The Heart of Worship – Part 2: True Worship

John 4:19-26

Introduction: What Do You Worship?

What is something you are passionate about? Maybe it’s a favorite sports team, a music artist, a hobby, or even social media. People will go to great lengths for the things they love. Sports fans will paint their faces, memorize stats, and spend money on tickets. Gamers will spend hours leveling up. Many people constantly check their phones, hoping for likes, comments, or new messages.

Whatever captures your attention, time, and energy—that is what you worship. Worship is not just about what happens in church. Worship is about what you live for.

This is what Jesus was trying to teach the Samaritan woman in John 4. She thought worship was about the right place—Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem. But Jesus shifts the focus from a place to a person. He tells her that true worship is about the heart and the truth.

Today, we will look at what it means to be a true worshiper.

I. The Reason for Worship – God Seeks Worshipers (John 4:23-24)

Jesus tells the Samaritan woman in verse 23, “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”

God is seeking worshipers. He is not looking for people who just go through the motions. He is not seeking people who just show up at church but leave unchanged. He is looking for people whose hearts truly desire Him.

Why does God seek our worship? Because worship changes us. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul writes, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”

We become like what we worship. If we worship money, we become greedy. If we worship success, we become prideful. But if we worship God, we become like Him—more loving, more holy, more Christlike. We would be better people if we worshiped better.

II. The Reality of Worship – Who Are We to Worship?

In verse 24, Jesus says, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” From the beginning, God commanded His people to worship only Him. In Exodus 20:3, He declares, “You shall have no other gods before me.”

We live in a world full of false worship. Some people worship money. Others worship fame. Some worship relationships, careers, or even themselves. But true worship is about God, not us.

True worship is centered on the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not just about singing songs or attending church—it is about surrendering our lives to the one true God.

Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that the Samaritans had been worshiping what they did not know (John 4:22). Worship without truth is ignorance. At the same time, the Jews had truth but lacked the Spirit—their worship had become lifeless and legalistic. True worship happens when we know who God is and worship Him with our whole hearts.

III. The Requirement of Worship – Spirit and Truth

Jesus says that true worship must be in spirit and in truth. These two things must go together.

1. Worship in Spirit – From the Heart, Led by the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” To worship in spirit means worship from the heart. It is not about the outward performance but the inward connection with God.

Worship in spirit is not just about emotions, but it is also not empty ritual. Some people show up at church, sing the songs, listen to the sermon, but their hearts are not engaged. That is not true worship.

True worship happens when the Holy Spirit stirs our hearts to love God deeply. It is personal, passionate, and authentic. Worship is not confined to Sunday morning. It happens in our daily lives—when we pray, when we thank God, when we seek Him throughout the day.

David worshiped God in the wilderness, in battle, in sorrow, and in victory. Worship is not about a location—it is about the heart.

2. Worship in Truth – Rooted in Christ, Aligned with God’s Word

John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” True worship is based on who God is and what He has revealed in His Word. There are many people who worship a version of God that they have created—a God who never judges, never calls for holiness, and never demands change. That is not worship in truth.

Isaiah 29:13 warns, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Worship must be based on the truth of God’s Word. It is not about what feels right but about what is right according to Scripture.

If we separate spirit from truth, we fall into error.

• Spirit without truth leads to emotionalism and false teaching.

• Truth without spirit leads to dry, lifeless religion.

But when the Holy Spirit fills us and the Word of God shapes us, our worship becomes alive and powerful. 

IV. What Does True Worship Look Like?

If we understand that worship is more than just music or church attendance, what does true worship look like in daily life?

1. It is personal. Worship is not just a Sunday activity—it is a daily relationship with God.

2. It is everywhere. Worship happens not just in church but in your home, at school, in your car, at work—wherever you are.

3. It is passionate. True worship is not forced; it comes from a heart that loves God deeply.

4. It is honest. Worship is not about pretending to be holy—it is about coming to God as we are.

5. It transforms us. True worship changes how we live, think, and treat others.

Romans 12:1 says, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” True worship is not just what happens at church—it is how we live our entire lives for God.

Conclusion: Are You a True Worshiper?

Jesus told the Samaritan woman that God is seeking true worshipers. Would God say that you are a true worshiper?

• Is your worship real and from the heart?

• Is Jesus at the center of your life?

• Does your worship transform the way you live?

True worship is not just an event—it is a way of life. It is spirit and truth—a passionate heart that loves God, grounded in the truth of His Word.

Let’s pray: “Lord, teach us to worship You in spirit and in truth. Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind—not just in church, but in our daily lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”