As we look toward a new year, the call of Scripture is clear: growth is not optional for the believer—it is commanded. Second Peter 3:18 exhorts us, *“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”* Growth is God’s expectation for His people, and it must shape how we live, serve, and worship.

This message continues a framework for spiritual growth built around the word **GROW**:

• Give God first place in all things
• Rely on God through simple planning and persistent prayer
• Organize for edification and evangelism
• Worship God with a passion that fuels our mission

The focus of this sermon is on **worship**—not as a style or preference, but as a God-centered response that propels us outward in obedience to Christ’s mission.

Passion That Fuels the Mission

Passion looks different depending on its object. A person may be passionate about fishing, sports, or a favorite hobby, but passion in worship is altogether different. Worship is not about excitement for an event or emotional stimulation. It is about responding rightly to who God is.

Jesus’ mission—to make disciples of all nations—requires worship that fuels obedience. When we truly behold God, when we understand His holiness, sovereignty, and grace, our worship moves us beyond ourselves and into faithful service.

What Is Worship?

Worship can be defined many ways, but at its core, it is:

• Ascribing to God what He is worth and engaging with Him the way He desires and has made possible.

What is striking about this definition is what is missing—*us*. Worship is not about our preferences, emotions, or experiences. It is about God. That means worship must be shaped by God’s Word, not by personal taste or cultural trends.

Worship in Spirit and Truth

In John 4, Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman at the well and confronts a flawed understanding of worship. She believed worship was tied to a location or tradition, but Jesus made it clear that true worshipers must worship the Father "in spirit and in truth."

Sincerity alone is not enough. One can be sincere and still be wrong. Worship must be grounded in truth—God’s revealed Word—and energized by the Spirit. When worship departs from truth, it no longer honors God, no matter how heartfelt it feels.

Sincere but Not Saved

Acts 10 provides another sobering example. Cornelius was devout, generous, prayerful, and God-fearing—yet he was not saved. His sincerity did not equal salvation. God sent Peter to proclaim the gospel so Cornelius could truly know Christ.

This reminds us that worship, devotion, and morality must always point toward the saving work of Jesus. True worship flows from a redeemed heart.

Worship as Sacrifice

Romans 12:1 calls believers to present their bodies as **living sacrifices**, holy and acceptable to God. This is spiritual worship. A sacrifice does not negotiate or resist—it submits fully.

Worship involves service, obedience, and surrender. It is not driven by emotion but by reverence. We come before God acknowledging His holiness, sovereignty, and worth, offering ourselves fully to Him.

The Danger of Trivializing God

Modern worship often risks making God familiar rather than holy. Reverence and awe are replaced with comfort and entertainment. When worship becomes centered on what we enjoy rather than who God is, we trivialize Him.

God is not made in our image. We were made in His. Any attempt to reshape God to fit cultural preferences diminishes His glory and distorts worship.

Worship Is a Response

Throughout Scripture, worship erupts when people encounter God as He truly is:

• David repented when confronted with God’s holiness (Psalm 51).
• Isaiah cried, “Woe is me,” when he saw the Lord high and lifted up (Isaiah 6).
• Job worshiped God’s sovereignty even after losing everything (Job 1).

True worship responds to God’s self-revelation—not circumstances, comfort, or convenience.

A Call to Radical Change

Stepping outside God’s Word invites us to create a version of God shaped by our lifestyle or emotions. That may feel comfortable, but it is spiritually dangerous. Sometimes worship requires **radical change**, just as radical surgery saves a life.

Nothing is more important than giving God first place—especially in our worship. As we grow in 2026, may we resist human-centered worship and embrace worship that honors God, transforms hearts, and fuels the mission He has given us.

Listen to the full Sermon Here