True Worshippers | Week 07
Week’s Passage:John 4
InTro
Feeling Wanted
Kemba, a dedicated and highly successful professional, was unexpectedly dismissed from her position during a brief Zoom meeting with her interim supervisor, who had long harbored jealousy toward her achievements. Despite the emotional devastation, Kemba and her family trusted God to guide them through the challenge. Shortly afterward, Kemba was encouraged to apply for a CFO position at the same company. She was selected from a competitive pool of candidates, affirming her value and expertise.
The story parallels a biblical message from John 4:23-24, where Jesus emphasizes that God seeks true worshipers who worship in spirit and truth. Just as it feels good to be valued and wanted, the passage reminds us of the importance of sincere worship that pleases God.
InGest
The Center of Worship
John 4 highlights Jesus’ determination to reach the lost, breaking cultural barriers by speaking to a Samaritan woman. Despite centuries of hostility between Jews and Samaritans, Jesus engaged her in a conversation that revealed her personal life and spiritual need. She questioned where worship should take place, referencing the longstanding rivalry between the Jerusalem and Mount Gerizim temples.
Jesus redirected the focus, teaching that true worship is not about location but about worshiping God in spirit and truth. He then revealed Himself as the Messiah, emphasizing that it is not where but who we worship that truly matters.
inTerpret
A New Paradigm
The story of the Samaritan woman (John 4:1–26) highlights Jesus’ focus on true worship. He shifted worship from rituals and locations to worshiping in spirit and truth, empowered by the Holy Spirit. This story includes key firsts: Jesus revealed His messiahship to an outsider and inspired her to become the first evangelist. True worship, as Jesus taught, is a life led by the Spirit, embracing and living out God’s truth.
inVite
The Numbers
A 2017–2018 survey of Adventist young adults revealed struggles in prioritizing daily time with God, with 59% praying daily and only 41% reading the Bible daily. Fewer study Sabbath School lessons or read Ellen G. White’s writings consistently. While practices like prayer and Bible study reflect commitment, they don’t fully measure one’s relationship with God.
The survey highlights the need to rebuild worship habits, likening the Word of God to nourishing bread that sustains spiritual life. True worship requires more than routine—it needs humility and the Holy Spirit’s presence to transform it from ritual to a genuine connection with God, turning homes into sanctuaries of worship.
InSight
True Worship
When the Samaritans were excluded from rebuilding Jerusalem’s temple, they built their own on Mount Gerizim, blending Mosaic worship with idolatry. In His conversation with the Samaritan woman, Jesus emphasized that true worship transcends location and ceremony. He taught that worship must be in spirit and truth, driven by the Holy Spirit, renewing the heart and mind. True worship connects believers with God, making them His children through sincere devotion and obedience.
inQuire
- What are the markers of true worship?
- If the location of worship is not important, why should we bother go-ing to church (e.g., Matt. 18:20; Heb. 10:23–25)?
- Can you tell a true worshiper from a fake one? If so, how?
- When Jesus engaged the woman at the well, He was tired and thirsty. How ready are you to share the gospel when you are weary and in need of refreshment?
