Our Worship Service

Our Worship Service

June 13, 2010

Introduction

Most of you picked up a bulletin as you walked in this morning. Most of you probably paid little attention to the front cover since it never changes, and therefore has no news, but there is a line or two that I want to call to your attention this morning. One line says Morning Worship . . . 11:00, and the next line says Evening Worship. . . 6:00. No where does it say 11:00 a.m. until noon, but somehow that has been assumed: Assumed to the extent that when we run past that 12:00 o’clock time, some people become very nervous. This comes from the idea of a worship hour, so the hour is up, now let’s go home.

This morning, we want to take a closer look at what is often called the worship hour. This may be a good place to say what you may already know: The expression, worship service, or worship hour, or worship time does not occur a single time in the New King James Version, or even the New Century version.

Before you get too alarmed, I would point out that the word worship occurs 112 times in the New King James Version, and 68 of those times are in the Old Testament with the other 44 times in the New Testament. So what is worship?

Body

I. What is worship?

It involves a state of mind.
It may involve sacrifice, or at least sacrificial giving.
It may involve the body.

1. Bowed heads

2. Closed eyes

3. Bended knees

God speaks of the stiff neck.

(Exo 32:9-10 NKJV) And the LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! {10} "Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation."

Worship has to involve our thoughts and attitudes.

II. Are there “Items of worship”?

Some speak of five items of worship: Singing, praying, preaching, the Lord’s supper, and giving.
What does the Bible say?

(Acts 2:42 NKJV) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

1. Apostles’ Doctrine – preaching, or teaching.

2. Fellowship – does that include giving?

3. The breaking of bread – is that the Lord’s supper?

4. And in prayers – does that include singing?

5. We are commanded to sing, so where would it go?

(Eph 5:19-20 NKJV) speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, {20} giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

(1 Cor 14:15 NKJV) 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.

Is there a “main item” of worship?

1. Some like to make the Lord’s Supper the main item of worship.

2. Without the Lord’s death and resurrection things would be completely different, but some get some misconceptions about the Lord’s supper.

a. Some have been known to partake of the Lord’s supper, and then leave the building.

b. Some seem to feel the only service they need to attend is the one where they partake of the Lord’s supper.

III. What does the Bible say about the Lord’s Supper?

Paul tells how it was instituted.

(1 Cor 11:23-24 NKJV) 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; {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."

Paul also tells about the cup.

(1 Cor 11:25 NKJV) 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."

It is the message about the Lord’s death.

(1 Cor 11:26 NKJV) For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

It must be partaken of in the right manner.

(1 Cor 11:27-29 NKJV) Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. {28} But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. {29} For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

1. We practice self examination, not closed communion.

2. Each individual must decide whether or not they should partake of the Lord’s supper.

It is the manner, not the person.

1. Some want to make this “whoever is unworthy.”

2. It is the manner in which we partake.

3. So how do we get the manner correct.

a. Pray with he one who leads the prayer.

b. Keep your head bowed.

c. Close your eyes after the tray passes you.

d. Think about the meaning of what you are doing.

e. Continue your own silent prayer of thanksgiving for what Jesus and God have done for you.

IV. We take up an offering for the convenience of our members.

We do not expect visitors to contribute.
Our contribution to the church here does not mean that we cannot contribute to other causes.
It is our money to decide what and how much to give.

(Acts 5:1-4 NKJV) But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. {2} And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. {3} But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? {4} "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

Conclusion

I. We are reminded of Christ’s death in the Lord’s supper.

II. We have another physical representation of his death, burial, land resurrection in baptism.

III. Have you been baptized into Christ?

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