Introduction: From the Copy to the Reality
Imagine a man staring at a photograph of his wife while she stands right next to him. He keeps kissing the photo but ignores the living person. Strange, isn’t it? Yet this is what happens when people cling to Old Covenant forms of worship after Christ has come. They clutch the shadows and neglect the substance.
Jesus addressed this in John 4:23–24: “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.”
Former and questioning Adventists often wrestle with worship questions. Must worship still revolve around a specific day, rituals, or temple-like structures? Or has worship changed in the New Covenant? The answer is clear: worship has shifted from shadow to substance, from ritual to reality, from location to Person.
This chapter will explore what worship is in Scripture, how it changed from the Old to the New Covenant, and what it looks like to worship in spirit and truth today.
Worship in the Old Covenant: Shadows and Patterns
In the Old Covenant, worship was highly structured around place, priest, and practice:
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Place: Worship centered in the tabernacle and later the temple (Deut. 12:5–6).
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Priest: Access to God was mediated by priests and the high priest (Lev. 16).
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Practice: Sacrifices, feasts, Sabbaths, and rituals structured the rhythm of worship.
These were shadows (Heb. 10:1) — not the final reality but anticipations pointing to Christ. The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins; the priesthood was temporary; the temple was a copy of the heavenly reality.
The Old Covenant was beautiful but provisional — scaffolding until the reality came.
Jesus the Fulfillment of Worship
When Jesus came, He claimed that the true temple was His own body (John 2:19–21). He presented Himself as the true Passover lamb (1 Cor. 5:7) and the final sacrifice (Heb. 10:12). He declared Himself Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8).
In other words, Jesus fulfilled and replaced every central element of Old Covenant worship:
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Temple → Christ, the true dwelling place of God.
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Priesthood → Christ our eternal High Priest.
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Sacrifice → Christ the once-for-all Lamb of God.
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Sabbath → Christ our rest.
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Feasts → Christ is the substance of every celebration.
This is why He told the Samaritan woman in John 4 that worship would no longer be about Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem but about spirit and truth. The location changed because reality arrived.
Worship in Spirit and Truth: What Jesus Meant
A. Spirit
To worship “in spirit” means worship is no longer confined to external rituals or geographic places. It is empowered by the Holy Spirit, arising from the heart, and directed by the Spirit’s indwelling presence (Rom. 8:9, 1 Cor. 3:16).
B. Truth
To worship “in truth” means worship must be centered on the reality of Christ and His gospel, not on shadows or lies. The Spirit’s power and Christ’s truth meet to form authentic worship.
Thus, New Covenant worship is not about the right place or ritual but about the right Person — Jesus Christ — and the right power — the Holy Spirit.
The Passing of Old Covenant Worship
Hebrews 8:13 declares: “In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”
This is why Paul says in Colossians 2:16–17: “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
Sabbaths, festivals, and dietary laws were shadows. Once Christ came, clinging to them as requirements is like insisting on candles when the sun has risen. They served their purpose; now they have been fulfilled.
The Early Church’s Worship Pattern
The book of Acts shows that the early church shifted quickly:
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They gathered on the first day of the week to break bread and hear the Word (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2).
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They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:42).
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They sang psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19).
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They shared the Lord’s Supper regularly (1 Cor. 11:23–26).
The emphasis was not on temple rituals but on Christ-centered, Spirit-filled gatherings.
Worship Beyond a Day
This does not mean Christians have no special times of gathering. The church historically worshiped on Sunday as the day of resurrection. But New Covenant worship cannot be reduced to a single day.
Romans 12:1 describes worship as offering our whole selves: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
True worship is 24/7 — in work, family, church, and rest. Sunday gatherings are the highlight but not the limit.
Corporate Worship: Why We Gather
Hebrews 10:24–25 urges believers not to neglect meeting together. Why? Because worship is communal. A grace-based community gathers to:
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Hear the Word (1 Tim. 4:13).
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Sing together (Col. 3:16).
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Pray together (Acts 4:24).
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Break bread (Lord’s Supper).
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Encourage and exhort one another.
Corporate worship is not optional but essential. The Spirit builds us up together.
The Elements of New Covenant Worship
The New Testament highlights several elements of worship that remain central:
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Preaching of the Word — Christ-centered proclamation (2 Tim. 4:2).
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Ordinances— Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as signs of grace (Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23–26).
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Prayer — both corporate and individual (Acts 2:42).
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Singing — gospel-centered songs of praise (Col. 3:16).
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Giving — generous support of ministry and mission (2 Cor. 9:6–7).
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Fellowship — sharing life together (Acts 2:44–47).
These are not empty rituals but Spirit-filled acts pointing to Christ.
Worship and the Danger of Legalism
Former Adventists often carry worship baggage:
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Fear of worshiping on the “wrong day.”
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Anxiety about failing rituals.
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Suspicion of joyful, Spirit-filled expressions.
Paul’s words in Galatians 5:1 speak directly: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Legalism enslaves worshipers to fear. The gospel frees us to worship in joy and truth.
Worship and the Danger of Consumerism
Another danger lurks: treating worship as entertainment or a consumer product. In some churches, worship is judged by how exciting the music was or how inspiring the preacher seemed.
But worship is not about performance; it is about presence — God’s presence with His people. True worship is measured not by how entertained we feel but by how exalted Christ is.
Worship as Formation
Every act of worship shapes us. Singing gospel songs implants truth in our hearts. Preaching forms our minds. The Lord’s Supper trains us to live in gratitude. Prayer shapes dependence.
Worship is not just expression but formation. What we worship, we become like (Ps. 115:4–8). Grace-based worship forms us into the likeness of Christ.
Worship after the Temple
The destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70 ended the possibility of Old Covenant worship practices. This was not an accident of history but God’s providence. The temple was obsolete because the true temple, Christ, had come.
For Christians, worship is forever re-centered on Christ, not on temple rituals. This historical event underlines the theological truth: the shadows are gone; the substance remains.
Analogy: Wells and Rivers
Old Covenant worship was like a well — localized, specific, confined. New Covenant worship is like a river — flowing everywhere, unstoppable, life-giving.
Why would you go back to drawing water from a broken cistern when a river of living water flows freely (John 7:38)?
Practical Guidance for Former Adventists
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Redefine worship — it is not a day or ritual but life in Christ.
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Join a gospel-centered church — experience Spirit-filled corporate worship.
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Practice daily worship — prayer, Scripture, singing, and gratitude in everyday life.
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Celebrate freedom — rejoice that worship is no longer bound to fear but freed by grace.
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Guard against extremes — neither legalism (ritual bondage) nor consumerism (self-centered worship).
Conclusion: The Father Is Seeking Worshipers
John 4:23 says the Father is seeking true worshipers. Imagine that — the Creator of the universe is looking for people who will worship Him in spirit and truth.
Former and questioning Adventists, the shadows are gone. You don’t need to cling to the photograph when the Person has come. Worship is no longer about a day, a diet, or a place. It is about a Person — Christ — and the Spirit who unites us to Him.
So let us worship freely, joyfully, and truthfully — with hearts centered on Jesus, empowered by the Spirit, and shaped by the gospel.
Reflection Questions
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How have Old Covenant practices or Adventist traditions shaped your view of worship?
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What does it mean to you personally to worship in spirit and truth?
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How can your personal and corporate worship become more Christ-centered this week?
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