Worship 55
.HEAD 1 + Title: Designing a Service for Worship Text: Selected
Tracing: Preached January 26, 1992 AM at SDCC
.HEAD 1 + INTRO
An Experiment today! Last week we discussed how our worship is, to a large extent, a matter of LEARNING. As I was mentioning ways we can keep our minds alert to better retain what we learn, I mentioned taking notes, writing down questions, even challenging what is said. And I said that maybe once in a while we should have a “post-sermon” discussion. Today we will try it! So if questions or ideas occur to you, jot them down or hold on to them tight, and I’ll try to finish up a little early so we can have a brief discussion after the sermon.
There is little specifically said concerning the Worship Assemblies of the early church. There is little in the way of instruction, too. We have basically two ways we can go about trying to determine what our services should be like: 1) Look at the O.T. and observe their worship, filtering out that which is specific to the old covenant. 2) Look at Paul’s advice to the Corinthians.
OUR SERVICES SHOULD BE:
.HEAD 1 + BODY
.HEAD 2 + Exuberent
Let’s start by looking to the Old Testament — and where better to start than with the man after God’s Own Heart? 2Sa 6:3-22 We too need to worship with all our might, concerned only with what God thinks, not men! Consider Ps 150:3-5 (Exuberant Worship!), Col. 3:17,23, Mr 12:30 (Great Commandment!
What does exuberence mean in our worship services? 1) Doing what we do, only more so! 2) Doing what we’re led to do cooperatively 3) Doing what will enhance the corporate worship experience (for example, “amens” focus your attention and that of others) 4) Doing what will express our worship, regardless of what others may think! (illus. clapping, raising hands, “amens”, etc.)
.HEAD 2 + Orderly (Conducive to Learning)
Consider Corinth! Communion had become a Celebration of Selfishness – 1Co 11:20ff! Several or many people were evidently speaking at once and tongues were being spoken without interpretation – 1Co 14:26ff. Perhaps, because of several speaking at once (illus – party conversations), Women were evidently calling out questions to their husbands (who were seated separately) – 1Co 14:34-35. Paul’s summation of what is needed is found in 1Co 14:40 – Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
So order is called for. Why? Because a major part of our worship is learning! Nothing in our services should detract from that. This is the Balance to the first point.
What does it mean for us? Our services are generally free from major problems in this area. But we need to give ongoing attention to the reduction of distractions, etc. Not to the extent that we make people uncomfortable or unwelcome, but to a reasonable extent. Illus. – making parents of infants uncomfortable. Sometimes teenagers are in greater need of being taken out of the service by their parents than infants!
.HEAD 2 + Participative
Scripture teaches that everyone has something to contribute! RO 12, 1CO 12, 1Co. 14:26. For the good of the individual and the good of the body, it is imperative that we strive to involve everyone in our worship. It can be anything — greeting, encouraging someone, sharing a thought in Sunday School, teaching, singing, playing, etc. Everyone is needed!
Why then do we (unconsciously) discourage individual expressions of worship — an “Amen”, a raised hand, a whispered prayer, clapping in appropriate songs, etc. These are ways of participation!
We have different comfort levels. But in the interests of diversity and the health of the body, we need to stretch those comfort levels. We should work to develop an attitude that is at ease with any form of worship, and a style of worship service that uses many different forms on a regular basis.
Participation is one of the goals of the experiment I mentioned earlier – I have done some of the teaching, now others can join in as we take a few moments to discuss anything pertaining to our study of worship.
- Discussion —
.HEAD 1 + CONCLUSION
.HEAD 1 + COMMENTS – Use Ps 47 as Call to Worship
.HEAD 1 + Prepared by Scott L. Purcell Minister of Stokelan Drive Christian Church 1501 Stokelan Drive Malden, MO 63863 (314) 276-2343 Reproduce, modify, and use freely for the glory of God and the Growth of the Kingdom! If these outlines are of some benefit to you, a note, postcard, or phone-call would be most welcome!