THE CHRISTIAN AGE
CHRISTIAN WORSHIP (1)

In our last two lessons, we have studied in detailed about the gospel, how we are commanded to obey it and be saved. When we do this, we are then added to the Lord’s church (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:47, Matthew 16:18).

In the New Testament, we learn of many who obeyed the gospel. Now we will learn what to do after one has been added to the Lord’s church. We will look at some scriptures and see how the church worshipped in the New Testament.

To worship is to pay the highest honour or homage to a supreme being and to us, worship is paying homage or honour to our God in heaven.

In John 4:24, Jesus said that “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” To worship in spirit means in the proper attitude and frame of mind and in truth means according to the commands of God. Therefore, in order to worship in truth, one must know the specific commands or teachings contained in the Bible so that our worship will be acceptable to God.

The first time we read of people obeying the gospel is in Acts 2:41. The very next verse teaches that they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (teaching) and fellowship, the breaking of bread (the Lord’s Supper) and in prayers.

We learn from Acts 11:26 that the name by which the early disciples were called was Christians. In Acts 26:28, King Agrippa told Paul that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian.

Acts 20:7 tell us that the early church met on the first day of the week which is Sunday, to break bread (partake of the Lord’s Supper). The Lord’s Supper was instituted by our Lord Jesus before His death (Matthew 26:26-29) at the feast of the Passover (a Jewish festival) with his apostles. At the Passover feast, they were not to use leavened bread and thus unleavened bread and fruit of the vine were the items symbolic of the body and blood of Christ shed as a sacrifice for our sins. Acts 2:42 is clear evident of a continuation of worship as Jesus had ordained them to do.

When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he told them to lay by in store (or give) on the first day of the week (Sunday) when they come together. Here in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, we find the Corinthian Christians also come together on Sunday. These should serve as examples to us today. We should also come together on the first day of the week (Sunday) to partake of the Lord’s Supper and to give.

The New Testament has a great deal to say about the giving of our money. We are commanded to (1) give on the first day of the week as God has prospered (or blessed) us (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), (2) we are to plan ahead of time what we are going to give and (3) give that planned amount cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7).

The Christian should put God first in all things and this includes his material blessing (Luke 6:38). God’s people in the Old Testament followed a system which required the giving of tithe, meaning ten percent of all they have was returned to the Lord (Malachi 3:8). No Christian should want to do less than the Israelites did as we are bless with so much more abundantly as compared to those in the past.

Section 1 - Fill in the blanks

Question 1
To worship is to pay the highest_______ or_______ to _______ in heaven.

Question 2
God is _______ and those who worship Him must worship in_______ and________ John 4:24).

Question 3
The people who obeyed the gospel of Christ continued steadfastly in the________ doctrine and _______ in the _______ of bread and in _______, Acts 2:42.

Question 4
The early disciples in the New Testament were called _______ only (Acts 11:26).

Question 5
The church of the Bible met on the _______ day of the week which is Sunday, to break bread.

Section 2 - True or False

Question 6
The church is taught to lay by in store or give on the first day of the week.
TrueFalse

Question 7
The two elements in the Lord’s Supper are leaven bread and water.
TrueFalse

Question 8
We are to give as God as prospered us and cheerfully.
TrueFalse

Question 9
To worship in spirit means in the proper attitude and frame of mind.
TrueFalse

Question 10
To worship in truth means we can worship any time we like.
TrueFalse

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