True Worship: Heart Over Tradition and Preferences
Devotional
Day 1: True Worship Comes from the Heart, Not Tradition
God desires worship that flows from a sincere and devoted heart, not from outward rituals or traditions. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that following certain customs, dressing a certain way, or singing the right songs is what pleases God. But Jesus makes it clear that these external things are meaningless if our hearts are not truly focused on Him. He calls us to examine our motives and to ensure that our worship is not just lip service, but a genuine response to His love and grace. Let your heart be the center of your worship, seeking to honor God above all else. [32:12]
Matthew 15:1-9 (ESV) Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
Reflection: What is one tradition or preference in your life that you have elevated above truly seeking God? How can you intentionally shift your focus back to worshiping Him from the heart today?
Day 2: Obedience Flows from Faith and Repentance
The call of Jesus is not to earn our way to God through works, but to believe in Him, repent, and let obedience flow naturally from a changed heart. Many people approach God asking, “What must I do?” but the answer is simple: faith and repentance. When you truly believe in the gospel and turn from your old ways, obedience becomes the fruit of your relationship with Christ, not a means to earn His favor. Let your service and good works be a joyful response to what Jesus has done for you, not a checklist to impress God or others. [35:04]
John 6:29 (ESV) Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
Reflection: In what area of your life are you tempted to “do” for God instead of simply believing and repenting? How can you let faith and repentance lead your actions today?
Day 3: Honor God’s Word Above Human Traditions
When we elevate our own traditions or preferences above the clear commands of God, we risk making His Word void in our lives. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for using tradition as an excuse to neglect God’s command to honor their parents, showing that obedience to God’s Word must always come first. It is easy to justify our actions or attitudes by appealing to “the way we’ve always done things,” but God calls us to submit every tradition and preference to the authority of Scripture. Let God’s Word shape your life, even when it challenges your comfort or customs. [53:51]
Ephesians 6:1-4 (ESV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Reflection: Is there a tradition, habit, or preference you’ve held onto that is keeping you from obeying God’s Word? What step can you take today to honor God’s commands above your own ways?
Day 4: What Defiles Us Comes from Within
Jesus teaches that it is not what we eat or how we perform outward rituals that defiles us, but what comes out of our hearts. Evil thoughts, words, and actions flow from within, revealing the true state of our hearts. No amount of external “cleaning up” can substitute for a heart transformed by God. Ask God to search your heart and reveal anything that is not pleasing to Him, and let Him cleanse you from the inside out. True holiness begins with a heart surrendered to Jesus. [01:01:08]
Matthew 15:10-20 (ESV) And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
Reflection: What is one attitude or pattern of speech that reveals something in your heart that needs God’s cleansing? Will you ask Him to transform you from the inside out today?
Day 5: Humble Faith Receives God’s Grace
The Canaanite woman’s story shows that God responds to humble, persistent faith—not to status, tradition, or outward appearance. She did not come to Jesus boasting of her worthiness, but simply asked for a crumb of His mercy, believing that even the smallest touch from Him was enough. Jesus commended her great faith and granted her request. Come to Jesus today not with pride or entitlement, but with humility and trust that He is more than enough for your deepest needs. Even a crumb from Jesus is more than you deserve, and it is enough. [01:15:59]
Matthew 15:22-28 (ESV) And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Reflection: Where do you need to lay down pride or self-sufficiency and come to Jesus with humble, persistent faith? What is one specific need you can bring to Him today, trusting that even a crumb of His grace is enough?
Sermon Summary
This morning, the focus is on the heart of worship and the danger of elevating traditions and preferences above the truth of the Gospel. Looking at Matthew 15, the challenge is to examine not just outward actions or appearances, but the true condition of the heart before God. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were quick to point out the disciples’ failure to follow ceremonial traditions, but Jesus exposed their deeper issue: they were neglecting God’s commands in favor of man-made customs. The call is to avoid the trap of making church about personal preferences—whether it’s music style, dress code, or routines—and instead to center everything on Jesus Himself.
True worship is not about external rituals or appearances, but about a heart that is surrendered to God. Jesus makes it clear that what defiles a person is not what goes into the mouth, but what comes out—because the mouth reveals the heart. Outward conformity can never substitute for inward transformation. The challenge is to pursue holiness, not just goodness or tradition, and to let the Word of God continually correct and shape us.
The story of the Canaanite woman is a powerful reminder that faith is not about deserving or earning, but about humbly coming to Jesus, even if all we feel worthy of is a crumb from His table. Her faith stands in stark contrast to the religious leaders and even the disciples, who often missed the point. The Gospel is either a cornerstone or a stumbling block—it will either be the foundation of our lives or it will offend us and expose our self-reliance.
The invitation is to come to Jesus with humility, to let go of self-justification, and to receive whatever He gives as more than enough. Whether we feel like “street dogs” or outsiders, Jesus’ grace is sufficient. The encouragement is to be part of a community, to let God work on our hearts, and to seek Him above all traditions or preferences. In the end, it’s not about what we do for God, but about what He has done for us and our response of faith and repentance.
Key Takeaways
1. The Heart Over Tradition: God is not impressed by our outward conformity to traditions or preferences. He looks at the heart, and true worship flows from a heart that is surrendered to Him, not from external rituals or appearances. When we elevate tradition above the Gospel, we risk making the Word of God void in our lives. [33:56]
2. Holiness, Not Just Goodness: There is a subtle but crucial difference between being “good” and being “holy.” Many have replaced the pursuit of holiness with a focus on being well-behaved or maintaining appearances. Holiness is about being set apart for God, allowing His Word to continually transform us from the inside out, rather than just following rules or customs. [49:06]
3. The Danger of Hypocrisy: Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of honoring God with lips while the heart is far from Him. It is easy to give lip service to God, to sing songs or attend services, but if our hearts are disengaged, our worship is in vain. The Holy Spirit convicts us not to settle for surface-level faith, but to seek genuine relationship and transformation. [56:08]
4. Humble Faith Receives Grace: The Canaanite woman’s story shows that God responds to humble, persistent faith, not to self-righteousness or entitlement. She did not come demanding, but simply asked for a crumb, and Jesus commended her faith. True faith acknowledges our unworthiness and trusts that even the smallest gift from Jesus is more than enough. [75:39]
5. The Gospel Offends Self-Reliance: The Gospel will either be the cornerstone of our lives or a stumbling block that offends our pride and self-sufficiency. When we cling to our own traditions, preferences, or sense of deserving, we miss the heart of the Gospel. Jesus refuses to leave us as we are—He calls us to repentance, faith, and a life centered on Him alone. [66:27]
Matthew 15:1-20, 21-28 (ESV) — > 1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” > 10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” ... > 21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” ... 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Observation Questions
What specific tradition did the Pharisees accuse Jesus’ disciples of breaking, and how did Jesus respond to their accusation? ([31:23])
According to Jesus, what is it that truly defiles a person? How does He explain this to the crowd and to Peter? ([59:53])
In the story of the Canaanite woman, what was her request to Jesus, and how did she respond when Jesus seemed to turn her away? ([01:09:10])
What did Jesus say about the difference between outward actions and the condition of the heart? ([46:06])
Interpretation Questions
Why do you think Jesus was so direct in calling out the Pharisees’ traditions? What was the deeper issue He was exposing in their hearts? ([33:56])
How does Jesus’ teaching about what comes out of the mouth challenge the way people typically think about religious “cleanliness” or being right with God? ([01:00:17])
The Canaanite woman was not part of the “insider” group, yet Jesus commended her faith. What does her story reveal about the kind of faith that pleases God? ([01:15:39])
Jesus says the Gospel will either be a cornerstone or a stumbling block. What does this mean, and why do some people find the Gospel offensive? ([01:07:25])
Application Questions
The sermon talked about how easy it is to make church about our own preferences—music, dress, routines—instead of Jesus. What is one tradition or preference you personally hold that could distract you from true worship? How can you keep Jesus at the center? ([42:52])
Outward conformity can never substitute for inward transformation. Are there areas in your life where you are “playing the part” on the outside but your heart is not engaged? What would it look like to invite God to work on your heart in those areas? ([46:06])
The Canaanite woman came to Jesus with humility, not entitlement. When was the last time you approached God with that kind of humble faith? What keeps you from coming to Him honestly, even if you feel unworthy? ([01:15:39])
Jesus calls out hypocrisy—honoring God with lips while the heart is far away. What are some practical ways you can check your own heart before God this week? ([56:08])
The Gospel offends self-reliance and pride. Are there ways you try to “earn” God’s favor or rely on your own goodness instead of trusting in what Jesus has done? How can you let go of self-justification and rest in grace? ([01:06:27])
The sermon encouraged being part of a community and letting God work on our hearts together. What is one step you can take to be more connected and open with others in your faith community? ([41:03])
Holiness is about being set apart for God, not just being “good.” What is one area where you sense God calling you to pursue holiness, even if it means letting go of a comfortable habit or tradition? ([49:06])
Sermon Clips
``If you are trying to make the focus of church about you, you'll never be satisfied. But if you make the focus of church about Jesus. Jesus, believe on him. Believe on him. See, that wasn't enough. 15,000 people heard that and said, nah, we go believe on ourselves. We know better. And in the 21st century, I'm not naive to think that a church full of folks aren't playing the same game sometimes, or a county full of folks, or a state full of folks. Listen, we have drifted way farther from biblical Christian values than we want to really admit. You know why? Because we aren't coming for him. We come for ourselves.
[00:37:52]
(62 seconds)
#FocusOnJesusNotSelf
You can dress up all you want to. It ain't dressing up your heart. You better worry more about what's in here than what you're wearing on the outside. Now, you got to have clothes on, but you can try to dress it. Listen, you could wash your hands 80 times. It ain't cleaning your heart. It looks good. Oh, man, they washed 80 times. I can put water up. Oh, look, I'm ready. I'm ready for worship here and where you do work, right here on your seat, on your knees, praying to the Lord, going, hey, clean my heart, clean my heart. Get into my heart. See what my heart is.
[00:45:51]
(40 seconds)
#WorshipInSpiritAndTruth
Our aim should be this word called holiness. And again, here's what happened. We replaced holiness, holiness through our generations. And we put in dress nice. We put in don't make no sound in church show up. That doesn't address holiness. That just addresses the outside. And maybe we've drifted so far in our generation, brother Joey. We've drifted so far because we didn't put an emphasis on holiness. We just said, now just be good, good. Don't be godly, Be good. And I'm telling you right now, let's get on the same page. I desire that you be holy, not happy holy.
[00:48:39]
(53 seconds)
#HeartCenteredWorship
He says, what flows out of this is revealed by your mouth. Well, let's look at it. Are you sure about that? I sure am. 15 through 20. But Peter said to him, Explain this parable to us. And he said, are you also still without understanding? Come on, Peter, I said you also without understanding. Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes through the stomach is expelled? Okay, science stuff, right, right, but verse 18. But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from your heart. And this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.
[01:00:41]
(57 seconds)
#ScriptureCorrectsAndEquips
None of that stuff saves you. None of. None of that stuff cleans up. This, because this right here is what defiles you. The Bible tells us that at the point of salvation, God takes, takes our heart of stone out and gives us a beating new heart of flesh. Paul says we become new creations, that we're not like the old anymore, but our new heart drives us.
[01:01:47]
(31 seconds)
#CornerstoneOrStumblingBlock
Listen, I hope to God the gospel offenders you. I hope it shakes you up. I hope it doesn't let you sit idle and comfortable and quiet. Listen, I get shook up and broke down by it because I realize that the end game and the point of it, it's Not Philip. The point of it is the gospel getting to the ends of the earth down the road into Olive, Brantley county in Charlton county and Ware county in Pierce County. Hear me. It ain't about you. It ain't about you and your customs and your traditions and your dress up stuff. It is about taking the gospel to every everybody. And so forgive me if it offends you. It should.
[01:03:45]
(41 seconds)
#FaithBeyondTradition
Jesus is either a cornerstone or he's a stumbling block. The Gospel is either the cornerstone, foundational piece of everything, or it is a stumbling block. First Peter 2, 7, 8 says, so the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the corner cornerstone and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. So hear me, you're going to see it more and more. The Gospel does not transform like a transformer and change into what you want it. The gospel stays just like it is over time. It ain't changed. You hear me? Music, carpet, buildings have changed. The Gospels remain the same same. And it affirms truth and love in Jesus Christ. And that is a very great, beautiful foundation for you when the storms come and then wash it away. Or it is a what stumbling block. It'll trip you up every time. Every time. It's a rock of offense.
[01:07:32]
(78 seconds)
#DropAllForHisTruth
Hear me my prayer and plea is that you would come this morning. Not chest bowed up big. And, man, I deserve this. I do this. I serve this. I don't care how many times I've heard, man, I built this, I've done this and this. No, no, no, no, no. Here. What is here? Are you coming, man? Give me all the bread. My hands are clean. Or you come and just give me a crumb. Jesus, give me a crumb. That's all I deserve. But if you give me that, that's enough. If a crumb from Jesus, it's enough.
[01:17:14]
(35 seconds)
#ConnectAndGrowInFaith
The one thing that exactly frees our heart to worship you in truth, is it you. Out us, we confess our sins to. To you and we repent. God, may that be so with us this morning in this church. I know there are so many across the board, so many things that we could be focused on and entertained with and be about, but God, bigger I pray is your love your truth, your will, God, I pray that we see it, we live it, we give our hearts to you over and over. That we come, God, not because of a tradition, but we come just for you, Jesus. And we come for a crumb. If that's all we're going to get. I pray we are excited over the moon for a crumb from you because you're giving us more than we all deserve. I'll be honest, we probably all in here street dogs, man. We'll bite you, Jesus. We don't deserve it. But you sent your son to die on a cross. For those who believe shall not perish but have eternal life. May we trust that gift this morning.
[01:18:02]
(82 seconds)
