Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and yet you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one must worship.” Jesus said to her, “Believe Me, woman, that a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. But a time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

-John 4:21-25

  

What is Worship?

  

Worship - English it means something that shows or possesses a state of worth.

  

Worship in the Bible

  

1. Shachah (Hebrew) / Proskuneo (Greek) refer to acts of homage and reverence, to prostrate, bow down, kiss towards. (In this passage Proskuneo is used).

2. Abad (Hebrew) / Leitourgia (Greek) refer to service, to stand in service or in ministry of worship. 

  

Worship is a response to the revelation of God.

  

You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.

-John 4:22

Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale? Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice?

-Isaiah 40:12-14

To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him?

-Isaiah 40:18

Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God—the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.

-Isaiah 40:21-22

‘To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?’ asks the Holy One. Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. Have you never heard? Have you never understood?

-Isaiah 40:25-26

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

-Isaiah 40:28

  

Yet God does something miraculous!

  

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

-Philippians 2:6-11

  

WHO IS HIS EQUAL?

  

WHAT IS HIS WORTH? 

  

Worship in Spirit

  

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.

-John 4:23-24

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among people knows the thoughts of a person except the spirit of the person that is in him? So also the thoughts of God no one knows, except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.

-1 Corinthians 2:10-12

Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

-John 15:5

  

Worship in Truth

    

Worship in spirit and truth are tied together.

   

So when we worship - we come in Jesus' Name, we come in the truth of His word, guided by the Holy Spirit and honestly.

  

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth; I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

  

No one can force you to bring true worship. But if your desire is to connect with God - it's on His terms. He is spirit and we worship based on His nature.

  

WHAT IS GOD’S NATURE?

HOW DO WE APPROACH GOD IN WORSHIP?

  

1. God has revealed Himself primarily creation, Jesus, and the Bible.

2. Worship is our response to God’s revelation to us. With acts of homage (singing, clapping, dancing, shouting, acts of service [serve, giving, communion ], etc)

3. We engage in spirit and truth - because it’s God’s nature.

  

  

  

  

What are your main takeaways from this Experiencing God Weekend?

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