John 4:23-24 is the only core teaching in the gospels where Jesus taught directly on the topic of worship.

“But a time is coming– and now is here– when the true worshipers…”

Note that Jesus here draws a distinction. He understands, assumes, that every human being is, in fact, a worshiper – worshipers are everywhere; however, the time has come and now is here when a subset of these worshipers will emerge, the “true” worshipers, and that is who Jesus is focusing his attention towards…

“…the true worshipers will worship the Father”

Notice that He states WHO these true worshipers will worship before he states HOW they will worship… the object of their worship is what defines these true worshipers before the quality or kind of worship. When you follow the trail of their passions, the Father, the Creator, God is on the throne – He is the object of value, of highest worth, of worship…

“…the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers. 24 God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

In Scripture, there are not a plethora of things that God seeks (i.e. seeks and saves the lost – Luke 19:10; searching the earth for those whose heart is completely His in order to support them – 2 Chronicles 16:9); however, God is seeking “true” worshipers.

Who are they?

They are the people who have rightly placed that which is of ultimate value, God Himself, into the center of their affections (in spirit) and have begun to live a life of worship in authenticity (in truth).

Below is the audio (mp3) of the teaching this excerpt was taken from…

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