True Worship and Transformation Through the Cross

Devotional

Day 1: Worship in Spirit and Truth

True worship transcends external elements and focuses on a heartfelt response to Jesus.

Worship is not about the external elements like instruments or spaces but about worshiping in spirit and truth. It involves recognizing Jesus as Savior and Lord and bringing all aspects of our lives—joys, doubts, fears, and brokenness—before God as an offering. True worship is a heartfelt response to the truth of who Jesus is. This means that our worship should be genuine and come from a place of deep reverence and love for God. It is about connecting with God on a spiritual level and allowing His truth to transform us from the inside out. [25:16]

John 4:23-24 (ESV): "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Reflection: What are some aspects of your life that you have been holding back from God? How can you bring these before Him as an offering in your worship today?

Day 2: The Significance of Jesus' Unbroken Bones

Jesus' unbroken bones fulfill prophecy and signify His role as the perfect Passover Lamb.

The fact that Jesus' bones were not broken fulfills Old Testament prophecy and signifies His role as the perfect Passover Lamb. Just as the Passover lamb's bones were not to be broken, Jesus' unbroken bones highlight His perfection and the completeness of His sacrifice for our sins. This detail underscores the meticulous fulfillment of Scripture in Jesus' life and death, pointing to His divine mission and the depth of God's plan for salvation. [51:42]

Exodus 12:46 (ESV): "It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones."

Reflection: How does understanding the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus' life deepen your appreciation for His sacrifice? What specific prophecies about Jesus can you explore further to strengthen your faith?

Day 3: The Witness of the Spirit, Water, and Blood

The Spirit, water, and blood testify to Jesus' identity and His work of salvation.

The Spirit, water, and blood serve as witnesses to Jesus' identity and His work of salvation. The Spirit was present at His baptism, the water symbolizes the cleansing and new life through baptism, and the blood represents His sacrificial death. Together, they testify to the truth of Jesus' mission and the new life He offers. These elements are not just historical facts but are deeply symbolic of the transformative power of Jesus' work in our lives. [56:35]

1 John 5:7-8 (ESV): "For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree."

Reflection: How do the Spirit, water, and blood bear witness to Jesus' work in your life? Can you identify a moment when you felt the presence of these witnesses affirming your faith?

Day 4: Personal Testimony as a Witness

Our personal testimonies are powerful tools for sharing the gospel.

Our personal testimonies are powerful tools for sharing the gospel. When we share how Jesus has transformed our lives, we join the Spirit, water, and blood in bearing witness to His truth. Our testimonies should focus on the transformative power of Jesus, not on proving our righteousness or correctness. Sharing our personal experiences of God's grace and mercy can be a compelling way to introduce others to the love of Christ. [01:06:48]

Psalm 66:16 (ESV): "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul."

Reflection: Think of a specific instance where Jesus has transformed your life. How can you share this experience with someone who needs to hear about His love and power today?

Day 5: Transformation Through the Cross

The power of the cross can turn hesitant believers into bold witnesses.

The examples of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus show how encountering the power of the cross can transform even the most hesitant believers into bold witnesses. Their journey from secret followers to courageous disciples encourages us to move from fear and secrecy to boldness in our faith. The power of the cross is transformative, and it calls us to step out in faith and share the message of Jesus with confidence and courage. [01:14:12]

John 19:38-39 (ESV): "After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight."

Reflection: In what areas of your faith are you still hesitant or fearful? How can you allow the power of the cross to transform you into a bold witness for Christ today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound nature of true worship and the significance of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Worship is not confined to instruments, spaces, or specific rituals; it is about worshiping in spirit and in truth, recognizing Jesus as our Savior and Lord. True worship involves bringing all aspects of our lives—joys, doubts, fears, and brokenness—before God as an offering. We also reflected on the final moments of Jesus on the cross, emphasizing the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the deeper meanings behind the events, such as the unbroken bones of Jesus and the significance of the blood and water that flowed from His side.

We delved into the importance of the witnesses to Jesus' death and resurrection: the Spirit, the water, and the blood. These elements testify to the truth of Jesus' sacrifice and the new life it brings. The Spirit was present at Jesus' baptism, the water symbolizes the cleansing and new life through baptism, and the blood represents the sacrifice that brings salvation. We also discussed the role of personal testimony in sharing the gospel, emphasizing that our witness should be about sharing the transformative power of Jesus in our lives, not about proving our righteousness or correctness.

Finally, we looked at the examples of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who moved from being secret followers to bold witnesses after encountering the power of the cross. Their transformation encourages us to move from fear and secrecy to boldness in our faith. The power of the cross can turn even the most hesitant believer into a courageous witness for Christ.

###

Key Takeaways

1. True Worship in Spirit and Truth: Worship is not about the external elements like instruments or spaces but about worshiping in spirit and truth. It involves recognizing Jesus as Savior and Lord and bringing all aspects of our lives—joys, doubts, fears, and brokenness—before God as an offering. True worship is a heartfelt response to the truth of who Jesus is. [25:16]
2. The Significance of Jesus' Unbroken Bones: The fact that Jesus' bones were not broken fulfills Old Testament prophecy and signifies His role as the perfect Passover Lamb. Just as the Passover lamb's bones were not to be broken, Jesus' unbroken bones highlight His perfection and the completeness of His sacrifice for our sins. [51:42]
3. The Witness of the Spirit, Water, and Blood: The Spirit, water, and blood serve as witnesses to Jesus' identity and His work of salvation. The Spirit was present at His baptism, the water symbolizes the cleansing and new life through baptism, and the blood represents His sacrificial death. Together, they testify to the truth of Jesus' mission and the new life He offers. [56:35]
4. Personal Testimony as a Witness: Our personal testimonies are powerful tools for sharing the gospel. When we share how Jesus has transformed our lives, we join the Spirit, water, and blood in bearing witness to His truth. Our testimonies should focus on the transformative power of Jesus, not on proving our righteousness or correctness. [66:48]
5. Transformation Through the Cross: The examples of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus show how encountering the power of the cross can transform even the most hesitant believers into bold witnesses. Their journey from secret followers to courageous disciples encourages us to move from fear and secrecy to boldness in our faith. [01:14:12]
### [74:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:16] - True Worship in Spirit and Truth
[45:27] - Prayer for Students and Upcoming Events
[49:06] - The Significance of Jesus' Unbroken Bones
[51:42] - The Passover Lamb and Jesus
[56:35] - The Witness of the Spirit, Water, and Blood
[66:48] - Personal Testimony as a Witness
[74:12] - Transformation Through the Cross
[87:02] - Closing Prayer and Baptism Celebration

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does John 19:31-34 tell us about the actions taken by the soldiers regarding Jesus' body? ([50:23])
According to 1 John 5:6-8, what are the three elements that testify to Jesus' identity and mission? ([57:24])
How does Deuteronomy 21:22-23 relate to the events described in John 19:31-34? ([51:42])
What significance does the sermon place on the unbroken bones of Jesus? ([51:42])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that Jesus' bones were not broken, and how does this fulfill Old Testament prophecy? ([51:42])
How do the Spirit, water, and blood serve as witnesses to Jesus' identity and mission according to the sermon? ([57:24])
What does the transformation of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus from secret followers to bold witnesses teach us about the power of the cross? ([01:14:12])
How does the sermon suggest that personal testimonies can be powerful tools for sharing the gospel? ([01:06:48])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own worship practices. How can you ensure that your worship is in spirit and in truth, bringing all aspects of your life before God? ([25:16])
Have you ever felt hesitant or fearful about sharing your faith? What steps can you take to move from secrecy to boldness like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus? ([01:14:12])
In what ways can you incorporate the elements of the Spirit, water, and blood into your personal testimony to make it more impactful? ([57:24])
Think about a time when you experienced the transformative power of Jesus in your life. How can you share this experience with someone who needs to hear it? ([01:06:48])
How can you use your personal testimony to focus on the transformative power of Jesus rather than proving your righteousness or correctness? ([01:06:48])
What specific actions can you take this week to bring your doubts, fears, and brokenness before God as an act of worship? ([25:16])
Identify one person in your life who might be encouraged by hearing about how God has worked in your life. How can you share your testimony with them this week? ([01:07:35])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Jesus said that the true worshipers will worship in spirit and in truth. your spirit moves you to worship God and to thank him and say hallelujah, whether you lift up your hands or you don't, whether you clap or you don't, if you're doing it in the truth, in the truth of knowing the truth of Jesus, who he is, that he is savior and lord, king, he reigns forever, that he's here today, that he loves you, is the spirit and the truth in which we truly worship our God." [25:16] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And maybe like me, you don't bring a voice that can sing well. Maybe this morning you came to church and you brought questions and doubts. Worries, frustrations and fears, or even brokenness, pain, or tears, whatever it is that you have in your life. Would you turn it over to the father this morning as an act of worship? God, thank you because you receive our thank yous when we bring them to you in appreciation for how we've seen you work in our lives and just an appreciation of God." [27:02] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The Passover was when the Jewish people came together. And they were going to sacrifice a lamb, and they were going to eat that lamb in remembrance of what had happened hundreds of years ago when they found themselves living in slavery. And they had no religious freedom, they had no spiritual freedom, they had no monetary freedom, they had no freedom, they were slaves. And they'd called out to God, and God said, I hear the cries of my people. And he sends Moses to set them free." [52:58] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So if you find yourself today and you go, golly, I wish I could share my testimony like that person. Oh man, I couldn't. I couldn't go up front and, like those students, share about what God is doing in my life. There is a cross, and there is a Jesus, and there is a spirit, and there is water, and there is blood, who are witnesses whom you can come beside, and that spirit will empower you from being under the radar, ashamed and private, to boldly speaking the truth in love and declaring that the Jesus that you serve, that Jesus is you follow, is alive and well, and he's ready to change lives today." [01:14:52] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The only difference now is that I get to walk every day with a God who is perfect and a God who is powerful. So that they too will look at the one who was pierced, Jesus, the Son of God. And then we have our final witness for today. The water, the blood, the spirit, the purpose of believing, others, and we'll finish up with the witness of the week. Not like the witness of the week. And then next week, there's another witness of the week. Like the weeks in the month, but the witness of the people who are weak." [01:08:20] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "We thank you for your word that went out. We thank you for the hearts of these students that were receptive. Father, to hear your voice. And we pray, Lord, that their relationship with you would continue to grow as they are faithful disciples. Disciples of yours, that every day they could take a step that is closer to you and your faithfulness. Thank you for the calling upon their lives. We pray, Father, that as church, as family members, as friends, that we would be an encouragement to them, but be an example to them, Father, in our words, in our actions, in our deeds." [45:27] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And the Passover was the holiday where the Jewish people were celebrating the freedom of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. We'll come to that in just a second. And you and I might be reading this and saying, okay, well, it's just kind of how the last moments of Jesus on the cross. But the people like John, who understood the history and the importance of the celebration that was going on at that moment." [51:42] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And John wanted to address this because he wanted to make sure that we understood that God did not remove himself from the human pain and that act of sacrifice and redemption on the cross. And he says, look, the water and the blood. And then he says this, the spirit is the one who testifies, is a witness, because the spirit is truth. So there are three that testify, three witnesses, the spirit, the water, and the blood, and all these three agree." [01:00:45] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "And we could look at Joseph of Arimathea and say, I'm going to be the opposite of that. I'm going to be one of them flamboyant Christians with a t-shirt and the big Bible and the stickers, and I'm going to be blasting Christian music when I'm going through the drive-thru at Whataburger. No, Chick-fil-A, you know, because I'm a real believer. Go to Chick-fil-A. But I'm so, we don't see any record of Jesus ever shaming Joseph." [01:11:51] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "When we share our faith, our witness, it's not to out-argue someone. It's not to put someone in their place. It's not to own them. When you and I are a witness, it's because we have seen the power of God and the power of Jesus in our lives. We have heard the things that God has done in the lives of other people. And when we speak of what we have seen and we have heard, and when we speak of what we have lived, we're being witnesses." [01:06:48] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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