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"THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT"
The Worship Of The Church - II
INTRODUCTION
1. In seeking to better understand "The Church Jesus Built", we are
looking at the worship of the church as revealed in the New
Testament
2. The preceding lesson made the following observations about the
nature of worship in the early church...
a. Their worship was "in spirit and truth" - Jn 4:23-24
b. Their worship was "for edification" - 1 Co 14:26
c. Their worship was to be done "decently and in order" - 1 Co 14:40
3. In determining what was meant to "worship God in spirit and truth",
I suggested that...
a. It involved worship in keeping with God's nature (i.e., God is
Spirit, our worship is to be spiritual)
b. It would be different from the "fleshly ordinances" of the Old
Testament which were a "shadow" of that which is true (or real)
4. This lesson will identify the elements of worship as described in
the NT...
a. I.e., the activities in which the early church engaged in their
worship
b. With some observations about their "spiritual" nature in contrast
to OT worship
[Let's begin by noticing...]
I. ACTIVITIES IN THE WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH
A. THEY OBSERVED THE LORD'S SUPPER...
1. As commanded by the Lord and His apostles
a. A memorial feast instituted by Jesus Himself - Lk 22:14-20
b. Taught to the churches by the apostles - 1 Co 11:23-29
c. In this memorial they remembered:
1) The sinless body offered on the cross
2) The blood shed to provide forgiveness for their sins
d. In this memorial they proclaimed their faith in the
efficacy of the Lord's death
2. On the first day of the week
a. As described in Ac 20:7
b. One can infer from this passage that they were doing this
every week
c. Other passages certainly indicate they were assembling
regularly on the first day of the week - e.g., 1 Co 16:1-2
B. THEY GAVE TO MEET CERTAIN NEEDS...
1. The church was noted for its love for one another
a. As exemplified in the church at Jerusalem - cf. Ac 2:44,45;
4:32-35
b. Such love went beyond those in the local congregation
- Ac 11:27-30
2. A weekly collection was instituted
a. To provide for the needs of the saints - 1 Co 16:1-2
b. Principles were taught to determine how much one should
give
1) "As he may prosper" - 1 Co 16:2
2) Whatever is given with "a willing mind" - 2 Co 8:12
3) "According to what one has" - 2 Co 8:12-13
4) "As he purposes (plans) in his heart" - 2 Co 9:7
5) Whatever one can give "cheerfully", not "grudgingly" or
"of necessity" - 2 Co 9:7
6) Keeping in mind the principle of "sowing and reaping"
- 2 Co 9:6,8
3. Funds so collected were used to help needy Christians,
including those who devoted their lives to preaching the
gospel - cf. 2 Co 11:8,9; Ph 4:10-18
C. THEY LISTENED TO THE WORD...
1. They were noted for their attention to the Word
a. The church in Jerusalem "continued steadfastly in the
apostles' doctrine..." - Ac 2:42
b. As ambassadors of Christ, the apostles' words were taken
very seriously - cf. 1 Co 14:37; 1 Th 2:13
2. They therefore used their assemblies to hear God's Word
a. As when Paul spoke at Troas - Ac 20:7
b. Or when letters from the apostles had been received - cf.
Co 4:16
D. THEY OFFERED PRAYERS AND SONGS...
1. Prayers were offered in their assemblies
a. As indicated in 1 Co 14:15-17
b. Especially in times of trouble - cf. Ac 12:5,12
2. Songs were sung when they were together
a. Using psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to speak to one
another - Ep 5:19
b. Using the same to teach and admonish one another - Co 3:16
[Such were the activities in which the Christians engaged in the
worship of the early church. But in what way was their worship any
more "spiritual" than that seen in the Old Testament? Let me suggest a
few observations regarding...]
II. THE SPIRITUAL NATURE OF THEIR WORSHIP
A. CONTRAST THE LORD'S SUPPER WITH O.T. SACRIFICES...
1. The OT required elaborate ritual in offering various
sacrifices, which certainly involved the physical senses
(sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)
2. The Supper, a memorial of Christ's sacrifice, involves the
mind more than the senses
a. Requiring meditation rather than much in the way of
physical action
b. Involving a time for reflection, self-examination
B. CONTRAST THEIR GIVING WITH O.T. TITHING...
1. The OT required a specific amount (a tithe, or ten percent),
which could easily be given in a perfunctory manner
2. The giving in the NT was based upon principles requiring
careful thought and proper attitudes
a. As one prospered and purposed in their heart
b. Cheerfully, without grudging obligation
C. CONTRAST THEIR SINGING WITH O.T. MUSIC...
1. Mechanical instruments were used in the OT to accompany praise
to God
2. In NT worship, the instrument they used was the "heart", not
the "harp"
a. Upon which they were to "make melody" - cf. Ep 5:19
b. In which they were to sing "with grace" - cf. Co 3:16
D. CONTRAST OTHER ELEMENTS OF WORSHIP...
1. The OT required:
a. A physical tabernacle (temple)
b. Separate priesthood
c. Special garments
d. Burning of incense
e. Elaborate ceremonies, special feast days
2. In NT worship:
a. The temple is the people of God - 1 Co 3:16-17; Ep 2:20-22
b. All Christians are priests - 1 Pe 2:5,9
c. They adorned themselves with Christ - Ga 3:27; Co 3:5-14
d. Their prayers were as incense - Re 5:8
e. Observance of feast days was a cause of concern - Ga 4:10,
11; Co 2:16,17
CONCLUSION
1. The worship in the early church was simple, and it was "spiritual"
a. Certainly simple in contrast with the worship of the Old Covenant
b. Designed to encourage the worship of God with the inner man, not
to make an impression on the outer man
-- Not to say that the outer man was not affected, but the priority
was on the spiritual
2. This was especially true in regards to the use of mechanical
instruments of music...
a. "... the first Christians were of too spiritual a fiber to
substitute lifeless instruments for or to use them to accompany
the human voice." -- CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA
b. "The execution of Byzantine church music by instruments, or even
the accompaniment of sacred chanting by instruments was ruled out
by the Eastern Fathers as being incompatible with the pure,
solemn, spiritual character of the religion of Christ."
-- Constantine Cavarnos, BYZANTINE SACRED MUSIC
c. "Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be
no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of
lamps, the restoration of the other shadows of the law. The
Papists, therefore, have foolishly borrowed this, as well as
many other things, from the Jews. Men who are fond of outward
pomp may delight in that noise; but the simplicity which God
recommends to us by the apostle is far more pleasing to Him."
- JOHN CALVIN, Commentary on the Book of Psalms, Vol. I, p. 539
3. Sadly, many today think that to become more "spiritual" requires
innovation (change)...
a. Such as mechanical instruments, clapping, burning of incense,
theatrical productions
b. But such things appeal to the fleshly side of man, rather than to
his spiritual side!
-- When one looks to the OT for the kind of worship they offer, they
are taking a step backward, not forward to true spirituality!
4. Some complain that simple singing and worship is "out-dated" and
boring...
a. But the "fleshly ordinances" of the OT are older than the
"spiritual worship" of the NT!
b. If we find the "spiritual worship" of the NT boring, is that not
a sad commentary on our own spiritual condition?
1) The melody of a song may only be a simple chant...
2) But if the words of the song present spiritual truths, how can
that be "boring"?
-- Is it really out-dated, or simply challenging to those seeking to
entertain themselves?
In "The Church Jesus Built", the worship will seek to worship God the
way Jesus instructs, again noting His words:
"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. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must
worship in spirit and truth." (Jn 4:23-24)
Is our worship "in spirit and truth"?
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© Mark A. Copeland, 2001
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