Many people today walk into a church service feeling like they are just checking a box. They sing the songs, listen to the sermon, and drop a few dollars in the plate, yet they leave feeling strangely empty. There is a common frustration that religious life has become a series of “bodily exercises” that do not seem to reach the soul. This leaves many wondering if there is something more to worship than just showing up. In his deep and detailed work, Of the Worship of God, the eighteenth-century theologian John Gill argues that true religion is not just a Sunday activity but a “practical” reality that starts deep within the heart.
As a pastor who looks to the Westminster standards for guidance, one finds Gill’s perspective both refreshing and challenging. He reminds us that while the outward forms of worship are necessary, they are entirely useless if the internal fire of grace is not burning. Here are the most impactful takeaways from this massive study on what it truly means to worship.
Worship is a Matter of the “Hidden Part”
Gill begins by making a sharp distinction between internal and external worship. He argues that internal worship is of the greatest importance because God is a Spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth. To Gill, “godliness” is not just a word for being a “good person.” Instead, it is an assemblage of graces like faith, hope, love, and humility, all working together in the soul.
This is a vital point for the modern reader who might be tempted to prioritize the “show” of a church service over the state of their own heart. Gill notes that even the most beautiful singing or the most eloquent prayer is “vain” if the heart is far removed from God. He insists that without a gracious disposition of the mind, a person is technically “ungodly,” even if they are sitting in a pew every week.
“If the heart is not engaged in worship bodily exercise is of little advantage, that being only the form without the power of godliness; yea vain is such worship where the heart is far removed from God.”
Hearing the Word is an Active Sport, Not a Nap
One of the more surprising sections of the book deals with the “public hearing of the word.” Gill does not view the congregation as a passive audience watching a performance. Instead, he describes hearing as a spiritual duty that requires intense preparation and engagement. He warns that the “wicked one” is always present at a sermon, ready to “catch away” the word from a distracted mind.
Gill categorizes hearers into different types, such as “forgetful” ones who are like leaking vessels that let the truth slip through. This reflection is a necessary wake-up call for anyone who has ever found their mind wandering during a sermon. He argues that a person must hear with an “appetite” and must “mix the word with faith” for it to yield any nourishment.
The “Honey Without Wax” Standard for Sincerity
In a chapter on godly sincerity, Gill explains the word “sincere” in a way that provides a powerful visual for the soul. He notes that the term comes from a word meaning “without wax,” like pure honey that hasn’t been diluted or faked. Sincerity in worship means that a person’s principles and practices can bear being held up to the light of the sun to see if there are any defects.
This takeaway is impactful because it moves beyond mere “honesty” and into the realm of integrity before God. Gill argues that a sincere person doesn’t do things to be seen by men but seeks to be approved by God. This perspective helps the reader evaluate their motives: are they serving the Lord for the “praise of men” or out of a “single-hearted” desire for his glory?
“The Latin word sincerus… signifies without wax; as pure honey, which is not mixed with any wax. …such who are truly gracious and sincere, their principles and practices will bear the test of light.”
Spiritual-Mindedness is a Life and Death Issue
Gill takes the idea of “spiritual-mindedness” and moves it out of the clouds and into daily life. He argues that being spiritually-minded is not just a personality trait for the “extra-holy,” but is a literal evidence of life. He contrasts the “carnal mind,” which is bent on the things of the flesh, with the “spiritual mind,” which has its affections set on things above.
This reflection is important because it offers a diagnostic tool for the believer. A spiritually-minded person has “spiritual senses” of seeing, hearing, and even “tasting” that the Lord is gracious. Gill notes that the consequence of this mindset is not just a better mood, but “life and peace.” It serves as a reminder that what a person chooses to “mind” throughout the day actually reveals whose kingdom they belong to.
Why You Should Read This Book
John Gill’s Of the Worship of God is a necessary read for anyone who wants to move beyond a superficial, “checked-box” approach to faith. It is a masterclass in how the internal life of grace should naturally overflow into every public and private duty. For the pastor, it provides a robust framework for leading a congregation. For the layperson, it offers a map for the soul that covers everything from private prayer to how to treat a neighbor or a master.
Reading this book will help the reader realize that “practical religion” is not a burden to be carried, but a “continual feast” to be enjoyed. It pulls the reader out of the “fog” of formal religion and into the sunlight of a life lived in the presence of a holy God.