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Introduction

Man is a worshiping being. Man has worshiped nearly every natural

object: Acts 17:29 The ancient Canaanites were idolaters

and it rubbed off on the Israelites: Rom. 1:20-23

The word worship originally meant an object of value or worth to which man gives honor or allegiance.

Left to his own devices man will “devote himself reverently to an almost endless number and variety of gods.”

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Introduction

Man is not alone! Man is not without guidance! Psa. 119:105

Man has not been left alone to decide what and how he will worship: Matt. 17:5; Acts 2:22; Jn. 4:23-24

Jesus is very specific about true and acceptable worship:

Object: “true worshipers shall worship the Father”

Attitude: “they that worship Him must worship in spirit”

Pattern: “they that worship Him must worship him in…truth”

Part 8: The Worship of the ChurchJohn 4:19-26

The New Testament

Church

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Object

Proper object of worship is God: Matt. 4:9, 10; Isa. 45:5; Eph. 4:6; Jas. 1:17; Rom. 5:8

Cornelius learned this lesson: Acts 10:25, 26; Rev. 19:10; 22:9

Modern denominationalism totally misses the mark in this regard.

“Worshipers” are actually spectators (e.g., worship leaders, praise teams, contemporary worship, performance art, dance, rock music, etc.).

They’ve turned worship into a performance.

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Attitude

Jesus said proper worshipers “must worship [God] in spirit”: Jn. 4:24

What did Jesus mean by “must worship [God] in spirit”? Gen. 1:26; Lk. 24:39; 2 Cor. 4:16; Matt. 10:28; Jas. 2:26; Eph. 3:16

Word worship comes from Greek proskuneo.

Our service to God, in general, is a “spiritual service”: Rom. 12:1

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Attitude

Through our “inner man” God enables us: To love Him: Matt. 22:37 To obey Him: Rom. 6:17 To sing praises to Him: Eph. 5:19 To give of our means: 2 Cor. 9:7 To partake of the Lord’s Supper:

1 Cor. 11:26 To discern good and evil: Heb.

5:14

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Attitude

The right way can often be seen by looking at the wrong way: Matt. 6:1-18; 23:13-16; 15:8

“Attitude is everything!”

Man is the crowning glory of God’s creation; which brings great responsibility! Rom. 1:20-21; Heb. 12:28-29

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Pattern (General)

The pattern for worship is truth! Jn. 4:24; Eph. 1:13; 2 Thess. 2:10-12

God has not left it up to us concerning “how” we will worship Him.

Remember Cain and Abel? Heb. 11:4; Rom. 10:17; Heb. 9:22 Israel? Heb. 9:1; Lev. 10:1-2; 2 Chr. 26:16-23; Matt. 15:9; Col. 2:8, 23; Acts 17:23; Jer. 10:23; Prov. 14:12; 1 Pet. 4:11

Faith makes all the difference! Rom. 10:17

Worship of the Church

Next week:Pattern of

worship (specific)

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Pattern (Specific)

Concerning specifics (i.e., “in truth”) of worship it is critical to distinguish between the Old and New Covenants.

Old Covenant, including Ten Commandments has been annulled: Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:6-13; Rom. 7:1-7; 2 Cor. 3:7-13; Matt. 5:17, 21-22; 27-28

Old Covenant was “nailed to the cross”: Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:14-17; Rom. 15:4

Cannot become righteous through the Law of Moses: Gal. 2:16; Gal. 5:4

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Pattern (Specific)

Very important to distinguish between Old and New Covenants esp. in regards to the Sabbath.

Old Covenant primary day of worship was the Sabbath: Ex. 20:8-11

Given exclusively to children of Israel: Deut. 5:15; 5:3; Neh. 9:13-14

The “first day of the week” is not the “Christian Sabbath”: Col. 2:14; Matt. 23:38; Col. 2:16-17; Gal. 5:4

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Pattern (Specific)

Day of worship for local church is the first day of the week, the Lord’s Day. Why significant? Resurrection: Mk. 16:9; Lk. 24:1, 13, 20-

21, 46

Jesus appeared to disciples: Jn. 20:1, 19, 26

Church established: Matt. 16:18; Acts 2; Lev. 23:15-16

Holy Spirit sent: Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:13; Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4

Gospel preached first time: Acts ; Rom. 1:16-17

First converts: Acts 2:37-37, 41, 47

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Pattern (Specific)

First century Christians, under divine guidance of apostles, assembled to observe the following on the first day of the week, the Lord’s Day:

Collection: 1 Cor. 16:1-2

Lord’s Supper: Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; Acts 2:42

The Lord’s plan for worship of necessity and according to scripture calls for an “assembly”: 1 Cor. 11:17-24; 14:19, 23, 26, 28, 34, 35; Heb. 10:25

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Pattern (Specific)

The New Testament describes five acts of worship: Lord’s Supper: Acts 20:6-7; Matt.

28:20; 1 Cor. 11:23; Matt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:19-20; Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 16:1-2 Remembrance of Christ: 1 Cor. 11:24-

25 Remembrance of His death: 1 Cor.

11:26 Anticipatory: 1 Cor. 11:26 Fellowship: 1 Cor. 10:16-17; Matt.

26:29 Obedience: Matt. 26:26-29 Spiritual growth: 1 Cor. 11:29-32; Jn.

6:53

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Pattern (Specific)

The New Testament describes five acts of worship:

Lord’s Supper: Manner

Self-examination: 1 Cor. 11:28

Worthy manner: 1 Cor. 11:29

Fellowship: 1 Cor. 10:17

Communion with Christ: 1 Cor. 10:15-17; Matt. 26:29Worship of the

Church

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Pattern (Specific) The New Testament describes five

acts of worship: Music:

Vocal not instrumental: Matt. 26:30; Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; 13:15; Jas. 5:13

Command to sing is specific: Gen. 6:14; Lev. 16:12; 10:1-2; 2 Jn. 9; 2 Pet. 1:2-3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Rom. 1:17; Matt. 17:5-6

Purpose: Heb. 13:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16

Manner of rendering: Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; 1 Cor. 14:15

Worship of the Church

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Pattern (Specific)

The New Testament describes five acts of worship: Music: Arguments for instrumental

music Practiced under Law of Moses: Col.

2:14; Gal. 5:4; Col. 2:13-17; Eph. 2:14-16

Not expressly forbidden in New Testament: Gen. 6; Lev. 10:1-2; 2 Jn. 9

Only an aid: Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 Psallo argument: Eph. 5:19; Col.

3:16; 1 Cor. 14:15; Jn. 16:13 Final objections:

Worship of the Church

Next week:Pattern of

worship (specific)

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Pattern (Specific)

The New Testament describes five acts of worship: Giving:

Stewardship: 1 Pet. 4:10; Lk. 16:1; Rom. 14:12; Lk. 12:13-21; Lev. 23:9-14; Matt. 6:33

Fellowship: Acts 2:42; 1 Pet. 1:22; Col. 2:2; Gal. 6:2; Phil. 1:5; 4:16; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8:12-15; Matt. 25:41-44; Mk. 12:41-44

Discipleship: Matt. 16:24; Lk. 9:57-62; Matt. 19:27-29, 16-22; Phil. 2:5-8; 2 Cor. 8:9

Love: 2 Cor. 8:24; Lk. 16:13-15; Matt. 6:19-24

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Pattern (Specific)

The New Testament describes five acts of worship: Giving: More principles…

Individual: 1 Cor. 16:2; 1 Thess. 4:11-12; 2 Thess. 3:10-13; Eph. 4:28

Motive: 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Psa. 41:1-3; Lk. 6:35-38; Acts 10:1-4; Matt. 19:21; 1 Tim. 6:17-19; 2 Cor. 9:6; Lk. 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:12-15; Acts 10:35

Manner: 1 Cor. 16:1-2 Other: 2 Cor. 9:7, 8-11 Measure of giving: 1 Cor. 16:2; 2

Cor. 8:12; 9:6

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Pattern (Specific)

The New Testament describes five acts of worship: Prayer:

Apostles: 1 Cor. 14:15

From beginning: Acts 2:42

Paul’s letters: Eph. 1:15-18; Phil. 1:3-7; Col. 1:3-12

Lord’s teaching: Matt. 6:9-15; Lk. 11:1-4; Lk. 18:1-7; Lk. 3:21; 6:12; Matt. 14:23; Matt. 26Worship of the

Church

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Pattern (Specific)

The New Testament describes five acts of worship: Prayer: important to remember…

Directed to Father: Matt. 6:9; Lk. 11:1; Rom. 10:1

Express needs and thanks: 1 Tim. 2:1

Pray for leaders: 1 Tim. 2:2 Pray for enemies: Matt. 5:44 Pray in faith: Jas. 1:5-8; 1 Jn. 5:14-

15 Pray in Jesus’ name: Jn. 14:13-14; 1

Tim. 2:5; 1 Jn. 2:1

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Pattern (Specific)

The New Testament describes five acts of worship: Teaching/preaching:

Whenever assembled: Acts 2; 2:42

Great commission: Mk. 16:15; Matt. 28:19

Basics and more: Matt. 28:20; Eph. 4:11-14; Acts 20:27; 2 Pet. 1:3-11; 3:17-18

First day of week and more: Acts 19:9; 20:6-7

What and how strictly defined: 2 Tim. 4:1-2

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Pattern (Specific)

The New Testament describes five acts of worship:

Teaching/preaching: subject restricted…

God’s word: Jn. 8:26, 28, 38

Holy Spirit spoke not on own authority: Jn. 16:13

Apostles spoke not on own authority: Jn. 16:13; Gal. 1:11-12

No such thing as “church doctrine”: 2 Jn. 9-11; Jn. 12:48

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Pattern (Specific) The New Testament describes five

acts of worship: Teaching/preaching: subject

restricted…

Limited to words of Christ & apostles: Rom. 1:16-17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Jn. 16:13; 2 Pet. 1:3; Jude 3; Eph. 4:5; 1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Pet. 4:11

Reject human creeds: Jer. 10:23; Prov. 14:12; Matt. 7:24-27; 4:4; 28:18-20; 1 Cor. 1:10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17

Identity of church tested by what it teachers: Mk. 16:16; 19:9

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Pattern (Specific) The New Testament describes five acts

of worship: Teaching/preaching: more…

Apostles doctrine: Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 2:6-13; Gal. 1:11-12; Jn. 17:8; Matt. 28:20; Phil. 4:9; 1 Cor. 14:37; Jn. 4:6; 1 Thess. 2:13; 1 Cor. 4:6; 2 Jn. 9-11

Doctrines of man: 1 Thess. 5:21; Acts 17:11; Phil. 1:9-10; Titus 1:9; 2:1; Eph. 4:11; 1 Jn. 4:1-6; Col. 2:8; 2 Pet. 3:17; Acts 4:19-20

Reject false teachers: Matt. 16:11; 2 Cor. 11:13; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15; 2 Jn. 9-11; Titus 3:9-11; Rom. 16:17; 2 Jn. 7-11

Compromise disastrous: Gal. 5:9; Rev. 2:14-17; Acts 20:27-32; 1 Tim. 1:3-4

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Conclusion

In the New Testament local churches assembled on the first day of the week regularly.

However, although critically important, public worship is only a fraction of what God expects from a Christian (Heb. 10:25).

Let us serve God everyday, whether in our Sunday assembly, or our daily lives in the home, at school, on the job, etc.: Col. 3:17