Series Big Idea: "Exploring the heart and purpose for the Church”

Series Big Idea: “The ultimate goal for the Church is to become true worshipers of God”

Key Scripture (John 4:23-24/Psalm 95:1-7)

If you have ever been to a symphony to enjoy the music of a symphony orchestra you have noticed that there are different people playing instruments. Although each person is playing their own instrument, they can create a beautiful harmony. In the same way, the Church gathers with unique expressions of worship that blend into a unified act of praise to God.

Just as this symphony depends on each person playing their part, worship is also NOT a solo act. It is a collective offering, central to our identity as the Church. Today I want to help us unpack why worship is essential to the Church, what true worship looks like, and how it binds us together as a community.

(John 4:23-24)

But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

(Psalm 95:1-7)

Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout triumphantly to Him in song. 3 For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. 4 The depths of the earth are in His hand, and the mountain peaks are His. 5 The sea is His; He made it. His hands formed the dry land. 6 Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. 7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care.

Our worship of God is all about Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24)

In John 4, Jesus is speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well. He is breaking some incredibly significant and cultural behaviors by talking with her. Samaritans and Jews had very deep tensions at this time. Samaritans worshipped God on Mount Gerizim and Jews worshipped in Jerusalem. The woman asked Him which was the right location. But Jesus directed here focus from a physical location to the very essence of worship itself. He revealed to her that a new era had come (in Him) where worship would not be confined to a specific location but would concern the condition of the heart and the truth of God’s revelation. 

Jesus is telling here that our worship must engage our hearts, emotions, and deepest desires. It’s not merely going through the motions but about a heartfelt connection to God. It must also be rooted in the truth of Scripture. We are not free to worship God on our own terms but according to His revealed truth. Adrian Rogers said, “Worship is our response to God’s revelation.” 

Jesus was announcing that this was the beginning of a new covenant where worship is not tied to a specific place would be a spiritual act between God and His people. It is also a foreshadowing of the Church’s mission to include all people, Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles alike in this new way of worship. So, worship that pleases God comes from the heart and is grounded in His truth. It’s a balance between our spirit and His Word.

The Church is called to Worship God Together (Psalm 95:1-7) 

Psalm 95 is a community call to worship. It was most likely sung as part of Israel’s liturgy. It helps us understand worship in the Old Testament. This Psalm begins with an exciting invitation to gather and joyfully praise the Lord with singing and thanksgiving (1:2). It then proclaims the majesty and sovereignty of God as Creator of the universe, recognizing God’s power and authority over all creation (3-5). The writer called the people to bow down and knell before God which symbolizes submission, humility, and reverence for God and highlighted the covenant relationship between God and His people (6-7). As a note of context, the rest of this Psalm includes a warning about hardening hearts, reminding God’s people about obedience and responsiveness to God’s voice (8-11). 

We are invited to approach God as a congregation, not in isolation. What would a football team be without fans in the stands. The energy is definitely not going to be there. In the same way, when we gather as the Church, we energize each other and magnify our worship to God. 

Verse 6 says, "Come, let us bow down in worship." Worship is an act of humility, recognizing God as Creator and King. A.W. Tozer said, “We are saved to worship God. All that Christ has done in the past and is doing now leads to this one end.” When we come together in worship like this it serves as a reminder that we are God’s people, and we submit to His authority. But what happens in us as we gather for worship?

Worship Transforms Us and Builds Community

Worship not only honors God, but it also shapes us as a community. When we gather for worship, we are spiritually transformed and united. Worship aligns our hearts. As we worship, our focus shifts from ourselves to God. This change of focus transforms us to be more Christlike.

My family and I often mention our father here at the church. Rightly so, because he was the founding pastor of this church. But many of you know that in the last eight years of his life he struggled with prostrate cancer. We watched him go through some very discouraging and painful days. Yes, as his illness confined him to his house he did get discouraged, especially at the very end because he couldn’t be with others at the house of the Lord. But the times he could come and participate in corporate worship it gave him energy and filled him with hope that he knew he was not alone.

Worship Builds Unity. When we worship together, we are reminded that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. We are a part of the body of Christ. It breaks down barriers, unites diverse people, and builds deep relationships within the Church. 

Every time we gather it is like a family reunion. Despite our differences, everyone comes together to celebrate and honor one person. In worship, we come together, putting aside differences, to honor God. John Piper said, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship does not.” What he is saying is that missions or what we sometimes call evangelism are a means to an end not the end itself.

Conclusion

The ultimate goal for us as Christians everywhere is to become true worshipers of God. The reason we do missions is because there are people who still do not know the Lord and so they are not worshiping Him. Once people come to faith in Christ, their worship of God is a collection of the Church’s efforts. Worship of God is eternal!

If we have this perspective, it will elevate our act of worship to the highest calling. Everything else we do as the church flows out of this foundational purpose. When we go away from here today let us go with the perspective that us coming here today was not a duty but an opportunity to connect deeply with God and one another. 

Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:

Holman Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version Bible

King James Version Bible

Christian Standard Bible

Barton, Bruce et al. Life Application New Testament Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001. Print.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. Print.

MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Print.

Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992. Print.

Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.

Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.

Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.

Rydelnik, Michael A., and Michael Vanlaningham, editors. “Psalms.” The Moody Bible Commentary, Moody Publishers, 2014, p. 837

Hart, John F. “John.” The Moody Bible Commentary, edited by Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham, Moody Publishers, 2014, p. 1618.

Bullock, C. Hassell. Psalms 73–150. Edited by Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, vol. 2, Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2017, p. 172.

Gangel, Kenneth O. John. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000, p. 36.

Klink, Edward W., III. John. Edited by Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan, 2016, p. 244.

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