The Heart of Worship

Main Point:  Though True worship looks different between the Old Testament and New Testament, what has never changed is that God judges our actions and our worship based on the motive of our Heart.

In the Old Testament:

• Joshua 22:5. Be diligent and obey the law.  Love God and walk in His ways.
• True worship was obedience to the law of Moses
  • If you loved God, you showed it by being obedient, to the best of your ability to the law of Moses because they did not have the knowledge or understanding of Jesus yet.
    • 3 categories of the law of Moses
      • Moral law
        • Ten commandments
      • Civil/Social Law
        • Land ownership, court justice, diet, sanitation, marriage
      • Ceremonial Law
        • Sacrifices for atonement of sin, Priestly duties, sanitation and cleanliness
  • By being obedient in these areas, you showed your love for God.

Pastor’s Thoughts:

• If the Old Testament Jews were obeying the law of Moses because they loved God they were doing a good thing.
  • If they were obeying the law because of tradition and culture but not for loving God, they were no different than those that Jesus says “I never knew you”.
• Actions or works done because you love God is the key to true worship.
  • church attendance, tithing and giving, secret place prayer time, serving others
    • Do these because you love God and God will bless it.
    • Do these because of tradition or selfish reasons and God burns it up like stubble.

In the New Testament:
A transition of True Worship begins with Jesus

• A transition from Old Testament true worship to New Testament true worship was prophesied.
• Jeremiah 31:31-34.  God promises to initiate a new, internal covenant with Israel and Judah, distinct from the Mosaic Law.

Jesus clarifies New Testament true worship

• John 4:19-26.  Jesus explains that true worship is now a heart condition not a law to follow.
• Hebrews 10:8-10.  Jesus fulfilled the law by replacing it with true redemption and sanctification through the blood of Jesus.  Jesus is the final sacrifice needed for redemption.

Pastor’s Thoughts:

• True Worship is not about actions but a heart condition:
• True Worship looks like a heart of:
  • Surrender
  • Sacrifice
  • Service

Summary:

• In 2026, we are taking actions of Prayer, True Worship, and giving which takes surrender, sacrifice, and a heart to serve.
• God is looking for a Surrendered heart, Sacrificed heart, and a heart of service
• Make sure your heart is a heart of true worship
  • Surrender more, sacrifice more, and serve others more because you love God.
  • Worship more because you love God.
  • Pray more because you love God
  • Give more because you love God
• Though True worship looks different between the Old Testament and New Testament, what has never changed is that God judges our actions and our worship based on the motive of our Heart.  .