This podcast episode delves into Steven Charnock's profound insights on spiritual worship, emphasizing that true worship extends beyond mere outward actions and requires engaging our hearts and minds. The discussion explores the idea that giving God our best in worship is a reflection of our reverence and a conscious choice to honor Him, drawing parallels to Old Testament sacrifices. It examines how our ability to reason is a gift from God, intended to help us connect with Him on a deeper level, and that limiting worship to outward actions is illogical. True worship involves the engagement of the soul, and a lifeless body present at church is not worshiping, much like a corpse.

The episode also highlights the reciprocal nature of worship, with God drawing near to us as we approach Him, creating a space to receive His presence. It is essential to prepare our hearts for worship, creating space for reflection and putting aside distractions. Spiritual worship is tied to redemption and sanctification, where Christ's sacrifice restores our ability to truly worship God, transforming our hearts and enabling us to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, humility, and love. It explores the idea that God desires heart-to-heart communion, and is not pleased by empty rituals or outward performances, but by a genuine connection. The discussion considers how to cultivate a deeper connection with God through intentionality, creating space for Him to speak to us, and engaging with scripture.

Further, the podcast explores how understanding God through Christ reveals His mercy, allowing us to approach Him with confidence and trust. It addresses the reality of distractions, framing them as opportunities to rely more heavily on God's grace. It emphasizes that Christ's mediation makes our worship acceptable to God, even when imperfect. The episode also provides practical questions to assess our spiritual engagement, such as, "How are our hearts prepared for worship?" and, "What do we expect in our approaches from Him?". It is highlighted that true worship should leave us humbled, recognizing our dependence on God's grace and shifting our focus from ourselves to Him. Finally, the podcast emphasizes that cultivating heartfelt affection for God involves meditating on His attributes and perfections, while acknowledging our limitations, leading to the understanding that spiritual worship is a work of grace. The key takeaway is that true worship is a matter of the heart, a way of life that permeates everything we do.