As we continue exploring Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman, we encounter one of the most profound teachings on worship in all of Scripture. Today, we'll examine what Jesus means when He tells us to worship "in spirit and in truth," and why neither element can exist without the other.
John 4:23-24 "But an hour is coming, and now is, 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."
Have you ever asked yourself what distinguishes a Christian from a non-Christian at the most fundamental level? It's not moral behavior, church attendance, or even knowledge of Scripture—though these things matter. According to Jesus, the ultimate hallmark between a believer and an unbeliever is who and what they worship.
When the Samaritan woman realizes Jesus is a prophet, she immediately brings up the long-standing debate between Samaritans and Jews: "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." It's as if she's saying, "So, which of us is right? Is it Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem?"
But Jesus has little interest in this type of debate because He knows something the woman doesn't: the obsolescence of the temple is quickly approaching. "An hour is coming," He tells her, "when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father."
That "hour" Jesus refers to is His crucifixion and resurrection—when the veil in the temple will be torn and the entire sacrificial system will become obsolete because it will be fulfilled in Him. No longer will worship be tied to a place; it will be tied to a Person.
So what does true worship look like? Jesus tells us it must be "in spirit and in truth."
First, worship must be in spirit. This isn't talking about the Holy Spirit here, but about our human spirit—the innermost part of our being. David says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me." Mary declares, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."
Many people worship with their body—they go to certain places, do certain things, sit in a pew, read a book, light a candle. But true Christian worship engages the spirit. It's wholehearted. It's passionate. Jesus warns that it's possible to "honor God with our lips" while our "hearts are far from Him." True worship is from the depths of your soul.
Dads, one of your greatest duties is not just to teach the truth but to model for your children what it looks like to be captivated by the goodness of God. Your kids are watching you worship—they're watching how you sing, how you engage with Scripture, how you pray. They're forming their view of God based on how you worship.
But worship isn't just about spirit; it must also be in truth. The fountain of true worship is not feeling; it's truth. I've heard people say, "I go to this church for the teaching, but I go to that church for the worship." But here's the reality: worship will never be amazing if the proclamation of God's Word isn't being heralded and extrapolated throughout the week. Your worship will never grow high if it doesn't grow deep in the soil of God's Word.
Superficial teaching, superficial preaching, superficial Community Groups always produce superficial worship. Always.
Failure in worship doesn't trace back to a misplaced chord or a broken XLR cable or a pitchy singer. It traces back to a failure to root our minds and hearts in truth. That's why Sunday gatherings aren't primarily about the music—they're about being people filled with the Word of God.
When you have spirit without truth, you get hysteria. When you have truth without spirit, you get stoicism. We want neither. We want worship that's anchored to truth but expressed with passion. We want heads that are full and hearts that are engaged. We don't want dead religion—perfunctory motions we pass through. We want worship that captivates our entire being.
1. How have you tended to separate "spirit" and "truth" in your worship? Do you lean more toward emotional expression without biblical foundation, or toward knowledge without heartfelt engagement?
2. In what ways might your worship of God extend beyond Sunday morning singing into every aspect of your life?
3. If you're a parent, how are you modeling passionate worship for your children? What message does your engagement with God send to them?
Stay dialed in,
Jonny Ardavanis