who God is.

Here's the reality: we are made to worship. We are made for God. There is nothing more exciting, compelling, or worth giving our lives to than helping people come to a saving faith in Jesus. One day every knee will bow and tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and there will be worship! Don't remain on the sidelines, get in the game.

Someone at some point told you about God's glory – they likely don't use those terms – but that's what they did by describing His love for you, His saving work He accomplished on your behalf, and you believed and now you worship Him authentically.

Ready to cultivate this missional vision in your worship ministry? I'd love to help you connect your local worship to God's global kingdom.