The Basic Worship

Opening Comments:

Please meet me in your copy of God’s Word in John 4:19-26. Page 836 in our church provided Bibles.

We’re continuing our summer series called “Back to Basics: Becoming a First-Century Church”. All summer we have been walking through what the Bible says about the form and function of the church using the metaphor of building and living in a house to guide us.

This week, We’re moving into what we’ll call living of the church: which is worship. It’s where the church gathers as a family to honor God together.

The text we are about to read is the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. We are going to be reading from the middle of this conversation so before we dive in we need to set the context.

Context:

At the beginning of chapter 4, we see Jesus traveling from Judea back to Galilee through Samaria.

At midday, Jesus and his disciples come to a well outside of the Samaritan town of Sychar where Jesus stayed behind, while his disciples went into town to buy food, when a woman comes to the well to draw water.

Coming to the well at this time of day was unusual. Women typically drew water early in the morning to avoid the heat and they usually came in groups. She was alone because she had a sinful lifestyle that caused her to be isolated and socially avoidant. She was an outcast of the outcast.

Upon seeing her, Jesus creates a conversation by asking for a drink. This also was unusual: Jews didn’t speak to Samaritans, they avoided them at all cost. (Briefly explain) Furthermore, in this culture men didn’t speak to women alone in public in general. But Jesus was also a rabbi, and they would never speak to a morally, questionable woman. But none of that concerned Jesus, because he had a divine appointment.

Jesus very quickly turned the conversation to her salvation by telling her that if she knew who he really was, she’d be asking him for “living water.” This both intrigued and confused her. Jesus then continues the conversation by telling her to go call her husband. She says she doesn’t have a husband and then Jesus gently lays bear her story: she’s had five husbands, and the man she’s with now isn’t her husband. He doesn’t say this to condemn her but to clarify his point. She didn’t need the water the well could provide, but the “living water” that only Jesus could give her.

By verse 19, she has begun to realize that Jesus is not an ordinary man. So she asked a question that, at first, seems like deflection; but, is born out of conviction for her sinful condition. She knows she needs to be made right with God, but she doesn’t know How, where, and what God wanted from her.

Jesus response to her question is where we will pick up today.

This is God’s Holy Word:

John 4:19–26 ESV

19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

From this rich exchange between Jesus and the woman, we’re taught something foundational for the church: how we, as the gathered people of God, offer worship in a way that pleases the father.

1.) True worship is not confined to a place. (v.21)

John 4:21 ESV

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

In v.20, The woman raises a centuries-old debate between Jewish and Samaritan religious culture and tradition:

Where is the right place to worship?

She knows she needs to be made right with God, and she’s asking where to go to do that.

For centuries, worship was centered around sacred places: first the tabernacle, then the temple. For the Jews, that meant Jerusalem. But the Samaritans, who only accepted Genesis through Deuteronomy, worshiped on Mount Gerizim—where God appeared to Abraham in Genesis 12 and where Moses pronounced blessings in Deuteronomy 11.

But Jesus tells her that worship is about to change forever.

“The hour is coming,” is a phrase in John’s Gospel that always points to the death, burial, and resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

A.) Worship is no longer about location—it’s about relationship.

We live in the reality Jesus promised. The Holy Spirit dwells in us so that we may worship God from anywhere. And yet—this doesn’t make corporate worship optional.

Hebrews 10:25 ESV

25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The early church gathered regularly—to sing, pray, read Scripture, observe the ordinances (Lord’s Supper & Baptism), and share life together. And we’re called to do the same.

But here’s the shift:

B.)  Worship isn’t defined by a building; it’s defined by the presence of Christ among His people.

You can worship in a cathedral or a cornfield.

As long as Jesus is central, His Word is taught, and His people are united in truth then real worship is happening.

Now let’s address something that needs to be said. We’ve all heard people say:

“I can worship God just as well on the lake or in the deer stand as I can at church.”

or, “I can watch church online, why do I need to come on Sunday”

But let’s be honest: most people who say that are just making excuses to not worship.

It’s like saying, “I love my family—I just don’t want to spend any time with them.” 

That’s not how love works. If you love God, you’ll love His people and you’ll gather with them.

C.) You weren’t saved into isolation. You were saved into a body.

A house. A family.

We don’t come to a place to worship, we come as worshipers to a place to gather in response to God’s greatness.

We honor Him by showing up ready: with hearts full of gratitude, voices full of praise, and minds shaped by truth.

2.) True worship must be based on God’s word. (v.22-24)

John 4:22–24 ESV

22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Jesus isn’t being harsh, he’s giving this woman a reality check.

Not only did the Samaritans reject most of the old testament, they had also introduced elements of paganism into their religion. Because of this they had an incomplete and distorted view of God.

Jesus contrast them with the Jews, who “…worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.”

That phrase didn’t mean the Jews are superior, it meant that the Messiah, the source of salvation, would come through the Jewish people.

The promises made to Abraham, the law given to Moses, the temple, the sacrificial system all pointed forward to Christ.

The Jews had the full revelation of God up to that point, while the Samaritans had only a partial and corrupted version.

So what’s the point for us?

A.) Worship should be based on scripture.

We live in a time where we only think worship is good if we have some sort of deeply emotional experience.

But that’s not biblical. Worship is only as good as it reflects is true about God.

This means doctrine and theology matter in worship because we want to be certain we understand who God is and worship him as such.

Jesus whole interaction with this woman was about pointing her to the truth of who he was and our worship should do the same.

B.) The clearer our view of God, the deeper our worship will be.

We can’t properly worship God if we don’t know who he is.

Our worship should reflect what God has said about himself, not what we imagine him to be.

He has told us what he is like: holy, just, gracious, sovereign, merciful, and glorious.

So when we worship him, we must do so in the light of those truths, in order to glorify him rightly.

Practically this means, we should evaluate every song, prayer, and sermon not just my style, but by substance.

Worship in truth is worship that flows from the understanding of who God is and what he’s done. And if we want to grow, then we must grow in our knowledge, God’s truth.

3.) True worship must flow from the heart. (v.23-24)

John 4:23–24 ESV

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Notice, Jesus says, “true worshipers” will worship God in this way. Not just outwardly. Not just in ritual performance. But inwardly from a sincere heart.

We do this because “God is Spirit”.

Pneuma- Meaning He is immaterial, invisible, not confined to physical space.

This isn’t just a theological category; it’s a clue about what kind of worship He desires. God is not bound to temples or tabernacles. Because He is pneuma, He seeks worship that flows from our spirit—our innermost being.”

A.) Worship is not a performance. It’s a response.

True worship is not about external motions, it’s about internal devotion.

We can have the most biblically accurate music, the most doctrinally sound prayers, and the most expositional preaching of any church around; but if our hearts are cold and disengaged, then we haven’t worshiped.

“God does not regard our voices. He hears our heartsand if our hearts do not sing, we have not sung at all.”—Charles Spurgeon

Sometimes we can be in the group, saying the words, singing the lyrics, even nodding in agreement; but our minds are miles away. Hear me this morning, that’s not worship. It’s form without fire.

Philippians 3:3 ESV

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

B.) How do we worship in Spirit?

We bring our whole selves – Sunday worship is the overflow of a heart, that’s already been walking with God privately.

We approach with sincerity and reverence– Not empty words and distracted minds but with hearts set on him.

We prepare ourselves inwardly- True worship begins on Monday, Tuesday, and every day we are walking in the spirit, filling our hearts with the word, confessing sin, and seeking the Lord.

This is why public prayer matters in the gathering. But it’s only as healthy as our private prayer life. If we only ever pray when someone else is listening or when the mic is on, we miss the point.

Jesus taught us to pray in secret, because prayer isn’t about performance, it’s about communion with the father. So when we gather and someone leads in prayer publicly, they are simply guiding the congregation in a conversation with God that each of us has already been having all week long.

When Jesus says “the Father is seeking such people to worship Him”, He is saying that this kind of authentic, heartfelt, truth driven worship is what God delights in receiving from his children.

Application: So let me ask are we just going through the motions? Or are we worshiping in spirit, from the depths of our being? Are we bringing our heart to church or just our bodies?

Worship in spirit is the soul lifted up in reverence, joy, repentance, and praise; responding to the truth of who God is.

4.) True worship is centered on the Gospel. (v.25-26)

John 4:25 ESV

25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”

This is the climax of the conversation. The woman has moved from skepticism to curiosity. She’s wrestled with her past, asked questions about worship, and now expresses a faint hope in the coming Messiah, the Christ, who will explain everything.

John 4:26 ESV

26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

Jesus' declaration here—‘I who speak to you am He’—is a moment of divine self-revelation. The eternal Word, made flesh (John 1:14), stands in front of her.

This is the doctrine of the incarnation: God taking on human flesh to dwell among us, speak to us, and save us.

Jesus interaction with this woman shows us that worship is about being made right with God through the Lord Jesus.

This is why our worship must be centered in the gospel. Not vague emotion, empty ritual, preference or cultural habit. True worship is a response to the Gospel.

This woman was feeling the weight of her sin and wanted to know how to draw near to God. And Jesus reveals to her that you don’t come to a place, you come to a person!

Let me say this a clearly as I can…

The Gospel is not a part of our worship—it’s the very heart of our worship.

It’s the reason we sing with joy.

It’s the reason we confess with hope.

It’s the reason we give with generosity.

It’s the reason we preach with clarity.

It’s the reason we gather at all.

We don’t gather to be entertained. We don’t come just to feel better. We gather to exalt the crucified and risen Christ, to see him more clearly, love him more deeply, and obey him more faithfully.

We’re not worshipping a God we don’t know- we’re worshipping the God who came and dwelt among us in Christ.

The Gospel gives us access, assurance, and the reason we worship with all our hearts.

Conclusion:

If the church is a house, then worship is what fills it with life. Like a living room full of people gathered around the fireplace. Not admiring the walls, but warming ourselves by the flame.

True worship begins in the heart. It’s not about style but substance. Not about the routine, but relationship.

And if we want to be a house that honors God, we must be a house of worships in spirit and truth.

In order to do this we must:

1. Worship the Right God in the Right Way. Don’t worship your preferences or emotions. Worship the God of Scripture, Father, Son, and Spirit; as He revealed himself to be with joy and reverence.

2. Prepare your heart for worship Sunday worship should be the overflow of a life that has already been worshiping. Don’t arrive empty. Fill your heart with the word, prayer and confession of sin.

3. Keep the Gospel at the Center. Our worship should flow from the cross. We don’t worship to earn God’s favor, we worship because Christ has already secured it.

4. Let the Bible shape our worship. Everything we do on Sunday must align with scripture.

So that’s why:

We sing, because Colossians 3 says to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

We pray, both privately and publicly, because 1 Timothy 2 calls the church t pray with supplication, intercession and thanksgiving.

We read and preach the Word, because Paul charged Timothy to preach in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4).

We observe the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, because Jesus commanded them. ( Matthew 26, Mark 14,Luke 22, Matthew 28)

We give, not out of guilt, but cheerfully, as an act of worship (2 Corinthians 9).

And we do all of this together— as the household of God, declaring His glory as one body.

Gospel Invitation:

And maybe today, you’re like the woman at the well.

You’ve been hiding in shame. You’ve been chasing relationships, religion, or routine to satisfy a thirst that never goes away. But here’s the good news: Jesus already knows your story—and He offers you living water.

Jesus lived the perfect life we couldn’t, died the death we deserved—as our substitute—and rose again so we could be made right with God. That’s the heart of the gospel: the substitutionary atonement, where Christ bore our punishment in our place.

And He invites you now to come. Not with your best performance, but with repentance and faith.

Closing Prayer

Father, Shape us into a church that honors You the way you desire to be honored. For the one here today who’s been running or hiding, remind them that You already know their story—and You still offer living water. Draw them to salvation.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.