122 Church Worship

Church Worship THIRD YEAR—SUBJECT 15

Church Worship

(READ John 4) 1. Praising God. Hebrews 13:15.

2. Prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

3. Breaking of bread. Acts 20:7.

4. The above items constitute man’s duty so far as worship is concerned In his church. The word worship means to honor, to adore, to bow down, to give supreme service to God.

David says, "Let the people praise thee." Psalms 50:23. Not only am I required to praise God for his goodness, but I am to give thanks unto his name. David says, Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay thy vows unto the Most High" Psalms 50:14. Again, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and unto his courts with praise" Psalms 100:4.

Closely associated with praise and thanksgiving for all of God’s mercies, we must also solemnly engage in prayer. Paul says, "In everything by prayer and supplication With thanksgiving, let your requests be known unto God" Php 4:6.

Connected with the early church was the communion on the Lord’s day. This was an individual matter, ordained by Christ. Matthew 26:26-28. It was practiced in the early church. Acts 2:42. It was observed upon the first day of the week as taught in Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.

It was enjoined by Paul to be continued until Christ should come. 1 Corinthians 11:23-30. This was the manner of worship in the apostolic times. All of this worship all could engage in. Preaching was sometimes done, inciden¬tally, at the place of worship. But to come together to hear preaching, for the purpose of being entertained, as much of the modern preaching is done for that purpose, did not belong to the primitive church.

QUESTIONS 1. In church worship, whom must I praise?

2. For what must I praise?

3. If I get up a human society and praise God in it. should I not praise this society?

4. For what should I thank God?

5. For what must I pray?

6. How must I pray If I hope to have my prayer answered?

7. How can I pray in faith?

8. When I pray for a blessing God has promised, when can I expect to get it?

9. If God’s blessings are promised at certain places upon certain condi¬tions, and I pray for God to give them to me in other places on other conditions, w ill my prayer be answered?

10. Why not?

11. If God promises to save me in the church, and states faith and baptism as conditions of said salvation, can I believe God and pray for these blessings elsewhere and upon other conditions?

12. Then, if I offer such prayers, am I worshipping God?

13. If all must meet to break bread, what condemnation comes upon those who wilfully stay away? Hebrews 10:22-30.