God's Call to True Worship and Holiness

As we gathered together, we reflected on the persistent patterns of God’s people throughout history—idolatry, apathy, and self-centeredness—and how these same struggles echo in our own lives today. Zechariah, our “prophet attorney,” brings a unique and vivid voice among the Minor Prophets, calling us not just to outward reform but to deep, inward transformation. The visions of Zechariah, though at times strange and difficult, are ultimately about God’s plan to restore, cleanse, and empower His people—not by their own efforts, but by His grace and Spirit.

In Zechariah 7 and 8, we see a shift from the prophetic dreams to a practical confrontation with hollow religion. The people, having returned from exile and begun rebuilding the temple, ask whether they should continue their ritual fasts. God’s response is piercing: “Was it for me that you fasted?” He exposes the emptiness of their rituals, revealing that their acts of worship had become self-serving, disconnected from true devotion and obedience. God’s desire is not for mechanical religion, but for hearts transformed by His love—hearts that reflect His justice, mercy, and holiness.

The call is clear: God’s salvation is meant to produce godliness. Outward acts, no matter how pious, are meaningless if they do not flow from a heart renewed by grace. The warning is sobering—hollow worship leads to spiritual exile, but the promise is glorious—true worship, rooted in God’s word and empowered by His Spirit, brings blessing, joy, and a witness to the world. God’s people are to be a light, drawing others by the reality of His presence among them.

We are challenged to examine our own worship: Are we simply going through the motions, or are we seeking God with sincerity? Do our lives reflect the justice and mercy He commands? The encouragement is that God’s rebuke is not condemnation, but a loving correction—a call to return, to anchor our lives in His word, and to let our worship fuel holy living. Even as we struggle with the same sins as generations before us, God’s mercy and grace remain steadfast, inviting us to rise and walk in the way of righteousness.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Outward religious acts are empty without inward transformation. God’s question, “Was it for me that you fasted?” exposes the danger of ritualism that seeks to earn favor or check boxes, rather than flow from a heart captivated by God’s love. True worship is not about performance, but about a relationship that changes us from the inside out. [13:23]
• 2. God’s salvation always leads to godliness. The natural outcome of being adopted into God’s family is to bear His likeness—justice, mercy, and holiness. This is not mere moralism, but the inevitable fruit of grace at work, as we reflect the character of the One who saved us. [18:02]
• 3. The Scriptures alone define and direct our worship. We are prone to add our own traditions or preferences, but God calls us to anchor both our personal and corporate worship in His word. When we stray from this foundation, even well-intentioned acts can become hollow or misguided. [35:16]
• 4. True worship must fuel holy living in every area of life. If our prayers, songs, and devotions do not lead us to greater love, justice, and integrity, they are not fulfilling their purpose. Worship is not confined to Sunday or sacred spaces, but is meant to transform our daily lives and relationships. [41:06]
• 5. God’s rebuke is always paired with gracious encouragement. While He confronts our hollow habits, He also promises blessing and restoration for those who return to Him. His correction is that of a loving Father, lifting us from the dust and sending us forward in the way of righteousness, empowered by His unchanging mercy. [44:19]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:37] - Patterns of Sin and God’s Call to Repentance
• [01:22] - Zechariah’s Unique Prophetic Voice
• [03:14] - Transition to Zechariah 7: The Heart of Worship
• [06:22] - Recap of Zechariah’s Visions and Their Meaning
• [10:17] - From Visions to Practical Obedience
• [11:29] - The Question of Fasting: Ritual or Relationship?
• [13:09] - God’s Piercing Response: Was It for Me?
• [16:13] - The Danger of Outward Religion
• [17:20] - God’s Desire: Justice, Mercy, and Godliness
• [20:23] - The Warning Against Hollow Habits
• [21:10] - Blessing Follows Obedience
• [22:41] - Transforming Fasts into Feasts of Joy
• [24:29] - God’s People as a Light to the Nations
• [26:53] - Three Applications: Examine, Anchor, and Live
• [32:11] - Confession: The Struggle with Hollow Devotion
• [35:16] - Worship by the Word Alone
• [39:50] - Let Worship Fuel Holy Living
• [42:58] - Reject Ritualism, Embrace True Worship
• [44:19] - God’s Encouragement and Unchanging Grace

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Zechariah 7–8 – “Hollow Religion or Heartfelt Worship?”

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### Bible Reading

Zechariah 7 (ESV)
> In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev. Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the Lord, saying to the priests of the house of the Lord of hosts and the prophets, “Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?” Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me: “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves? Were not these the words that the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, with her cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?’”
>
> And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of hosts. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”

Zechariah 8:18–23 (ESV)
> And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.
>
> “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’ Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord.
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> “Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Isaiah 58:3–9 (ESV)
> “‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?
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> “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’”

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### Observation Questions

1. In Zechariah 7, what question do the people from Bethel bring to the priests and prophets, and how does God respond to their question about fasting? ([04:01])
2. According to Zechariah 7:9–10, what specific actions does God call His people to practice instead of hollow rituals? ([17:20])
3. In Zechariah 8:19, what does God promise to do with the people’s fasts, and what does He command them to love? ([22:41])
4. In Isaiah 58:3–9, what are the people doing wrong in their fasting, and what kind of “fast” does God actually desire?

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does God ask, “Was it for me that you fasted?” What does this reveal about the true purpose of worship and religious practices? ([13:23])
2. How does the pattern of outward religious acts without inward change show up in both Zechariah’s time and in our own lives today? ([16:13])
3. What does it mean that God’s salvation is meant to produce godliness, and how is this different from simply following rules or being moral? ([18:02])
4. Why is it important that our worship is anchored in God’s Word rather than our own traditions or preferences? ([35:16])

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### Application Questions

1. The people in Zechariah’s day were going through the motions of fasting, but their hearts were far from God. Are there any spiritual habits or church activities in your life that have become more about routine than about seeking God? What would it look like to return to God with sincerity in those areas? ([27:08])
2. God’s call is for His people to show justice, kindness, and mercy. Think about your week—was there a moment when you could have shown more kindness or mercy to someone? What kept you from doing it, and how could you respond differently next time? ([17:20])
3. The sermon mentioned that true worship should fuel holy living in every area of life, not just on Sundays. Is there a specific area—work, family, friendships—where your worship isn’t making a difference in how you live? What’s one step you could take to let your faith shape that area? ([41:06])
4. The pastor shared about the temptation to “check the box” with Bible reading or prayer, but not let it change the heart. Have you ever found yourself doing this? What practical change could help you engage with God more deeply in your daily habits? ([32:11])
5. God’s rebuke is paired with encouragement and a promise of restoration. When you become aware of hollow habits or sin, do you tend to feel condemned or encouraged to change? How can you remind yourself of God’s grace and move forward in hope? ([44:19])
6. The Scriptures alone are to define and direct our worship. Are there any traditions or preferences—personal or church-wide—that you’ve added to your worship? How can you evaluate whether these are helping or hindering true worship? ([35:16])
7. Zechariah 8:23 pictures people being drawn to God’s people because of His presence among them. Does your life reflect God’s presence in a way that others notice? What is one way you could be more intentional about being a “light” to those around you this week? ([24:29])

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