How Does the Church Worship?

Text: Philippians 3:3

Introduction:
  I. A needed study – because ignorance prevails.
 II. Worship means “the reverent love and allegiance 
     accorded a deity, idol, or sacred object.” You might 
     say that it “is reverence paid.”  It is “awe and 
     respect shown.”
III. Many erroneous ideas concerning worship:
     A. “It makes no difference how we worship.”
     B. “Worship is not essential to going to heaven.”
     C. “God accepts everybody’s worship.”
     D. “If we worship God, we will go to heaven.”
     E. “Worship is to ‘entertain’ us.”
        1. I like…
        2. “I can’t be a member of the church of Christ, 
           because I like piano music.”
        3. This is a danger.
        4. “The preacher puts on a great show.”  The 
           preacher “puts a lot of thought into his 
           production.”
     F. Worship should “excite” us emotionally.
     G. Worship should “impress” others.
     H. The “Stockade Program…”
 IV. The New Testament is our standard relative to worship:
     A. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
     B. 2 John 9
     C. John 4:23-24

Body:
  I. Three kinds of worship.
     A. Ignorant.
        1. Acts 17:23, 30
        2. This is not acceptable to God.
     B. Vain.
        1. Matthew 15:8-9
        2. “Will” worship comes under sin.
        3. Colossians 2:23 – Will-worship is any worship 
           one devises and proscribes for himself, contrary 
           to the contents and nature of faith which ought 
           to be directed by Christ. Thayer p. 168  Will-
           worship is voluntarily adopted worship whether 
           unbidden or forbidden. Vine IV, p. 236

 II. Three essentials to true worship. John 4:24
     A. Right Object – God!
     B. Right Manner – In Spirit!
     C. Right Way – In truth!

III. Right Object – God!
     A. Matthew 4:10
     B. Matthew 6:24
     C. Acts 14:11-18
     D. Acts 10:25-26
     E. Revelation 19:10
     F. Not Mary, saints, or the pope nor anyone else.
     G. Not angels. Colossians 2:18
     H. Paul gives several reasons why we should worship 
        God in his sermon on Mars Hill in Acts 17:22-31:
        a. God is the Creator.
        b. God is Lord of Heaven and earth.
        c. He is the Father.
        d. He is judge.
        e. He is benefactor.
        f. He is omnipotent.
        g. He is all sufficient.
        h. He is omnipresent.
        i. He is impartial.
        j. He is righteous.
     I. Someone has said that we become like who we 
        worship.

 IV. Right Manner – In Spirit!
     A. Psalms 89:7; 100:4; 122:1
     B. Hebrews 12:28-29
     C. Philippians 3:3 (Omit)
     D. 1 Corinthians 11:28-29
     E. Need to recognize as Cornelius did in Acts 10:33, 
        that we are in the presence of God.

  V. The Right Way – In Truth!
     A. John 17:17
        1. According to God’s word!
        2. Doing only those things that are authorized in 
           God’s word- but doing them!
     B. Teaching (or Preaching) God’s word.
        1. When? Anytime.
        2. Scriptures:
           a. Acts 2:42
           b. Acts 5:42
           c. Acts 20:7
           d. 1 Corinthians 14:4-5, 19
     C. Praying.
        1. When?  Anytime.
        2. Scriptures:
           a. Acts 2:42
           b. Acts 12:5
           c. 1 Corinthians 14:15
           d. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
     D. Laying by In Store.
        1. When?  First day of the week. 1 Corinthians 
           16:1-2
        2. No dues are levied nor assessments made.
        3. No entertainment to raise money.
        4. No business projects to raise money.
        5. No Aid Societies organized to aid the church.
        6. No begging campaigns.
        7. Each Christian is to give according to his 
           prosperity.  It should be done bountifully. 2 
           Corinthians 9:6
        8. Each Christian should give according as he 
           purposes in his heart… 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
        9. We should first give ourselves. 2 Corinthians 
           8:5
     E. Singing.
        1. When?  Anytime.
        2. Scriptures:
           a. Ephesians 5:19
           b. Colossians 3:16
           c. 1 Corinthians 14:15
        3. There are two kinds of music:
           a. Mechanical instrumental or vocal music.
           b. God did not say “music”, He said “sing.”
        4. The word “sing” is the scope of the command, and 
           therefore it is the limit of our practice.
        5. It (Mechanical instrumental Music) is not merely 
           an “aid” but it is an addition.
           a. When an “aid” becomes an “element” it ceases 
              to be an “aid” and becomes an addition!  It 
              ceases to be an incidental and becomes 
              innovation.
           b. “Swimming pool” (baptistery – is an aid for 
              the command to baptize)
        6. Playing Mechanical Instrumental music in 
           worship:
           a. Jesus Christ never authorized it.
           b. The Holy Spirit has not revealed it.
           c. The apostles never commanded it.
           d. No inspired men ever taught it!
           e. There is no inspired record where any early 
              Christian ever practiced it!
     F. Breaking of Bread (The Lord’s Supper)
        1. When?  “First day of the week.”
        2. Acts 20:7
        3. Jesus instituted the Supper.
           a. Matthew 26:26-28.
           b. 1 Corinthians 11:23
        4. It was to be observed in the Kingdom.
           a. Matthew 26:29
           b. Mark 14:25
        5. It was observed in the church.
           a. 1 Corinthians 11:17-33
           b. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
           c. Acts 20:7
        6. Consider: Are the containers for the Bread and 
           Fruit of the Vine significant?

Conclusion:
  I. Only God has the right to authorize acts of worship.
 II. He has done so.
III. We should strive to worship God acceptably!!