John 4:23- 24 (NKJV)

1. John 4:23-24(NKJV) 23But 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. 24God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

2. The Worship Of The Church John 4:23-24

3. The Worship Of The Church • We continue our study together looking at the distinctiveness of the church • With all of the many denominations around us, how do we know which one is the true church? • If they all teach and practice different things, can they all be right?

4. The Worship Of The Church • Our last study together we looked at how one becomes a member of the church we read about in the NT • So once we become a member, is that it? • Is there any more required of a Christian?

5. The Worship Of The Church • We see both through command and example the actions of those who were a part of the early church • One thing we see is the worship practices of the NT church • What does the worship of the church look like?

6. Three Fold Command • Jesus speaks of worship in John 4 • He was asked about worship by this Samaritan woman (v. 20) • His response to her revealed that the location of worship did not matter (v. 21) • She was ignorant of God (v. 22)

7. Three Fold Command • Jesus then reveals some truths about worship (vs. 23-24) • There are true worshipers (as well as false worshipers - Matt. 15:8-9) • True worshipers worship in spirit • True worshipers worship in truth • God is seeking true worshipers

8. Three Fold Command • Jesus teaches us here the 3 characteristics of what God is looking for in a worshiper: • They worship the right object (Father) • They worship with the right attitude (spirit) • They worship with the right action (truth)

9. Object Of Worship • It is imperative that we worship God and Him alone • Jesus reminded Satan of this truth in Matthew 4:10 • Worshipping anyone else other than God is forbidden (Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9)

10. Object Of Worship • There are some religions today who worship others besides God, or who they claim to be God • Worshipping the virgin Mary, Muhammad, Peter (or any “Pope”), or any other religious figure is wrong • The God of the bible is who we worship

11. Attitude Of Worship • Jesus pointed out that it is a must to worship God in spirit • That can be summed up as the mindset with which we come to worship • Being distracted or not there mentally can mean that we are worshipping God in an improper way

12. Attitude Of Worship • We are expected to please God in all we do (Col. 1:10; I Jn. 3:22) • Jesus described those who “draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Matt. 15:8) • Solomon said to “walk prudently” when we worship Him (Ecc. 5:1ff)

13. Attitude Of Worship • We should be glad and joyful to come and worship God (Ps. 122:1) • Are we thankful to God? (Ps. 100:4) • Do we examine ourselves to see if we are worshipping God with the correct attitude and mindset, with reverence and fear? (Heb. 12:28)

14. Action Of Worship • Jesus also set forth that we must worship God in truth • How can we know what is true and what is false worship? • We can only know if God has revealed it to us…in His word (Jn. 17:17; II Tim. 3:16-17)

15. Action Of Worship • When we look through the scriptures we see the commands and examples of what we should do and when we do it • Jesus commanded that communion be done in His remembrance, the way He set it forth (Lk. 22:14-20) • We see this repeated in I Corinthians 11

16. Action Of Worship • How often do we do it? • “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…” (Acts 20:7) • Paul said that they did this when they came together as a church (I Cor. 11:18)

17. Action Of Worship • We also see the example of the collection that was taken, also on the first day of the week (I Cor. 16:1-2) • Paul recounts the attitude that we should have when giving (II Cor. 9:5-7) • We know that prayer was a part of the Christian life and worship

18. Action Of Worship • Christians gathered to pray (Acts 2:42; 12:5, 12) • We see commands to pray for one another (Js. 5:13-18) • We are to pray everywhere and without ceasing, which would include in the assembly of worship as well (I Thess. 5:17; I Tim. 2:8)

19. Action Of Worship • We see preaching as a part of their coming together as well • “…Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight” (Acts 20:7) • The early Christians continued steadfastly in doctrine (Acts 2:42)

20. Action Of Worship • Paul told Timothy to “Preach the word!” (II Tim. 4:2) • Paul also gave the command to teach others, so that they in turn may teach and instruct others (II Tim. 2:2) • The Great Commission including teaching and preaching (Mk. 16:15)

21. Action Of Worship • The Bible gives us the command to worship through singing as well • “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19) • God’s desire is for our voices to be lifted up to Him in praise

22. Action Of Worship • “…teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16) • Everything we do should be done with God’s approval (Col. 3:17) • That certainly includes our worship!