“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”.”

– John 4:23-24

What is Worship?

Worship is reverence paid, or adoration expressed. Worship to God is expressing praise, honor, glory, reverence and love to God. God wants his people to worship Him on a regular basis. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)  He tells us the object of our worship as well as the manner of our worship. “In spirit” tells us that it is not to be empty ritual or ceremony. It must be from the heart and it involves the mind, soul and spirit. “In truth” means by God’s direction, according to the truth. Jesus said , “Sanctify them through Thy truth. Thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)  We must let the word of Christ dwell in us richly [abundantly]. (Colossians 3:16, 17)

This truth means that our worship is not to be according to what we want or what we like, but according to God’s instructions for worship. When we add things to our worship that are not authorized in the Bible, but we like them and want them, we are worshiping self and not God. King Saul assumed that he could worship God acceptably, even though he was disobeying God. However, Samuel told him “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22b)

The only way to worship God acceptably is to worship “in truth.” “For we walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) It is easy to forget that worship is giving, not getting. When we forget that difference, we find ourselves adding things to the worship that give us pleasure and satisfaction rather than giving glory and honor to God by obeying His will. For this reason, you have a right to expect the Eastern Meadows Church of Christ to follow the Bible in the following avenues of worship.

Worship by Singing

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16) Worshipping “in truth” means that we simply sing without any additional accompaniment.

Worship in Prayer

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) Praying “in truth” is praying according to God’s word of truth, without any additions or subtractions.

Worship through Communion (Lord’s Supper)

“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” (Acts 20:7) If we eat the Lord’s Supper “in truth”, we partake of it each Sunday, because that is all “the truth” says about it.

Worship in Giving

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2) Regular weekly giving is God’s plan for church work. Giving, as part of Christian worship, must be done “in truth.”

Worship Through Hearing God’s Word

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2) “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” (Acts 20:7) If the preaching is “in truth,” it will be preaching the word of God and not the creeds and doctrines of men.