September 15, 2013
Morning Service

We ended our study last Sunday with this Scripture:

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

Paul had written a letter before this one that was very clear on what God had given him for the churches.  Now he is saying that there is a simple and easy to understand  knowledge of God’s plan for mankind.  IT IS JUST A MATTER OF READING YOUR BIBLE.

 

When we first start attending church, and are interested in serving God, and enjoy the thought of having eternal life.  The idea of making heaven, and missing hell,  well, we are thrilled, but wonder why this church does this, and that church does that?????  So in order to make sure we are in the church that Jesus said He would build, we search the Scriptures to find it, and it’s structure, authority, and pattern of worship.  IT’S ALL IN THE BIBLE.

 

We are studying why we do what we do, and the several parts of our worship service.

 

Last Sunday we looked at Scripture that teaches us the plan of salvation.  Very clear, and simple.

This morning we will continue with WHAT WE TEACH.

 

4. Our pattern of worship for each first day of the week is as follows:
A. Singing (with instrumental music) (I Corinthians 14) at the bishops' discretion.(Acts 15:6-21)

·         And we state it this way because there are some very good Bible teaching people that do not believe in having instruments in their worship services.  That’s okay.  It goes along with what Paul taught concerning your day of worship.  Choose the day you want to keep, but keep it for your day of worship, and rest, but do not judge others that choose another day.  We choose instruments, and they don’t.  However, we do not condemn them for their decision, and hopefully they don’t us for our decision.

·         I Cor.14:   Paul gives us the only description that we have of what was happening in the early church meetings.  So through prayer, and seeking the mind of Christ on this matter, we have evolved to where we are at today.

·         Acts 15:   This chapter describes the first council meeting of the church.  Paul, and Barnabas had been preaching, and establishing churches on their missionary trips, and the question brought before the council was, just what exactly did these gentile converts have to do to be pleasing to God. 

·         The point being, and one of the lessons to come from this, is how these things were determined.  The leaders of the church, they made the decision, and it is the process that we use to determine God’s will for the church.  THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE JUST NOT THAT CLEAR, AND DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE, AND THAT IS HOW IT IS DONE.  The main thing is that the decision that is made is not in direct contrast to the Word.  WHEN THE THING IN QUESTION IS NOT THAT CLEAR, THEN IT IS AT THE DESCRETION OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CONGREGATION.

B. Prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17-18)

·         There are so many Scriptures that teach us to pray.  The disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray, and that is what we consider the Lord’s prayer.  “ Our Father which art in Heaven……………..”

·         1Th 5:17-18  Pray without ceasing.  (18)  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

·         Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

·         So it only makes since to pray when we are all assembled, and to take our needs to the Father.

C. Communion :
(1) Partakers of the body and blood of the Lord. (John 6:53)

·         This statement by Jesus is what should make our communion service so very special.

Joh 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

·         And when Jesus said this there were some that were there, left, and followed Him no more.

·         By Jesus’s own words, they turned down eternal life.

·         When Jesus said this they were eating the Passover meal.  The lamb that Jesus became for us.  God told the children of Israel upon giving the instructions for this meal, when they killed the lamb, they were to put the blood on their door posts, and when He saw the blood He would pass over that house killing no one.

·         So Jesus is our Passover Lamb of the new covenant;  1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:

(2) Discerning the Lord's body, till He comes again. (Luke 22:17-20), (I Corinthians 11:29)

Luk 22:17-20  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:  (18)  For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.  (19)  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.  (20)  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

·         Then Paul gives further explanation in I Cor. 11.

SO THEN HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE COMMUNE?

(3) Every first day of the week. (Acts 20:7)     We use this as an example.

·         History will teach us that the early church communed every first day of the week.

·         This again I believe falls in the category, of the leadership of the congregation choosing what day to do this, just as in choosing the day of worship, and whether to have instruments or not.

HERE AGAIN, NO JUDGING.
D. Giving :
.........(1) We do not teach tithing as a binding New Testament teaching.
.........(2) We teach giving as we have been prospered. (II Corinthians 9:7), (I Corinthians 16:2)

·         When you begin to learn what other congregations are teaching, and wonder  just what is the right way for me to give to God’s work?

·         Greg gave an excellent teaching on giving Last Sunday evening.  This is a very touchy subject to a lot of Christians.  That is why giving God the first 10% of your earnings is a simple way to give, but it is not required of N.T. Christians, as it was for the Jews of the O.T.

·         There are some groups that I have heard will ask to see your check stub, just to make sure you are giving your tithe.  IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE THAT WAY.  The Scriptures above show us that God expects us to be willing givers, of how we have been prospered.  If you give grudgingly, or feel it is an obligation, God doesn’t want your offering.  We give because we love God, and also realize the church has certain responsibilities to be met, and one of the big ones is to help the needy.

E. Preaching and teaching the Word of God. (I Corinthians 14)
F. Testimony service. (I Corinthians 14)
G. Praying for the sick, anointing with oil (James 5:14-15), in the assembly, again at the bishops' discretion. (Acts 15:6)
This pattern of worship may vary from fellowship to fellowship under the discretion or authority of the local bishop. (Matthew 18:18)

WE PRAY FATHER THAT WHAT WE DO IN OUR SERVICES IS PLEASING TO YOU, AND OFFENDS NO ONE.