Order of service and worship

[agedman]

In many churches there is an "order of service" that is followed.

Generally it goes that there is singing followed by preaching. Prayer, announcements and offerings perhaps are part of that order, too.

Churches are commonly known to call this the "worship service."

Two questions follow.

What constitutes worship in your church (or by the people of the fellowship)?

What constitutes worship in the Scriptures?

 

[Ruiz]

I think you need to distinguish between two types of worship: Corporate Worship and Individual Worship.

You are clearly referring to Corporate Worship

Next, there should be a distinguishing between the heart of worship and the elements of worship. We will all agree there is a heart of love singularly towards God in trinitarian worship.

As for the elements, I believe there are six major elements included in worship.

Preaching of the Word of God
Prayer
Public Reading of Scripture
The Ordinances
Giving to the Lord of our treasures
Singing the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs

As for the order of worship, I think our modern era over focuses on the singing elements and probably under focuses on prayer, the public reading of scripture, and sometimes the ordinances.

 

[12strings]

(Everyone notice How I don't have to quote the entire previous post if it's clear who I'm responding to?)

What constitutes "Worship" in scripture is very broad, and so worship in our church is very broad. Singing, preaching, listening to preaching, playing a drum set, fellowship after the service, giving offerings, and serving in the nursery can all be acts of worship.

There is a special time of corporate worship in which we focus on giving glory go god by giving attention to his word, praising him in song, and lifting up Christ so that He may draw people to himself.

I would define worship as our proper response to all that God is and does, expressed primarily in the commandments to Love God and love our neighbor.

 

[Amy.G]

As for the elements, I believe there are six major elements included in worship.

Preaching of the Word of God
Prayer
Public Reading of Scripture
The Ordinances
Giving to the Lord of our treasures
Singing the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs

:thumbsup:

 

[agedman]

Twelve strings said, "I would define worship as our proper response to all that God is and does, expressed primarily in the commandments to Love God and love our neighbor."

I would agree - especially to the "our proper response to all that God is and does."

I am not certain that serving the functions of running a church (thinking of the first deacons serving as waiters) is a point of worship.

Nor would I contend that performing in a fine arts capacity, or any other such service is a point of worship.

How do you consider these as a proper response to all that God is and does? Seems that one using the talent that God gave them in service, is merely an expectation.

Do you consider sacrifice as an intricate part of the worship? It certainly was in the old testament.

 

[Tom Butler]

Here is a line I read somewhere. Wish I could remember the source:
Worship is telling God the truth about Himself.
Obviously there are a number of ways to do that, some already mentioned.

What constitutes "Worship" in scripture is very broad, and so worship in our church is very broad. Singing, preaching, listening to preaching, playing a drum set, fellowship after the service, giving offerings, and serving in the nursery can all be acts of worship.

Well, we can discuss it, but I don't see working in the nursery or after-service fellowship as acts of worship. These are acts of service, but not the service of worship, in my view. Drums? Weeeelll, maybe an aid to worship but not an act of worship.

Do you consider sacrifice as an intricate part of the worship? It certainly was in the old testament.

Yes I do. We worship the Lamb who was sacrificed once and for all. We remember the sacrifice and the sacrificed Lamb through baptism and Lord's Supper. We preach the death, burial and resurrection of the Lamb, whom we worship.

 

[mandym]

In many churches there is an "order of service" that is followed.

Generally it goes that there is singing followed by preaching. Prayer, announcements and offerings perhaps are part of that order, too.

Churches are commonly known to call this the "worship service."

Two questions follow.

What constitutes worship in your church (or by the people of the fellowship)?

What constitutes worship in the Scriptures?

All of these things can be done in worship of God and they can be done without worship of God. Worship is a matter of motivation. But it must always be done in an acceptable fashion.

Heb 12:28 For this reason, receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us have grace, by which we may serve God pleasingly, with reverence and awe;


Note* I have no problem quoting all of the person I am responding too.

 

[agedman]

Mandym said, "All of these things can be done in worship of God and they can be done without worship of God. Worship is a matter of motivation. But it must always be done in an acceptable fashion."

What do you mean in the sentence, "Worship is a matter of motivation."

And what is the "acceptable fashion" as opposed to an unacceptable fashion.

I didn't think fashion had anything to do with worship. Does it mean that I can't worship in my Hawaiian shirt, sandals, and speedos?

 

[convicted1]

In many churches there is an "order of service" that is followed.

Generally it goes that there is singing followed by preaching. Prayer, announcements and offerings perhaps are part of that order, too.

Churches are commonly known to call this the "worship service."

Two questions follow.

What constitutes worship in your church (or by the people of the fellowship)?

What constitutes worship in the Scriptures?

Our order of service is we start by singing some songs. We usually sing appro 30 minutes. The Moderator then gets up and welcomes the congregation, and has the clerk, or assistant clerk(me) to read the prayer list. After reading the list, he then asks if anyone else has a prayer request. After this, we sing a osng, go around and shake hands, and then go to the Lord in prayer. After prayer, we generally have three preachers(on occasion we have had four) preach, with the last one publishing an open door to receive new members by way of experience and baptism. After the last song is sung, we then have a prayer of dismissal, and that ends the service.

Worship service for us, starts with the first song. It ends when the last song is sung. We never have a bad service, just that some really stick out better than some others. To me, worship is about praising God for all the blessings He has bestowed unto me, especially that saving Grace He gave me May 24, 2007.

As far as scriptural references; John 4, Jesus stated that His Father is a Spirit, and they that worship Him, must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

 

[Herald]

We conform to the RPW (Regulative Principle of Worship) in that we include those things that God requires in worship and exclude those things that are not expressly commanded.

Our order of worship is as follows:

• Interlude of hymns (normally two)
• Call to Worship with reading of a psalm
• Congregational signing (one hymn and one psalm)
• Pastoral prayer
• Reading and exposition of Scripture
• Prayer of repentance
• Hymn
• Offering
• Lord's Supper (we observe it weekly)
• Message
• Hymn
• Benediction

 

[12strings]

aboda (Hebrew) and latreia (greek) both are SOMETIMES translated worship in scriptures. They usually refer to offering sacrifice, as you say, but sometimes can refer to simple service; in which playing the drums or serving in the nursury would certainly qualify, if done in a spirit of love and submission to God.

The other main pair of words translated as worship are the [FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Greek word proskyneo[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]and its Hebrew equivalent shachac. These mean to "bow down, bend the knee, or kiss toward." They refer to a posture or attitude of submission or reverence.

I believe these words and others show a broader possibility for worship than agedman and TomButler are describing, and extend to all parts of life, including direct praise of God, service and sacrifice to and for him, seeking to point others to him in our fellowship and conversations, and the battle against sin. Part of fighting temptation is deciding to worship God above the idols of entertainment, fear of man, or lust.

I think it is too restrictive to assign a modern definition to worship and then exclude everything that does not fit our favorite definition.
[/FONT]

 

[Tom Butler]

Oops, sorry. I thought the OP was talking about corporate worship.

Of course, individual worship may involve more elements that corporate worship.

You wanna worship while hiking down a trail through the woods? Okay by me.

Sing praises as you round third base after hitting a home run? Help yourself.

Shout Hallelujah as your golf ball rolls into the cup for a birdie? Be my guest. Give the Lord a fist-bump for me.

Nobody is saying that individuals may not worship anytime, anywhere. It's just not the same as corporate worship.

 

[annsni]

Twelve strings said, "I would define worship as our proper response to all that God is and does, expressed primarily in the commandments to Love God and love our neighbor."

I would agree - especially to the "our proper response to all that God is and does."

I am not certain that serving the functions of running a church (thinking of the first deacons serving as waiters) is a point of worship.

Nor would I contend that performing in a fine arts capacity, or any other such service is a point of worship.

How do you consider these as a proper response to all that God is and does? Seems that one using the talent that God gave them in service, is merely an expectation.

Everything we have is from God and even how I serve my family is an act of worship. My heart rejoices over the fact that I have been blessed with a godly, loving husband and 4 amazing kids and it is my response to that gift to me that is an act of worship. I can serve them with a hard heart or I can serve them with a heart of gratefulness to God. So EVERYTHING I do can be worship.

In the service, we sing songs as is prescribed in the Scripture. We celebrate the Lord's Supper, baptize and listen to the reading and teaching of the Word of God. All of that can absolutely be worship.

Do you consider sacrifice as an intricate part of the worship? It certainly was in the old testament.

No, I don't consider sacrifice as an intricate part of worship because Jesus Christ is our sacrifice. If celebrated in the Lord's Supper then yes, it is a part of our worship and Christ's sacrifice is absolutely central to our teaching but our own sacrifice as prescribed in the Old Testament is no longer needed. There is no benefit to the blood of sheep and goats.

 

[12strings]

No, I don't consider sacrifice as an intricate part of worship because Jesus Christ is our sacrifice. If celebrated in the Lord's Supper then yes, it is a part of our worship and Christ's sacrifice is absolutely central to our teaching but our own sacrifice as prescribed in the Old Testament is no longer needed. There is no benefit to the blood of sheep and goats.

Excellent point! I can worship God by simply giving thanks for HIS sacrifice!

 

[12strings]

From agedman:

How do you consider these as a proper response to all that God is and does? Seems that one using the talent that God gave them in service, is merely an expectation.

I would put using musical talents to serve and lead a congregation as one way to obey Rom. 12:1 - Presenting your bodies a living sacrifice. There are certainly other ways.

It is a "proper response" to God to use the gifts he has given me to praise him and lead others to praise him.

 

[agedman]

12strings ??

12 strings said, "The other main pair of words translated as worship are the Greek word proskyneo and its Hebrew equivalent shachac. These mean to "bow down, bend the knee, or kiss toward." They refer to a posture or attitude of submission or reverence."

So, a church that, in their "worship," become so enthralled and psychologically numbed by and with the fleshly oriented delivery of music and speech that they do not "bow down, bend the knee, or (caress, embrace) toward" in both posture and attitude that show submission and / or reverence (and I would add somber reflection upon the holy God's grace toward the believer's total unworthiness) - that still can be Scriptural worship?

 

[agedman]

From agedman:

I would put using musical talents to serve and lead a congregation as one way to obey Rom. 12:1 - Presenting your bodies a living sacrifice. There are certainly other ways.

It is a "proper response" to God to use the gifts he has given me to praise him and lead others to praise him.

I'm glad we agree on this. :flower:

 

[12strings]

So, a church that, in their "worship," become so enthralled and psychologically numbed by and with the fleshly oriented delivery of music and speech that they do not "bow down, bend the knee, or (caress, embrace) toward" in both posture and attitude that show submission and / or reverence (and I would add somber reflection upon the holy God's grace toward the believer's total unworthiness) - that still can be Scriptural worship?

If this happens, I would say no they are not worshiping God anymore, but worshiping the worship...However this could also happen in a very traditional church that prides itself on its large and well-played pipe organ.

 

[agedman]

If this happens, I would say no they are not worshiping God anymore, but worshiping the worship...However this could also happen in a very traditional church that prides itself on its large and well-played pipe organ.

Again, I agree.

I consider that a believer needs to be brought to an understanding of the manipulative use of both music and words to sway opinion and incite decision making. That in the modern church such manipulation should be strongly contended against.

If the Holy Spirit is not involved or "quenched" by the distraction of a person working themselves up into "feelings of worship" there is no true worship not spiritual growth - only detriment.

 

[annsni]

Again, I agree.

I consider that a believer needs to be brought to an understanding of the manipulative use of both music and words to sway opinion and incite decision making. That in the modern church such manipulation should be strongly contended against.

If the Holy Spirit is not involved or "quenched" by the distraction of a person working themselves up into "feelings of worship" there is no true worship not spiritual growth - only detriment.

So you mean "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards should be preached against? Or maybe a strong message against sin (manipulative use of words to sway opinion and incite decision making) is wrong?

Or is it specific to music?