Acceptable Worship When we survey the religious world today we see many different things being done as part of the worship of God. Counting of beads Lighting of candles Concerts Plays Dancing Burning of incense Comedians Many contemporary worship services have become more focused on entertaining the audience rather than serving God. 1
Before we get into this study we want to spend just a few moments looking at why it is so important to do things God s way and not our own. The first thing we need to understand is we just are not smart enough to know how to please God on our own. Pr 16:25 There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death. Jer 10:23 O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. Many of the Jews during the 1 st century were guilty of trying to direct their own steps. Ro 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. Although these people were sincere and had a zeal for God they were lost. They were not doing things God s way! 2
Some of mans greatest failures in the Old Testament were related to the worship of God. Cain: offered the wrong sacrifice. Genesis 4:3-5 Nadab and Abihu offered the right incense but used the wrong fire. Leviticus 10:1-2 King Saul offered the right sacrifice but by the wrong person: 1 Samuel 13:8-14 King Jeroboam instituted his own style of worship. King Uzziah tried to burn incense in worship and died a leper because of it Jesus tells us true worshippers will worship Him in spirit and Truth. Joh 4:23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. If we are going to be true worshippers then we must worship Him in spirit. Our worship is not bound to some physical place like Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim. Our worship is spiritual in nature and can be done anywhere in the world. 3
And we must worship Him in Truth. What is Truth? God s Word is Truth! Joh 17:17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. Ps 119:151 You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth. Ps 119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. If we are going to worship in Truth then we must worship Him according to His word or His Law. So many today have rejected God s plan for worship. They have replaced it with worship that is centered on entertaining the worshipper rather than serving God. This contemporary worship is even finding its way into the Lord s Church in places. We simply cannot afford to reject the old Bible centered ways of worship for something new. 4
We need to take the advice that Jeremiah gave the people of his day. Jer 6:16 Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it. The Old Paths were the things God had commanded them to do years before at Mt Sinai. Refusing to go back to what God had commanded was going to bring their destruction! The Old Paths in Worship What are the Old Paths when it comes to worshipping God today? There are only 5 things that we find in the New Testament that Christians did while worshipping God. Preach or Teach the Word of God Sing Pray Partake of the Lord s Supper Give 5
The Old Paths in Worship There are several examples of the Word of God being taught when Christians came together to worship. Paul preached to the Christians at Troas when they came together to worship. Ac 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. All of the Apostles were busy teaching the Word of God at every opportunity. The Old Paths in Worship Ac 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Preach the word was the command that Paul gave to Timothy. 2Ti 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. We see where the early Christians continued in the doctrine (the things taught) of the Apostles. 6
The Old Paths in Worship Ac 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. The doctrine of the New Testament is very important. Many people today want to place all the emphasis on Jesus and His sacrifice and ignore the doctrine He gave us to obey. This is often called Preach the man and not the plan They want to ignore the details of God s word. The Old Paths in Worship The next thing we see Christians doing in worship to God is singing. We don t have a single example of a Christian playing an instrument in worship of God On the other hand singing is mentioned several times in the New Testament. Ac 16:25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 7
Ro 15:9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name. 1Co 14:15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians instructs them how to praise God when they come together to worship. Eph 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, He gives the Colossian Christians a very similar command. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. When God is specific in what He wants then everything else is eliminated. 8
James even gave the command to sing. Jas 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. We can see the wisdom of God in only requiring us to sing. As we mentioned before God can be worshipped anywhere. If we had to play an instrument in worship to God then we would have to worship where there was an instrument and where someone knew how to play it. We can sing anywhere! What are we to sing in worship? Eph 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs Psalms: These would be the Old Testament psalms written by David and others Hymns: Are songs of praise to God Spiritual Songs: These would be songs that dealt with things of a spiritual nature. This would exclude any other type of song. There are some very beautiful and moving songs that have no place in worship because they do not fit into one of these categories. The Star Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful etc. 9
Prayer is the next thing we see being done as a part of worship to God. Many times when Christians gathered together they prayed. We see this taking place with those Christians from the day of Pentecost. Ac 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. What a wonderful thing prayer is! We can speak to the creator of the universe anytime we wish. Peter and John after being released by the council got together with their companions and Prayed. Ac 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. After Peter was released from prison by the Angel he found Christians gathered together praying. Ac 12:12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 10
The Old Paths in Worship So far we have seen 3 things we do in worship to God. Teach Sing Pray All of these can be done anytime Christians gather together to worship. The next two items we will discuss are unique from the standpoint that they can only be done on the 1 st day of the week. The Old Paths in Worship We are to partake of the Lord s Supper on the 1 st day of the week. Ac 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. This supper was instituted by Jesus on the night he was betrayed. 1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 11
1Co 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. We know what elements to use in this supper from Marks account. Mr 14:22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 "Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." 12
Unleavened bread and grape juice are what Jesus used so it is what we use. Finally we are to give of our means on the first day of the week. 1Co 16:2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. As with any other organization it takes money for the Church to carry out its work. This money can only be used in a way that the Lord has approved. It can be used for edification of the local congregation, evangelism and benevolence. Multiple lessons could be taught on what the Church can and can t do with the Lord s money. Due to time constraints we won t discuss those now. From the very beginning of the Church a treasury was kept in order to take care of the needs of the local congregation. 13
Ac 4:34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. This money was placed into a central treasury and then distributed from that treasury by the Apostles to take care of the needs of the Christians in that area. I know of no other examples, commands or inferences to anything else being done as a part of the worship to God besides these five items. Teach, Sing, Pray, Partake of the Lord s Supper and Giving. If there is any other found in the scriptures then we need to incorporate it into our worship. Anything not found in the scriptures should be removed so we can worship in Truth and by Faith! 14