Day 6: Doctrine and Worship

Scripture Reading:

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” – John 4:24, LSB

“Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of His name; worship Yahweh in the splendor of holiness.” – Psalm 29:2, LSB

Worship is the highest calling of the church, but worship cannot be separated from doctrine. Jesus declared in John 4:24 that worship must be “in spirit and truth.” This means worship is not about empty rituals or emotional displays; it is about rightly knowing God and responding to Him with reverence and love.

Doctrine, then, is the foundation of worship. If we do not know who God is, we cannot worship Him rightly. If our doctrine of God is distorted, our worship will also be distorted. As R.C. Sproul said, “How we worship reveals what we believe about God” (The Holiness of God, p. 64).

Psalm 29:2 reminds us to ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name and to worship Him in holiness. This cannot happen without sound doctrine. To glorify His name, we must know His attributes, His works, His holiness. Doctrine provides the truth that fuels worship.

The Reformers emphasized this with what became known as the regulative principle of worship: we worship God only as He commands in His Word. John Calvin explained, “God disapproves of all modes of worship not expressly sanctioned by His Word” (Institutes, 4.10.23). Worship shaped by doctrine is worship God delights in, while worship shaped by human imagination dishonors Him.

Doctrine not only informs our worship but protects it. Throughout Scripture, false worship arises when people abandon truth. Israel built a golden calf when they lost sight of God’s revealed Word (Exod. 32). The Pharisees honored God with their lips while their hearts were far from Him because they substituted human traditions for divine truth (Matt. 15:8–9). Worship without sound doctrine always drifts into idolatry.

Dr. Joel Beeke notes, “Sound doctrine is the life of worship; it provides the truths upon which the heart may meditate and the will may respond in praise” (Living for God’s Glory, p. 73). When we sing biblical hymns, when we pray according to God’s Word, when we hear Christ preached faithfully, our worship is grounded in truth and lifted in spirit.

Beloved, worship is not about personal preference but divine command. It is not about pleasing ourselves but pleasing God. Doctrine ensures our worship is centered on Him, guided by His Word, and empowered by His Spirit. To neglect doctrine in worship is to offer God what we think He wants instead of what He has revealed He requires.

True worship flows from knowing God through His Word. Let us be a people who love doctrine, for in doing so, we will worship God rightly, in spirit and in truth.

Personal Reflection

1. Why is it impossible to worship God rightly without sound doctrine?

2. How does John 4:24 connect truth and spirit in worship?

3. What dangers arise when worship is shaped by human preference rather than God’s Word?

4. How can your church make sure its worship remains grounded in Scripture?