THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Lesson 3
WORSHIP
Now that I'm a child of God - a Christian, a member of Christ's church - I need
to know the will of my Father in heaven so I can do that will. Jesus said:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will
enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is
in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)
I learn the will of God from the Bible, my Father's Book, which is given to
guide His children in the right way. As a child of God, I need to know about the
church of Christ because I was added to the church when I obeyed the gospel. The
Bible says: "Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord
added to their number daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). The value
of the Lord's church is seen in the fact that Jesus bought the church with his
own blood. Paul said:
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock
and which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of
God, which he bought with his own blood." (Acts 20:28)
On the day the church began, those who inquired after salvation were told to
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit"
(Acts 2:38). These were saved and added to the church of Christ. In and through
the church (and the church is people redeemed from sin by the blood of Christ),
children of God worship their Father in heaven. I need to know what God's Book,
the Bible, teaches about the worship of God.
WHAT IS WORSHIP?
What is worship? It is really an attitude of mind (heart), and means to show
respect and reverence for, admiration and love toward, my Father in heaven. This
worship is expressed through outward exercises, as the New Testament teaches us,
and these help show my respect and love for God our Father. The ways through
which my worship of God is expressed must be right, or as God has taught through
Christ. These ways of worship must also involve my heart if I am to worship God
in the right way. Jesus said:
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the
true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the
kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must
worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)
The ways through which I express worship to God are found in the New Testament,
and they include singing, praying, teaching, taking the Lord's Supper
(Communion) and giving (contribution).
SINGING
"So what shall we do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my
mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind." (1
Corinthians 14:15)
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make
music in your heart to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:19)
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one
another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16)
Nothing is mentioned in the New Testament about playing on any instruments of
music in worship to our God. Only singing is mentioned in reference to the early
church.
PRAYING
The early Christians prayed as they met together for worship.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42)
"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we
may live peaceful and lives in all godliness and holiness." (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
TEACHING, READING GOD'S WORD
"On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the
people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until
midnight." (Acts 20:7)
"Until I come, devote yourself tot he public reading of Scripture, to preaching
and to teaching." (1 Timothy 4:13)
TAKING THE LORD'S SUPPER (Communion)
"For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on
the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it
and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In
the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new
covenant in my blood; do this , whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.'
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's
death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
"They devoted themselves tot he apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42)
GIVING (Contribution)
"Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches
to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of
money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no
collections will have to be made." (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly
or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)
As a child of God, as a Christian, as a member
of the church, I have the privilege of worshiping God. Worship is an attitude of
the heart or spirit, and it is expressed in singing, praying, teaching (God's
Word), partaking of the Lord's Supper (Communion), and in giving things we have
for the use of the kingdom here (Christ's church). According to the book of
Acts, the church met (assembled) on the first day of the week (Sunday) to engage
in the worship of God (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). As God's child, I must
not miss the times for meeting (assembly).
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let
us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching"
(Hebrews 10:24-25).
Every child of God who is physically able should attend the assembly of the
church in order to worship God.