Worthy Art Thou
A Sermon based on
the hymn by Tillit S. Teddlie
Introduction
“Worthy Art Thou” is a
hymn of exaltation, reverence, and joyful surrender to the Lord Jesus
Christ. Written by Tillit S. Teddlie—a faithful member of the church of
Christ and prolific hymn writer—this song gives voice to the worshiper’s
heart in lifting praise to the One who is truly worthy. The lyrics echo
the language of heaven itself, found in Revelation 4 and 5, where angels
and saints fall before the throne and proclaim, “Worthy is the Lamb that
was slain.”
This hymn invites us
to join in that eternal chorus. It is not vague praise, but grounded in
specific truths: Christ died for our sins, rose again in power, reigns
in glory, and invites us into His presence through obedient faith.
Revelation 5:9 says, “Thou art worthy… for Thou wast slain, and hast
redeemed us to God by Thy blood.” This is the foundation of Christian
worship—we do not praise from tradition or ritual, but from the deep
gratitude of redeemed hearts.
Teddlie’s hymn
reminds us that God’s worth is not based on what we feel but on what He
has done. It turns our eyes upward, fills our mouths with praise, and
compels us to surrender our lives in reverence. When we sing this hymn,
we are not simply expressing sentiment—we are proclaiming a truth that
all of heaven already knows:
Worthy art
Thou!
Stanza 1
“Worthy of praises,
Christ our Redeemer,
Worthy of glory, honor and pow’r!
Worthy of all our soul’s adoration,
Worthy art Thou! Worthy art Thou!”
This stanza begins
with declaration. Jesus is worthy—worthy of praise, glory, honor, and
the full devotion of our soul. These are not hollow words. In Revelation
5:12, the heavenly hosts cry out, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to
receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and
glory, and blessing.” The worth of Jesus is rooted in His identity as
Redeemer. He gave His life to purchase our salvation (1 Peter 1:18–19).
Because of this, He deserves not partial admiration, but our full
adoration—heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Stanza 2
“Worthy of riches,
blessings and honor,
Worthy of wisdom, glory and pow’r!
Worthy of earth and heav’n’s thanksgiving,
Worthy art Thou! Worthy art Thou!”
This stanza
continues the language of Revelation 5:13: “Blessing, and honour, and
glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne.” Christ is
not only worthy in a spiritual or personal sense—He is worthy of global
and universal thanksgiving. Both heaven and earth are called to worship.
Philippians 2:10–11 teaches that every knee will bow and every tongue
will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The church is called to start
that confession now. When we gather to sing, we are joining the praise
of heaven itself.
Stanza 3
“Lift up the voice
in praise and devotion,
Saints of all earth before Him should bow;
Angels in heaven worship Him saying,
Worthy art Thou! Worthy art Thou!”
This stanza calls us
to action. We are to lift up our voices, bow in humility, and echo the
song of angels. Hebrews 1:6 says, “Let all the angels of God worship
Him.” If angels worship Him, how much more should we, who have been
redeemed by His blood? Worship is not optional—it is the proper and
necessary response to the majesty of Christ. Psalm 95:6 invites us, “O
come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our
maker.” Worship is not for our entertainment—it is for God’s glory.
Stanza 4
“Lord, may we come
before Thee with singing,
Filled with Thy Spirit, wisdom and pow’r;
May we ascribe Thee glory and honor,
Worthy art Thou! Worthy art Thou!”
The final stanza is
a prayer. We ask the Lord to accept our worship—not in our own merit,
but in the Spirit’s presence and power. John 4:24 teaches us that we
must worship “in spirit and in truth.” This means sincere, heartfelt,
Bible-based praise. We are not trying to impress God—we are trying to
honor Him. As we sing, may we give Him what He alone deserves: glory and
honor. As Romans 11:36 declares, “For of Him, and through Him, and to
Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever.”
Chorus
“Worthy of praise is
Christ our Redeemer,
Worthy of glory, honor and pow’r!
Worthy of all our soul’s adoration,
Worthy art Thou! Worthy art Thou!”
The chorus brings us
back to the central theme: Jesus is worthy. Not just because we feel He
is, but because He is. Our
Redeemer is the center of our praise, the focus of our worship, and the
King of our lives. His death was not defeat—it was victory. His
resurrection was not just a miracle—it was the foundation of our hope.
Every time we sing “Worthy art Thou,” we declare: I believe in the Lamb
that was slain. I belong to Him. He is worthy of it all.
Worthy Art Thou Sermon Outline:
Introduction:
-
The hymn is
rooted in heavenly worship scenes (Revelation 4–5)
-
Written by
faithful member Tillit S. Teddlie
-
Each verse
builds a rich portrait of Christ’s unmatched worth
Stanza 1 –
Worthy Because He Redeemed Us:
-
Christ deserves
full adoration (Revelation 5:12)
-
Our Redeemer
paid the price for our sins (1 Peter 1:18–19)
-
He is worthy of
our total devotion
Stanza 2 –
Worthy in Heaven and Earth:
-
Heaven and earth
together praise Him (Revelation 5:13)
-
Every knee will
bow before Him (Philippians 2:10–11)
-
Worship
acknowledges God’s universal glory
Stanza 3 – Call
to Worship with Reverence:
-
Worship is
active—lift the voice, bow the knee (Psalm 95:6)
-
Angels and
saints alike proclaim His worth (Hebrews 1:6)
-
Worship honors
His greatness
Stanza 4 –
Worship in Spirit and in Truth:
-
Worship must be
sincere and scriptural (John 4:24)
-
We ask God to
receive our praise (Hebrews 13:15)
-
He is the source
of all wisdom and power (Romans 11:36)
Chorus – Christ
Is Worthy of All:
-
Reaffirms all
prior truths: He is worthy of praise, honor, glory, power
-
Our Redeemer
deserves everything our soul can offer
-
He is the center
of heaven’s song—and ours
Call to Action
Do you live as if
Christ is truly worthy? If He is worthy of all praise, is He worthy of
your obedience? Your sacrifice? Your daily loyalty? Worship is not just
something we do in song—it’s something we live in our choices, our
faithfulness, our love for others, and our devotion to truth. Come to
the One who is worthy. Obey the gospel. Be baptized for the remission of
your sins (Acts 2:38). Live a life of faithful worship. Join the song of
heaven and earth—because Christ alone is worthy.
Scripture Reference List
Revelation 5:12 –
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain…”
1 Peter 1:18–19 – Redeemed with the precious blood of Christ
Revelation 5:13 – All creation praises the Lamb
Philippians 2:10–11 – Every knee will bow and every tongue confess
Hebrews 1:6 – Angels are commanded to worship Christ
Psalm 95:6 – Worship and bow down before the Lord
John 4:24 – Worship in spirit and in truth
Romans 11:36 – All things are of, through, and to God
Hebrews 13:15 – Offer the sacrifice of praise through Jesus
Acts 2:38 – Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins
Song History
“Worthy Art Thou”
was written by Tillit S.
Teddlie, a longtime member of the church of Christ and one of
the most respected hymnists in the brotherhood. Teddlie composed over
100 hymns and was known for crafting songs that were both doctrinally
sound and deeply devotional. “Worthy Art Thou” reflects his love for
scripture, especially the majestic scenes of heavenly worship in
Revelation. This hymn continues to be sung in congregations around the
world, reminding Christians that worship is more than melody—it is a
declaration of the unmatched glory of our risen Redeemer.
Prepared by David Hersey of the church of Christ at
Granby, MO
 |
The
church of Christ
