The Heart of Worship Part III
The Heart of Worship
Part III
As Paster Barboza opens with part 3 of our series The Heart of Worship this past Sunday, July 13th, 2025, he challenges us to assess ourselves based on the 6 Pillars of Worship. He presents this idea as a way of testing ourselves that we understand the concept of what it means to be a worshipper.
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
This verse is repeated in Deuteronomy 6:5.
The word all means completely or wholly. God is looking to obtain all our heart. Pastor B asks us one important question. What percentage of your heart are you giving to God? The instrument that gives life is the heart. He also asks for our soul. The soul is the seed of our emotions. Your mind, will, and emotions all stem from your soul. God is looking for all of that. He knows if he has all those things from you, his blessings will pour out onto everyone else in your lives that need that from you as well.
Society is so against Christians approaching the Bible intellectually as a standard of truth. They don’t mind it being considered a spiritual book, but they don’t want this looked at as absolute truth. This is because if its absolute truth, then we can govern our lives by this truth. It determines whether we accept or reject today’s culture. For example, society states that life doesn’t begin until after the child is born, the Bible demonstrates that before a child is even in the mother’s womb God has a plan for each one of us. So, either we are accepting Gods truth, or the worlds truth. If we accept Gods truth that puts us against the world and its lies. God wants our heart, soul, and mind so that we can see him as the absolute truth. Giving these things to our Lord means loving him first, which in turn is obeying his first and greatest commandment. The Greek word for great is mega. This means something great or huge. Following this commandment is of massive importance because if we do this effectively everything else will fall into place.
In the Bible true worship is considered more than just ritual or outward action. True worship is a heartfelt expression of love, devotion, and obedience to God motivated by a genuine understanding of his character followed by a desire to align one’s life with his will. This involves both inward transformation and outward actions that reflect full transformation.
The 6 Pillars of Worship
#1. Heartfelt & Sincere:
True worship originates from the heart that is devoted to God, not from a sense of obligation or ritual. It’s a response to God’s love and grace, motivated by a desire to please Him and express gratitude for his blessings.
Ephesians 3:17-19
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Love will motivate your actions.
Pastor B compares this sentiment to the love a mother has for their child. He tells us the story of the birth of his first born. When the doctors were taking a long time to give Brenda their baby girl, she finally called out and demanded her child be given to her to hold. Suddenly the nurses followed this heart felt command. In the years that followed as Pastor B has watched his daughter grow and his wife care for her, her actions have always reflected the love that has been rooted deep within her heart from day one. It’s easy to come to church on Sunday and be on your best behavior, but the real challenge is demonstrating that love and energy throughout your day to day lives. Does the life you live look like the way Jesus would live?
#2. Rooted in Truth:
True worship aligns with God’s revealed truth, particularly as found in Scripture. It’s not based on personal preferences or cultural norms, but on a proper understanding of God’s nature, character, and will.
God’s nature, character, and will are revealed in his word. (The Bible)
John 14:15
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Seven is the number of completion. These 7 words are a complete thought that should stop you in your tracks. Your actions should speak louder than your words. Show God, you love him. Love governs behavior. God understands we fall short this is why he sent Jesus, but we must not take advantage of his mercy. We must give our best effort and hold ourselves to a higher standard to live up to those 7 words. As a worshipper, are you rooted in truth?
#3. Expressed in Spirit & Truth:
Worship that is both genuine and informed by God’s Word.
John 4:23-24
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers 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.”
Praise is something you do; Worship is something God receives. – Miles Monroe
Cain and Able
It came time for them to make an offering which was their form of worship at that time. The Bible states that Cain gave the fruit of the ground and Abel gave the best lamb of his flock. God respected Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. Why did God favor Ables offering over Cain’s? The ground Cain got the fruit from was already cursed. Prior to this, God had said the ground was cursed for Adam’s sake. That gift was not fit for a God because it was not out of genuine love, but rather from a place of obligation and spite. God accepted Abel’s offering because he gave his finest available as a heartfelt sentiment. This impressed God so much so that he reminds us of this offering in the book of Hebrews. This serves as a reminder that we have got to willfully give God our best. Worship is not of body motions and gestures, its of the heart. Everyone worships differently. It is about the opportunity to interface with God. This doesn’t have to wait until Sunday morning, it can be anywhere anytime.
#4. Manifested in Obedience & Service:
True worship isn’t just about singing songs or attending church services; it’s also about living a life that reflects God’s love and commands. This includes acts of service, kindness, and obedience to God’s will.
Every time you obey God, a little bit of your fleshly pride dies.
Luke 14:27
And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Some examples of obedience – Putting God in place of other things that are easier to do. (self-discipline)
#5. A Sacrifice of Praise & Action:
In the New Testament true worship is described as offering our bodies as a living sacrifice. This means surrendering our lives, including our actions and attitudes, to God’s service.
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Even an attitude is an attribute of worship. We must obey God with a good attitude. As the expression goes “Fake it, till you make it.” Demonstrate love and joy in faith, even when you don’t feel it. Sometimes you’ve got to keep singing until your soul catches up with your song. At some point the love of God will dwell in your heart. What we demonstrate we will become. This is conditioning yourself to feel it.
Beseech means to plead. God is pleading with you by his mercy that you present yourself as a living sacrifice. Service without needing a thank you is part of the sacrifice. It costs to be a living Sacrifice. Serving God because his thanks are enough. He desperately wants you to willingly answer his call for you. God moves when we sacrifice. Even during a rough week, he is pleading for us to push through because if we show up when he calls us, he will show up where we need him. This world tries to conform us, but we must make a conscious decision to fight it.
#6. Christ Centered:
True Worship is ultimately focused on Jesus Christ acknowledging His sacrifice and Lordship. Its through Him that we have access to God and are empowered to worship Him.
Psalm 27:4
One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in his temple.
If you say you love God, you’ve got to demonstrate love.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
If your life is Jesus centered take pride in all that you do to bring God honor. Live with integrity from your job to your marriage to being a good steward of your finances, in all aspects of your life. If you love the Lord, you should be living as somebody Jesus can boast about.
Romans 11:36
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever, Amen.
For from him all things originate, and through him all things live and exist, and to him are all things directed. Your worship must be Christ centered. God cares most about how you live. Self-reflect and ask yourself where you fall in this. Are you coming back to the heart of worship?
Part III
As Paster Barboza opens with part 3 of our series The Heart of Worship this past Sunday, July 13th, 2025, he challenges us to assess ourselves based on the 6 Pillars of Worship. He presents this idea as a way of testing ourselves that we understand the concept of what it means to be a worshipper.
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
This verse is repeated in Deuteronomy 6:5.
The word all means completely or wholly. God is looking to obtain all our heart. Pastor B asks us one important question. What percentage of your heart are you giving to God? The instrument that gives life is the heart. He also asks for our soul. The soul is the seed of our emotions. Your mind, will, and emotions all stem from your soul. God is looking for all of that. He knows if he has all those things from you, his blessings will pour out onto everyone else in your lives that need that from you as well.
Society is so against Christians approaching the Bible intellectually as a standard of truth. They don’t mind it being considered a spiritual book, but they don’t want this looked at as absolute truth. This is because if its absolute truth, then we can govern our lives by this truth. It determines whether we accept or reject today’s culture. For example, society states that life doesn’t begin until after the child is born, the Bible demonstrates that before a child is even in the mother’s womb God has a plan for each one of us. So, either we are accepting Gods truth, or the worlds truth. If we accept Gods truth that puts us against the world and its lies. God wants our heart, soul, and mind so that we can see him as the absolute truth. Giving these things to our Lord means loving him first, which in turn is obeying his first and greatest commandment. The Greek word for great is mega. This means something great or huge. Following this commandment is of massive importance because if we do this effectively everything else will fall into place.
In the Bible true worship is considered more than just ritual or outward action. True worship is a heartfelt expression of love, devotion, and obedience to God motivated by a genuine understanding of his character followed by a desire to align one’s life with his will. This involves both inward transformation and outward actions that reflect full transformation.
The 6 Pillars of Worship
#1. Heartfelt & Sincere:
True worship originates from the heart that is devoted to God, not from a sense of obligation or ritual. It’s a response to God’s love and grace, motivated by a desire to please Him and express gratitude for his blessings.
Ephesians 3:17-19
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Love will motivate your actions.
Pastor B compares this sentiment to the love a mother has for their child. He tells us the story of the birth of his first born. When the doctors were taking a long time to give Brenda their baby girl, she finally called out and demanded her child be given to her to hold. Suddenly the nurses followed this heart felt command. In the years that followed as Pastor B has watched his daughter grow and his wife care for her, her actions have always reflected the love that has been rooted deep within her heart from day one. It’s easy to come to church on Sunday and be on your best behavior, but the real challenge is demonstrating that love and energy throughout your day to day lives. Does the life you live look like the way Jesus would live?
#2. Rooted in Truth:
True worship aligns with God’s revealed truth, particularly as found in Scripture. It’s not based on personal preferences or cultural norms, but on a proper understanding of God’s nature, character, and will.
God’s nature, character, and will are revealed in his word. (The Bible)
John 14:15
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Seven is the number of completion. These 7 words are a complete thought that should stop you in your tracks. Your actions should speak louder than your words. Show God, you love him. Love governs behavior. God understands we fall short this is why he sent Jesus, but we must not take advantage of his mercy. We must give our best effort and hold ourselves to a higher standard to live up to those 7 words. As a worshipper, are you rooted in truth?
#3. Expressed in Spirit & Truth:
Worship that is both genuine and informed by God’s Word.
John 4:23-24
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers 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.”
Praise is something you do; Worship is something God receives. – Miles Monroe
Cain and Able
It came time for them to make an offering which was their form of worship at that time. The Bible states that Cain gave the fruit of the ground and Abel gave the best lamb of his flock. God respected Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. Why did God favor Ables offering over Cain’s? The ground Cain got the fruit from was already cursed. Prior to this, God had said the ground was cursed for Adam’s sake. That gift was not fit for a God because it was not out of genuine love, but rather from a place of obligation and spite. God accepted Abel’s offering because he gave his finest available as a heartfelt sentiment. This impressed God so much so that he reminds us of this offering in the book of Hebrews. This serves as a reminder that we have got to willfully give God our best. Worship is not of body motions and gestures, its of the heart. Everyone worships differently. It is about the opportunity to interface with God. This doesn’t have to wait until Sunday morning, it can be anywhere anytime.
#4. Manifested in Obedience & Service:
True worship isn’t just about singing songs or attending church services; it’s also about living a life that reflects God’s love and commands. This includes acts of service, kindness, and obedience to God’s will.
Every time you obey God, a little bit of your fleshly pride dies.
Luke 14:27
And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Some examples of obedience – Putting God in place of other things that are easier to do. (self-discipline)
- Fasting for spiritual awakening.
- Waking up early to pray.
- Choosing to read the Bible, rather than choosing screen time.
#5. A Sacrifice of Praise & Action:
In the New Testament true worship is described as offering our bodies as a living sacrifice. This means surrendering our lives, including our actions and attitudes, to God’s service.
Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Even an attitude is an attribute of worship. We must obey God with a good attitude. As the expression goes “Fake it, till you make it.” Demonstrate love and joy in faith, even when you don’t feel it. Sometimes you’ve got to keep singing until your soul catches up with your song. At some point the love of God will dwell in your heart. What we demonstrate we will become. This is conditioning yourself to feel it.
Beseech means to plead. God is pleading with you by his mercy that you present yourself as a living sacrifice. Service without needing a thank you is part of the sacrifice. It costs to be a living Sacrifice. Serving God because his thanks are enough. He desperately wants you to willingly answer his call for you. God moves when we sacrifice. Even during a rough week, he is pleading for us to push through because if we show up when he calls us, he will show up where we need him. This world tries to conform us, but we must make a conscious decision to fight it.
#6. Christ Centered:
True Worship is ultimately focused on Jesus Christ acknowledging His sacrifice and Lordship. Its through Him that we have access to God and are empowered to worship Him.
Psalm 27:4
One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in his temple.
If you say you love God, you’ve got to demonstrate love.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
If your life is Jesus centered take pride in all that you do to bring God honor. Live with integrity from your job to your marriage to being a good steward of your finances, in all aspects of your life. If you love the Lord, you should be living as somebody Jesus can boast about.
Romans 11:36
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever, Amen.
For from him all things originate, and through him all things live and exist, and to him are all things directed. Your worship must be Christ centered. God cares most about how you live. Self-reflect and ask yourself where you fall in this. Are you coming back to the heart of worship?
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