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<...Go back

Can you comment on public worship?


Introduction. Our question this week reflects some thought. Allow me to begin by commenting on "worship." There are three nouns and five verbs translated worship in the Greek New Testament. Mr. W.E. Vine sums up the conclusion to "worship," "...broadly it may be regarded as the direct acknowledgment to God, of His nature, attributes, ways and claims, whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise and thanksgiving or by deed done in such acknowledgments" (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).

Private, as opposed to public worship. In a board sense, any time the Christian does the will of God he is worshipping (honoring God out of devotion to Him). Private worship can also be distinguished from public worship in the respect private worship may not be formal or in the assemble (cp. Acts 20: 20).

Public worship, the assembly. It is evident from a host of passages that the early churches of Christ regularly assembled to worship (1 Cor. 14, Acts 20: 7, Heb. 10: 25, Rom. 16: 16). They met on the Lord's day (Sunday) to observe the Lord's supper (Acts 20: 7), to give into the treasury of the local church (cp. 1 Cor. 16: 1, 2), to sing praise and admonish one another (Eph. 5: 19, Col. 3: 16), for preaching (Acts 20: 7, 2 Tim. 4: 1-6), and for prayer (Acts 2: 42). These five acts constituted the public worship of the Lord's church in the First Century (also today). No more, no less. Two of these public acts are limited to the Lord's day worship – the Lord's supper, and giving into the treasury (Acts 20: 7, 1 Cor. 16: 1, 2).

Worship, private or public, must be in spirit and truth, with God being the object of our worship (John 4: 24). Public worship must be orderly and reverent (1 Cor. 14: 40, Heb. 12: 28). God's word must be allowed to govern worship least we be guilty of "will worship" and worshipping ignorantly (Col. 2: 23, Acts 17: 23).

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