How To Conduct A Church Service With Only A Bible

Question

What are the ingredients to a truly biblical worship service?

worship service

Answer

Humans are instinctively worshiping creatures. The psalmist expressed this when he wrote, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God" (Psalm 42:1). Cicero in the first century BC observed that religion, regardless of its form, was a universal trait of man. Seeing that people are going to worship something or someone, we should inquire what is worship? Whom and how shall we worship? What constitutes a biblical worship service, and, about chiefly, volition we be "true worshipers" (John 4:23) or false worshipers?

Christ commanded that true worshipers worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The campaigner Paul explained that we worship by the Spirit of God (Philippians 3:three), meaning that true worship comes only from those who take been saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and have the Holy Spirit living in their hearts. Worshiping in spirit too refers to having the proper eye attitude, not merely adhering to rites and rituals. To worship in truth means to worship according to what God has revealed almost Himself in Scripture. In social club for our worship to be biblical, it must abide within the doctrine of Christ (2 John one:9; meet also Deuteronomy four:12; 12:32; Revelation 22:eighteen–19). True worship relies on the instructions given in the Bible and tin can be offered with or without a Book of Confessions, Rules of Order, or other manmade book of instructions or guidance.

The first-century church engaged in several devotional acts in their worship services, from which we tin can determine what comprises a truly biblical worship service: the communion supper was observed (Acts 20:vii), prayers were offered upwardly (ane Corinthians xiv:15–16), songs were sung to the glory of God (Ephesians five:nineteen), a collection was taken (1 Corinthians 16:two), the Scriptures were read (Colossians 4:16), and the Word of God was proclaimed (Acts 20:7).

The communion supper commemorates Jesus' death until He returns (1 Corinthians eleven:25–26). Prayer should be directed just to God (Nehemiah 4:ix; Matthew 6:ix), never to any dead person as in the practice of Catholicism. Nosotros are not authorized to use devices such as rosary beads or Buddhist "prayer wheels" in our worship. Near importantly, our prayers must be in harmony with the will of God (1 John 5:14).

In our worship, we should sing. The apostle Paul commands us to "speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and brand music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians five:19–20). Singing to the Lord and to one another conveys truth set to music (Colossians 3:16).

Part of truthful biblical worship is giving an offering, every bit Paul instructed the Corinthian church: "Now virtually the drove for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the showtime 24-hour interval of every week, each i of you should ready bated a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving information technology upwardly, so that when I come no collections will accept to be made" (i Corinthians 16:1–ii). Our regular giving for the support of the Lord's work is a serious responsibility. The opportunity to give should be viewed as a thrilling approving, not every bit a burdensome matter for grumbling (2 Corinthians 9:vii). Additionally, freewill giving is the only explicitly biblical method for financing the work of the church building. The church is not authorized to operate businesses, conduct bingo parties, hold pay-at-the-door concerts, etc. The church building of Christ is not meant to be a commercial enterprise (see Matthew 21:12–13).

Finally, preaching and education are major ingredients of true biblical worship. Our instruction must be the Scriptures lonely, the only means of equipping believers for life and godliness (ii Timothy 3:xvi–17). The godly preacher or instructor will teach only from the Word and rely on the Spirit of God do His work in the minds and hearts of his listeners. As Paul reminded Timothy, "Preach the Discussion; exist prepared in season and out of flavor; correct, rebuke and encourage—with not bad patience and careful didactics" (2 Timothy 4:2). A church gathering that does not include the Give-and-take of God every bit a major component is not a biblical worship service.

As we follow the pattern of true worship in Scripture, let united states worship God with dandy passion. Nosotros must not convey to the world the impression that the worship of our God is a slow, lifeless ritual. Nosotros take been redeemed from sin. Let u.s. therefore praise our Creator as His children who are grateful for His bountiful blessings. "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot exist shaken, let usa be thankful, and then worship God acceptably with reverence and awe" (Hebrews 12:28–29).

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What are the ingredients to a truly biblical worship service?

This page last updated: January 4, 2022