1. “Keeping Our Treasure in Focus” John 4:21-26

2. The Discovery of Treasure! 12 Gold coins = $300,000 ea! July 30-31, Vero Beach, FL 300 years to the DATE after sinking in a storm "People freak out that we're literally 10-15 feet off the beach in 2-3 feet of water."- Bret Brisben, Captain of the S/V Capitana The coins were there all along; just covered up, hidden by ordinary sand.

3. “But an hour is coming, and now is…!” vs. 23 God CALLS us to worship NOW! His call: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us … (John 1:14) “"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst“ (Matthew 18:20)

4. Worship the Father Through the Son, In the Spirit! “Whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise” (John 5:19). “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (John 5:23). “The Father [is] glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes… He will glorify me because it is from me” (John 16:13-14)

5. Focus on the Father Woman’s focus – “our fathers” vs. 20 earlier, her measure vs. 12 – “our father” Jesus: vs. 21 – “you shall worship the Father” His character – King David’s praise – (1 Chronicles 29:10-13) His righteous acts– “Praise Him for His mighty deeds” (Psalm 150:2) Worship challenge: What about His character? Have you seen Him at work this week?

6. You Cannot Worship Someone You Reject “The one who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16) Matthew 10:40, “Whoever receives me receives him who sent me” (Matt. 10:40). "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46) "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me…” (John 14:21).

7. Instead, Worship Flows From the Grateful Heart! “hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above!” (H. Van Dyke) Worship lays aside distractions, cares, breaking into praise: 1) Who He is (vs. 26) “I am He!” 2) All He has done (vs. 29” – Come, see a man who told me all…I have done”

8. “Worship in Spirit and Truth” vs. 24 Brings Focus on Him! * no one can come unless the Father draws him (John 6:44) * The “draw” of God comes from the cross of Calvary – (John 12:32) * no one comes apart from Jesus: (John 14:6) and (Acts 4:12) – “salvation in no one else” Worship in truth triggers confession and repentance (Isaiah 6, Matthew 17, Acts 9)

9. Caution: Excellence in Worship Can Draw Attention To Itself! Tendency to slide from worship into entertainment – what pleases us rather than God – “we make it our aim to please Him…” (2 Corinthians 5:9) Performance (our greatness) instead of ministry (His greatness) John 3:30 – “He must increase but I must decrease”

10. The Father “Seeks” Your Heart’s Worship! Vs. 23b How? He saturates with kindness (Rom. 2:4) He convicts of sin (John 16:8) so we will repent! (Psalm 32:4) “heavy hand!” He orchestrates circumstances, some glorious; sometimes pain (Rom. 8:28) He tests the soul (Judges 3:1) He perplexes us (Isaiah 55:8-9) His revelation in creation (Rom. 1:20)

11. Testimonies Confirm Our Focus! “Many Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified…” (John 4:39). What is your story? The Focus: not our propensity to sin – but His grace to love and forgive us! Our testimonies render us humbled at the foot of the cross – Ephesians 2:8-9