WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH

 

-Introduction

-Within the appropriate organization and pattern of the church there must also be proper worship.

-In order for worship to be proper, it must be according to the scriptures.

-Keep in mind that our worship is to be in “spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

-This means we are to have the proper attitude toward worship and proper components of worship.

-First of all, let’s consider the scriptural components of worship.

-We will discuss these further as we continue our study.

-However, at this point it is important to realize that these have been specified by the scriptures.

-We find them in commands and in examples.

-Lord’s Supper - Acts 2:42, Acts 20: 7-11, I Cor 11: 23-26

-Singing - Eph 5:19, Col 3:16

-Praying - I Thess 5:17, Acts 2:42

-Giving - I Cor 16: 1-2, II Cor 9:7

-Presenting God’s Word - Acts 2:42 (doctrine), Acts 20:7

-Is it important to do precisely has God has instructed?

-Rev 22: 18-20

-Lev 10: 1-2

 

-When Do We Worship?

-When we come to Acts 2, we find a time of much change.

-Included in the change was: a new covenant (Heb 8: 6-13), a new place of worship ( John 4:20-21),

 a new method of worship (no animal sacrifices for example), a new priesthood (Heb 4:14, I Pet 2:9),

 a new mediator for all, Jesus (Heb 8:6, 9: 14-16), a new day of worship (Acts 20:7), etc.

-Let’s briefly address the last item in the above list - a new day of worship.

-Some might ask and do ask how we know that we are to worship God on the first day of the week.

-Afterall, it was the sabbath day that was emphasized and set aside in the Old Testament.

-Let’s notice the pattern as set forth in the scriptures:

-Acts 20:7-11

-I Cor 16: 1-2

-We can see that it was “upon the first day of the week” that the Christians in the early

  church came together.

-Therefore, we are to come together on the first day of the week (Heb 10:25) and worship

  God in the prescribed manner - with the proper attitude and with the proper components.

-But, somebody might say, “These scriptures say the first day of the week but which first day of the week?

  One of them, some of them or all of them?”.

-First of all, every week has a first day.

-Ex 20: 8 - “Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy”   Which sabbath did this refer to?  We see

    throughout the O.T. that every sabbath was to be observed.

-How often do the variety of religious organizations come together for some form of worship? - Weekly.

-Except for one or two exceptions, when is this done? - The first day of the week

-However, many of them fail to observe the Lord’s Supper weekly.  They may do it quarterly, semi-

  annually, once a year or only on special occasions / holidays.

-But, notice it was included in Acts 20:7 - breaking of bread.

-When did they do this?  - Upon the first day of the week

-Which first day of the week is it to be done?

-I don’t know of a religious organiztion that doesn’t take a collection when they come together.

-In other words they do it every first day of the week.

-This is appropriate because it is in accordance with I Cor 16:1-2.

-However, “upon the first day of the week” is used in I Cor 16:1-2 & Acts 20:7.

-If the collection is to take place weekly (and it is) then the Lord’s Supper should

  be observed weekly.  The passages can’t indicate two different things.

-And, Paul indicated that the Lord’s Supper is to be observed “often” - I Cor 11:26.

 

-Why the first day of the week?

-We see this as the pattern  set in the early church.

-John 20:1 and following - It was on the first day of the week that Jesus rose.

-Jesus was raised on the third day.

-Matt 16:21

-Matt 17:23

-I Cor 15:4

-Jesus was crucified and buried on Friday, was in the grave all day Saturday,

 and on Sunday, the third day, rose.

-We know it was on Friday that He died because it is indicated that the next day was the

  sabbath.  That is why the Jews asked Pilate to break the legs of those on the crosses so

  that their deaths would be accelerated.  Therefore the bodies could be taken down prior

  to the sabbath.  See John 19:31.

-Also, the church was established on the first day of the week.

-Lev 23: 15-16

-This information is in regards to Pentecost - Pente indicating fifty. 

-vs 16 - “ye shall number fifty days”

-vs 15 - They were to count from “the morrow after the sabbath”.

-The day after the sabbath is the first day of the week.  Fifty days would land on the first

  day of the week.

-In Acts 2, since it was Pentecost, the church was founded on the first day of the week.

 

-GREEK WORDS TRANSLATED “WORSHIP”

  (As defined in Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)

 

1.  Proskuneo - to make obeisance, do reverence to

-This is the most frequent word rendered “to worship”.  It is used of an act of

  homage or reverence.

-John 24: 21-24

-Matt 4:10 - “Thou shalt worship”

 

2.  Sebomai - to revere - stressing the importance of awe or devotion

-Mark 7:7  - “In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of  men.”

-We see that awe and devotion to God are in vain if we do it according to the

  teachings of man rather than by the teachings of God.

-This Greek word is also translated “devout”:

-Acts 13:43 - “religious” - KJV,

          “God-fearing” - NAS

          “devout” - NIV

-Acts 13:50 - “devout” - KJV, NAS,

          “God-fearing” - NIV

-Acts 17: 4,17 - “devout” - KJV, 

   “God-fearing” - NAS, NIV

 

3.  Sebazomai - akin to Sebomai - “to honor religiously”

-Rom 1:25 - “worshipped” - KJV, NAS, NIV

-The word ”served” in KJV, NAS & NIV come from the Greek word “latreuo”.

 

4.  Latreuo - “to serve, to render religious service”

-Rom 1:25

-Phil 3:3 - “worship” - KJV, NAS, NIV

-Acts 7:42 - “to worship” - KJV, NIV

        “to serve” - NAS

-Also translated “to serve”:

-Matt 4:10 - “Thou shalt worship (proskuneo)...”

         “Thou shalt serve (latreuo)...”

-II Tim 1:3 - “serve” - KJV, NAS, NIV

  Heb 9:14 - “serve” - KJV, NAS, NIV

 

5.  Eusebeo - “to act piously towards”, “to reverence”, “to show piety”

-piety - (Coll Dict) - reverence for God or devout fulfillment of religious obligations

-Acts 17:23 - “ye worship” - KJV, NAS, NIV

-Also translated “piety” - I Tim 5:4 - “piety” - KJV, NAS

  - “to put their religion into action” 

 

-Comments for Consideration

-So, with the words involved with the idea of worshipping God we  have, “to make obeisance”,   “do reverence    to”, “to revere”, “to honor religiously”, “to serve, to render religious service to”.

-So when we worship God we are making obeisance to Him, revering Him, honouring Him and

  serving Him.

-And, note, we are to always serve God by keeping His commandments.  Therefore, if we

  worship God on the first day of the week but don’t serve God the other days of the week,

  our worship is in vain.  If we serve God through the week but don’t worship Him on the first

  day of the week our service is in vain.  Living the Christian life is a package deal.  We are not

  to do bits and pieces but are to strive to do all in glory and honor to God.

-We cannot effectively worship God in any manner that He has not prescribed.  We are not to

 worship according to man’s teachings, patterns and traditions but by God’s instructions only.

         -Again, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt 15:9). 

 

-Example of Nadab and Abihu

-Lev 10: 1-2

                -Strange - (Strongs) - a primitive root; to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be a foreigner,

      strange, profane, specifically to commit adultery - KJV - (come from) another

      (man, place), fanner, go away, (e-) strange (-r, thing, woman)

-Notice, this was in a manner that God “commanded them not”.

-NAS - “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting

fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not

commanded them.”

-They did this in a way that God had not commanded.

-When God specifies one thing or way it eliminates all other possibilities.

-God’s severity:

-I’m afraid many people fail to realize that God is specific in His instructions.  Also, I’m

  afraid people forget that God can be severe.  We see examples of it throughout the Old

  Testament and find warnings of it throughout the New Testament.

-Rom 11:22

-Matt 7: 21-23

-But, we hear people say in regards to the manner of worship, “I know the scriptures say this but,

  what would it hurt if...”.

-We don’t have the right to make such determinations.

-God reserved that right for Himself.

-Nadab and Abihu probably thought (reasoned within themselves) that there was nothing wrong with

  what they were doing.  What would it matter?  Afterall they were still offering the worship to the

  one true God in heaven.  They were probably sincere in what they were doing.  Isn’t that what

  matters? - offering worship with a sincere heart?

-How do you think Nadab and Abihu would answer these things if given the opportunity?

-Worshipping with sincerity of heart is important but it must be done as God has specifically

  instructed.

-God has specifically told us how to worship Him.  We are not to question it or change it.