Sermon Notes 15 February 2026
SERMON NOTES 15 FEBRUARY 2026
VISION 2030 SERMON 4 – WHY WE WORSHIP:
A People Sustained by the Presence of God
VISION 2030 — SERMON 4
WHY WE WORSHIP: A People Sustained by the Presence of God
Pastor Ryan Perry
Good Hope Baptist Church
15 February 2026
TEXT: John 4; Matthew 12:6; Romans 12:1; Acts 2
SERMON THESIS
Worship is not a service we attend or a style we prefer. Worship is the ongoing response of a people who live in the presence of God. God forms disciples, sends them into the world, and sustains them through worship that orders all of life around His presence. Vision 2030 depends on worship that is not performative, but formative shaping obedience, unity, and endurance as God’s people live faithfully under His reign.
Imagine someone who buys a brand-new car. They keep it clean and polished, but it just sits in the driveway and is never driven. A car is made to move, but it’s possible to polish the outside and never use it for its purpose.
That picture will help us understand worship. Because, in Scripture, worship is not something you polish on the outside. Worship is meant to move your life. It’s meant to take you somewhere. It’s meant to shape you, sustain you, and send you.
And that leads us into Vision 2030 today. We’ve talked about why we exist…why we are formed…why we are sent… Now the question before us is this: What sustains us? What keeps us moving? What keeps us faithful when the road is long?
The Bible gives one answer: The presence of God. That is worship.
John 4:21–24 - From the beginning of Scripture, worship is not about ritual; it is about relationship.
Genesis 3:8 - Humanity’s original life was lived in God’s presence. When sin breaks that fellowship, God does not abandon His purpose.
He moves toward His people.
Exodus 25:8 - In the wilderness, God gives Israel a clear command: The Tabernacle is not primarily about sacrifice. It is about nearness.
1 Kings 8:27 - Later, Solomon recognizes the same truth. God is never confined to a building. Yet He graciously chooses to make His presence known among His people.
Worship has always centered on where and how God dwells with His people.
John 4:21 - Jesus addresses a long-standing worship dispute. Which place is right? Which tradition is correct? Jesus does not choose a location. He announces a shift. Worship is no longer anchored to geography. It is anchored to truth and relationship.
To worship in spirit and truth means Jesus is not asking for emotional worship or intellectual worship. He is asking for worship that is alive.
Worship in the Spirit means the Holy Spirit is the One forming your response, not hype, not mood, not ritual.
Worship in Truth means our worship is aligned with who God really is, not our preferences, not our ideas, but God as He has revealed Himself in Christ and in the Word.
Jesus is saying we cannot worship God without God.
Hos 6:6; Matt 9:13 – God desired mercy, not sacrifice. The word for mercy is ḥesed, a loaded Hebrew word that does NOT mean generic kindness or even generic love.
In Hosea’s day, Israel was still offering sacrifices, still attending the temple, still performing rituals, but they were breaking the covenant, living unjustly, and betraying God in their hearts. Their worship was correct in form and corrupt in heart.
Jesus is saying to the Pharisees, “You care about religious performance, but your heart is nothing like God’s heart.”
Jesus wants steadfast love, loyal-hearted faithfulness, a relational commitment that mirrors His own. He does not want an empty religion that performs without love.
Hear the heart of God! When He says, ‘I want mercy, not sacrifice,’ He isn’t saying He wants warm feelings instead of worship. He is saying He wants covenant love, the kind of love that actually obeys, the kind of love that reflects His own heart.
Israel kept bringing offerings, but they weren’t bringing themselves.
The Pharisees kept the rules, but they didn’t keep God’s heart.
God is saying, “Don’t give Me performance. Give Me yourself. Don’t bring Me rituals. Bring Me your heart. Don’t hide behind religion. Walk in covenant with Me.”
Mercy is covenant faithfulness. Mercy is steadfast love. Mercy is a heart aligned with God’s heart. This is what Jesus means by worship in Spirit.
Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:7–9 - Jesus criticizes hypocrites as NOT worshipping in truth.
Worship in truth means we filter every action through Scripture; we posture our hearts with humility; we commit to unity; we practice a blended rhythm; and, we make every decision through the mission lens.
This keeps us from rigid tradition and shallow entertainment. It keeps us biblical, balanced, and unified. It keeps us worshiping Jesus, not our personal preferences.
Worship is:
That’s how we avoid extremes. stay united, grow, and worship in Spirit and Truth.
John 1:14 - Worship is also not about a building, but about a relationship with the Creator of the Universe and His image bearers.
Matthew 12:6 - Worship is no longer about traveling to sacred space. It is about living in relationship with the Holy One.
Acts 2:1–4; 1 Corinthians 3:16 - After Jesus ascends, God does not withdraw. He indwells. God’s presence no longer rests in one place. It moves with His people. Worship cannot be confined to a service or a song.
Romans 12:1 - Scripture defines worship as lived obedience.
Acts 2:42 - Worship includes prayer, praise, obedience, generosity, unity, and service. Worship is shared life shaped by God’s presence.
Acts 2:43–47 - When worship is rightly ordered, it reshapes a community. Worship does not end when the gathering ends. It spills into daily life.
This is why Vision 2030 defines worship as all of life, not performance.
Discipleship forms us. Mission sends us. And Worship sustains us.
Without worship: obedience becomes duty, mission becomes pressure, unity becomes fragile.
With worship rooted in God’s presence, obedience flows from trust, generosity flows from gratitude, and endurance becomes possible.
Vision 2030 depends on a worshipping people whose lives make God’s presence visible in our community.
Worship is not something we attend. It is something we live. Worship is what we do with every breath, with every decision, and with every action.
So ask yourself before the Lord: Is my life ordered around God’s presence, or only my schedule? That is where worship begins.
Worship is the faithful response of a people who live every part of life in the presence of God.
Next week we will turn to Discipleship and Charity how a worshiping, sent people grow in maturity and give God’s love away.
WHY WE WORSHIP: A People Sustained by the Presence of God
Pastor Ryan Perry
Good Hope Baptist Church
15 February 2026
TEXT: John 4; Matthew 12:6; Romans 12:1; Acts 2
SERMON THESIS
Worship is not a service we attend or a style we prefer. Worship is the ongoing response of a people who live in the presence of God. God forms disciples, sends them into the world, and sustains them through worship that orders all of life around His presence. Vision 2030 depends on worship that is not performative, but formative shaping obedience, unity, and endurance as God’s people live faithfully under His reign.
Imagine someone who buys a brand-new car. They keep it clean and polished, but it just sits in the driveway and is never driven. A car is made to move, but it’s possible to polish the outside and never use it for its purpose.
That picture will help us understand worship. Because, in Scripture, worship is not something you polish on the outside. Worship is meant to move your life. It’s meant to take you somewhere. It’s meant to shape you, sustain you, and send you.
And that leads us into Vision 2030 today. We’ve talked about why we exist…why we are formed…why we are sent… Now the question before us is this: What sustains us? What keeps us moving? What keeps us faithful when the road is long?
The Bible gives one answer: The presence of God. That is worship.
John 4:21–24 - From the beginning of Scripture, worship is not about ritual; it is about relationship.
Genesis 3:8 - Humanity’s original life was lived in God’s presence. When sin breaks that fellowship, God does not abandon His purpose.
He moves toward His people.
Exodus 25:8 - In the wilderness, God gives Israel a clear command: The Tabernacle is not primarily about sacrifice. It is about nearness.
1 Kings 8:27 - Later, Solomon recognizes the same truth. God is never confined to a building. Yet He graciously chooses to make His presence known among His people.
Worship has always centered on where and how God dwells with His people.
John 4:21 - Jesus addresses a long-standing worship dispute. Which place is right? Which tradition is correct? Jesus does not choose a location. He announces a shift. Worship is no longer anchored to geography. It is anchored to truth and relationship.
To worship in spirit and truth means Jesus is not asking for emotional worship or intellectual worship. He is asking for worship that is alive.
Worship in the Spirit means the Holy Spirit is the One forming your response, not hype, not mood, not ritual.
Worship in Truth means our worship is aligned with who God really is, not our preferences, not our ideas, but God as He has revealed Himself in Christ and in the Word.
Jesus is saying we cannot worship God without God.
Hos 6:6; Matt 9:13 – God desired mercy, not sacrifice. The word for mercy is ḥesed, a loaded Hebrew word that does NOT mean generic kindness or even generic love.
In Hosea’s day, Israel was still offering sacrifices, still attending the temple, still performing rituals, but they were breaking the covenant, living unjustly, and betraying God in their hearts. Their worship was correct in form and corrupt in heart.
Jesus is saying to the Pharisees, “You care about religious performance, but your heart is nothing like God’s heart.”
Jesus wants steadfast love, loyal-hearted faithfulness, a relational commitment that mirrors His own. He does not want an empty religion that performs without love.
Hear the heart of God! When He says, ‘I want mercy, not sacrifice,’ He isn’t saying He wants warm feelings instead of worship. He is saying He wants covenant love, the kind of love that actually obeys, the kind of love that reflects His own heart.
Israel kept bringing offerings, but they weren’t bringing themselves.
The Pharisees kept the rules, but they didn’t keep God’s heart.
God is saying, “Don’t give Me performance. Give Me yourself. Don’t bring Me rituals. Bring Me your heart. Don’t hide behind religion. Walk in covenant with Me.”
Mercy is covenant faithfulness. Mercy is steadfast love. Mercy is a heart aligned with God’s heart. This is what Jesus means by worship in Spirit.
Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:7–9 - Jesus criticizes hypocrites as NOT worshipping in truth.
Worship in truth means we filter every action through Scripture; we posture our hearts with humility; we commit to unity; we practice a blended rhythm; and, we make every decision through the mission lens.
This keeps us from rigid tradition and shallow entertainment. It keeps us biblical, balanced, and unified. It keeps us worshiping Jesus, not our personal preferences.
Worship is:
- A whole-life response to God.
- Your heart surrendered to the Spirit.
- Your mind aligned with the truth.
- Your voice singing with the church.
- Your hands serving others.
- Your spiritual gifts being put to use for others.
- Your life lived in obedience to Jesus.
That’s how we avoid extremes. stay united, grow, and worship in Spirit and Truth.
John 1:14 - Worship is also not about a building, but about a relationship with the Creator of the Universe and His image bearers.
Matthew 12:6 - Worship is no longer about traveling to sacred space. It is about living in relationship with the Holy One.
Acts 2:1–4; 1 Corinthians 3:16 - After Jesus ascends, God does not withdraw. He indwells. God’s presence no longer rests in one place. It moves with His people. Worship cannot be confined to a service or a song.
Romans 12:1 - Scripture defines worship as lived obedience.
Acts 2:42 - Worship includes prayer, praise, obedience, generosity, unity, and service. Worship is shared life shaped by God’s presence.
Acts 2:43–47 - When worship is rightly ordered, it reshapes a community. Worship does not end when the gathering ends. It spills into daily life.
This is why Vision 2030 defines worship as all of life, not performance.
Discipleship forms us. Mission sends us. And Worship sustains us.
Without worship: obedience becomes duty, mission becomes pressure, unity becomes fragile.
With worship rooted in God’s presence, obedience flows from trust, generosity flows from gratitude, and endurance becomes possible.
Vision 2030 depends on a worshipping people whose lives make God’s presence visible in our community.
Worship is not something we attend. It is something we live. Worship is what we do with every breath, with every decision, and with every action.
So ask yourself before the Lord: Is my life ordered around God’s presence, or only my schedule? That is where worship begins.
Worship is the faithful response of a people who live every part of life in the presence of God.
Next week we will turn to Discipleship and Charity how a worshiping, sent people grow in maturity and give God’s love away.
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