Sermon Overview Scripture Passage: John 4:23-24 Adrian Rogers says, “Christianity is not a religion; it is a vital relationship with God through Christ. It’ll be a great day in America when people stop enduring religion and start enjoying salvation.” We were created to worship God; it is life’s greatest privilege and highest duty to praise Him. In order to fully enjoy our salvation, we must first confirm what true worship is. Worship is an expression of belief; it is a response to all that God is in gratitude and praise. John 4:23 says, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” Human beings are incurably religious; whatever we love, fear, serve or honor more than God is an idol. This is why it’s important to know exactly who we are worshiping because if we do not worship Almighty God, we will be susceptible to worship anything else. We must also remember why we worship: because we become like the things we adore. The more we worship God, the more like Him we will become. But not only does God seek worshipers for what it does for us, but also what it does for Him. Our praise gives Him pleasure; as our Father, He yearns for our devotion and our honor. Finally, we ought to consider the way of true worship: both in spirit and in truth. John 4:24 says, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” When Jesus says to worship God in spirit, He is referring to our spirit, which is our innermost being. If our spirit is dead or warped, we can’t truly worship. But we must also remember to worship in truth; our emotions cannot dictate our praise—there must be intelligent worship. Adrian Rogers says, “Your worship will never rise higher than your knowledge of God.” Spirit and truth go together; we honor God by actively praising with our spirit and seeking truth within His Word. Apply it to your life Have you discovered life’s greatest privilege of worshiping God? Remember these words from Adrian Rogers: “If you worship only in spirit, you’ll blow up. If you worship only in truth, you’ll dry up. If you worship in spirit and truth, you’ll grow up.”
