Basic Biblical Principles 6

   This month I would like to focus in on our worship together as a body. There are five parts of our worship as a body.

   Singing: Romans 15:11, Ephesians 5, Colossians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 14:15, and James 5:13 all tell us that we are to sing. We are to sing from the heart. That means that we have to follow and understand the words that we are singing and to do it with gladness in our heart. We do not come to be entertained, but to participate. That is why do not have a choir. Notice, also, in these verses there is not one mention of a musical instrument. We use the early church as our example and the early church did not use musical instruments. Musical instruments were not added to the worship service until several hundred years later.

   Communion: The Lord’s Supper was established in Luke 22:15-20. It established the eating of the unleavened bread and the drinking of the fruit of the vine as the symbolic meal that memorializes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Acts 20:7 established the first day of the week as the time for this memorial.

   Giving: We are commanded to give as we have been prospered. 1 Corinthians 16:2 sets aside the first day of the week for this, also. The Jews in the Old Testament were required to give at least 10% of their income to support the Lord’s work. The wealthy were expected to give even more. The New Testament does not establish a set figure for us. But, would God expect any less of us than he did of them. Most importantly, what we give must come from the heart and not begrudgingly.

   Preaching (exhortation, encouragement, admonishment): Romans 12:8, Colossians 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, and 2 Timothy 4:2 instruct us in this aspect of our worship. There are many ways that this could be accomplished. In these times, we choose to do this in part by hiring a preacher. But, that does not absolve us of our duty to encourage one another individually.

   Prayer: Matthew 21:13, Acts 1:14, and Acts 2:42 tell us about communal prayer. As in the other aspects of worship, we need our heart in this one, too. As the prayer is being led, are we listening to the words or are our minds wandering to non-spiritual things? I have trouble with this, sometimes, and have to remind myself to concentrate on the prayer. When we lead a prayer, are we praying to be heard of men or God?

   Now that we know what to do, we need to know when to do it. Since the early church met together on the first day of the week and the Bible identifies that as the time to meet together as a body for worship, then that means that we too should meet on the first day of the week, every week.

   But, what about Sunday night, do I have to come Sunday night, too? Our salvation may not depend on whether we are at worship service on Sunday night, but what example are you setting for others, especially our children. If others see that we have more important things to do Sunday evening than go to worship service, then they see what our priorities are. Our salvation may not depend on whether we attend Sunday night, but others salvation might depend on the example we set.

Steve Truman