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What is worship? How should it look? How should sound? For many years congregations and denominations have fought over these questions. I think that if we want answers about worship we should go to the book that was inspired by the one that we are worshiping. In the Gospel according to John, Jesus is asked by the Samaritan woman about worship and he tells her a few things about worship. Let’s look at this interaction found in John 4:19-24.
19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
In this text, Jesus points out that location is not important. The mountain is not important; Jerusalem is not important. What is important is that the person who is worshiping is a true worshipper. Jesus defines the true worshipper as one who worships in Spirit and Truth. To worship in Spirit and Truth there must be a mental and a spiritual transformation. Our Spirts are transformed when we come to the realization that Jesus gave it all for us. When we come to Jesus we start the process of spiritual and mental renewal, and we can become a true worshiper of God.
There is one more important factor that comes into play if one wants to be a true worshiper of God. We have to understand that worship is not about us. True worship is about honoring, showing adoration, loving, and respecting God. The focus of worship must be God. The reason that we have had so many augments in the church about worship is that sometimes we focus more on what we like and how we want to express our worship, than on God. God has got to be at the center of our worship or it is not true worship. So let us all strive to be true worshippers of God. Let’s remember that worship is not about us. Let focus on God. Let worship him by showing him all the love, adoration, honor, and respect that he deserves. Let’s continue to go through the process of spiritual and mental transformation so that we can be true worshippers who worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
Sundays sermon on worship