What does it mean to worship in spirit and truth?

True worship is glorifying God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. It requires a love for God in our heart, the Holy Spirit leading our spirit, and pure thoughts and the goodness of God on our minds.

True Worship in Scripture

And He said to them, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Worshiping with songs can be emotional sometimes. However, we cannot worship with only our heart, because the Bible says (Jeremiah 17:9) that the heart is deceiving. True worship is glorifying God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. It requires a love for God in our heart, the Holy Spirit leading our spirit, and pure thoughts and the goodness of God on our minds.

How do we worship

(1) Song and praise (2) Prayer (3) Reading the Bible (4) Tithing (5) Being a light to others (6) (7) Loving and encouraging other believers (8) Forgiving others (9) Serving in the church

Questions to ask yourself

(1) Did I feel conviction? (2) Was I humbled? (3) Was I in awe of God’s goodness? (4) Did I feel motivation to obey God’s commands? (5) Did I feel called to forgive others and make amends?

How do we worship through suffering?

It’s important to remind ourselves that sometimes bad things happen to God’s people because God allows them to. He has a purpose in our suffering, and that purpose is to bring us to a spiritual level beyond where we are. “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, with insults, with distress, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am Strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9‑10)

While going through difficult times, remind yourself that God uses our suffering to:

(1) Reveal our spiritual condition (2) Humble us (3) Draw us to himself (4) Display His grace (5) Perfect his power

How do we worship God outside of the church?

1. Be a light to the community. Shining with not our light, but God’s light in us: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14‑16)

2. Love Others: “If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). “And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37‑40)

3. Forgive Others: “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36)

How do we worship God inside the church?

The points mentioned above about worshiping God outside the church are also applicable for inside the church, but these next points are commandments that the Bible show are especially important for the body of Christ.

1. Love and Encourage one another: “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

2. Serving in the church: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)

Other Forms of Worship

The world will say there are other ways to worship God. New “trendy” things that are all over social media as well. Be aware, Many of these forms actually promote self‑worship. Look in scripture. If it does not line up with the Bible, it will not worship God.