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WHAT IS WORSHIP?


QUESTIONS RAISED

  1. Is quartet singing an act of worship?
  2. Is listening to religious music on radio or TV wrong?
  3. Is it wrong to have a choir or group sing just for entertainment --- during worship? after worship?
  4. Is worship to be a form of entertainment?
    1. Must all participate in worship?
    2. Are there times when we are spectators in worship?
    3. Do we want a preacher that "holds our interest"?
    4. What is "Meaningful" worship?
    5. "I did not get anything out of the worship today."
  5. Is there a difference in public and private worship?
  6. Is worship - - - (Multiple choice)
    1. An hour appointed (9 a.m. Sunday)
    2. Five specific avenues during a set hour (see above)
    3. Any act that glorifies God (cup of cold water)
    4. Glorifying God in five specific acts anytime
  7. Let's open the WHOLE "can of worms":
    1. Announcements
    2. Weddings
    3. Funerals
    4. Communion to shut-ins
    5. Youth rally
    6. Radio or TV program
    7. Hand-clapping
    8. Bible classes
    9. Saying "Amen"
    10. Standing for a song
BIBLE STUDY
What is worship?
  1. 3-24 "in spirit and truth"
  2. Worship is from the "heart".
    1. Singing - Eph. 5:19
    2. Giving - I Cor. 16:2
    3. Prayer - Mark 11:23-24
    4. Lord's Supper - I Cor. 11:28
    5. Bible study - Luke 16:29
  3. Can you worship God as a secondary act?
    1. Sing while driving the car
    2. Pray while taking a test in school
  4. Worship requires:
    1. Proper object - God
    2. Proper attitude - In Spirit
    3. Proper action - In Truth
  5. The words translated "worship"
    1. Proskuneo [59 times] - "To kiss the hand towards one, in token of reverence, to make obeisance"
    2. Sebomai [10 times] - "Reverence, awe"
    3. Latreuo [21 times] - "To perform sacred services,, to offer gifts, to worship"
    4. Note: 1] has to do with the attitude, 2] respect, and 3] actions of service

Is worship a public act at specific times? OR Does one worship 24 hours a day in doing what glorifies God?
  1. Study Romans 12:1
    1. KJV "reasonable service"
    2. NIV "spiritual worship"
  2. Matthew 5:16 "let light shine"
  3. Matthew 10:40-42 "cup of cold water"


At the heart of the matter are two things:
  1. What constitutes worship
    1. Levels of worship
      1. Prayer and Lord's Supper
      2. Sermon
      3. Contribution and Singing
      4. Acts of kindness and benevolence
      5. Everything (work, shop, go to ball game)
    2. Degrees of worship
      1. Public, formal, corporate worship
      2. Anytime one of the five acts is used
      3. In every act that glorifies God
    3. Intent to worship
      1. You cannot worship accidentally
      2. You have not worshipped if you:
      1. Sing without meaning or understanding
      2. Endure prayers without listening
      3. Give grudgingly
      4. Sleep through the sermon
      5. Commune without discernment

  2. What constitutes Biblical authority
    1. Luther - Whatever is not forbidden, is authorized.
    2. Zwingli - Whatever is not authorized, is forbidden.
    3. Notice these terms:
      1. "Anti-biblical" - condemned in the Bible
      2. "Non-biblical" - neither right nor wrong
      3. "Biblical"
        1. Direct Command
        2. An Approved Example
        3. Principle

Can you do "worship things" for "non-worship" reasons?
  1. Grape juice and saltine crackers - as a snack
  2. Sing hymns - while ironing
  3. Immersed in water - when diving in swimming pool
  4. Practice songs, boys training class

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