Worship in Acts Lessons From Acts
The Work of the Church What Are We Doing? –Worship –Evangelism –Benevolence Why Are We Doing It? –God Loves Us (John 3:16) –Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) –We Should Love Each Other (1 John 3:17; Mk 12:30-31) Where Do I Fit In? – Acts (Action) Who Gets to Define the Mission Statement?
Worship (Acts 20) In Acts 20:16, Paul is in a hurry to get to Jerusalem Paul arrived in Troas and waited 7 days –Being in a hurry, what does this say about worship being on the first day of the week? Now on the first day of the week when the disciples came together to …
Worship (Command) Heb 10:24-25 You can’t stir up love and good works if you forsake the assembly –To stir up love and good works –Not to forsake, as is the manner of some –Let us exhort one another daily (Heb. 3:12-14) What is implied in 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Acts 20:7? –When do we assemble? (Sunday AM & PM, Wednesday, Gospel Mtgs) Acts 2:42, 46: Do we have the same desire?
Worship (Desire) Ps 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD.“ Ps 100:1-2 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us. (John 3:16)
Worship (Desire) Do we want to be here? Do we want to be around other believers? Do We Participate –Classes, Singing, Praying, Preaching, etc… Body Language
Worship (Preparation) It Is Not About Me (Contemporary Worship) We get out what we put in –Illustrated by practice (sports, acting, instrument) Song leaders, table talks, prayers, preacher –Do they need to prepare before arriving? On time, rested, energized, etc… –Can we worship properly if we aren’t present in “mind” and “body”?
Worship (Authority) Two basic positions: –I can worship God any way I want –I must worship God only as He directs How do we decide how to worship? –Col. 3:17
Worship (Authority) Are worshiping as God wants us to, or are we following “Church of Christ tradition”? So can you give book, chapter and verse for everything you do in worship? (2 Tim. 2:15, 3:16 & 1 Pet. 3:15) –“Your” Worship –“Your” Defense
Worship (Acts) Sunday AM –Assemble –Observe Lord’s Supper –Sing (Praise, teach and exhort) –Pray –Preach and Teach –Contribution
Worship (Acts) Assemble –Acts 20:7 (when) –1 Cor. 16:1-2 (when) –Hebrews 10:24-25 (why) Heb. 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Worship (Acts) Observe the Lord’s Supper –Acts 20:7 (when) –1 Cor. 11:17-34 (how) Acts 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
Worship (Acts) Sing (Praise, Exhort and Teach) Eph 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, (NKJV) Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (NKJV) Acts 16:25 – Paul and Silas in jail
Worship (Acts) Prayer In the assembly (1 Cor. 14:15-17; 1 Tim. 2:8) Times of trouble (Acts 4:23-31; 12:5, 12) For the sick (Read James 5:15-16) Those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-2) 1Ti 2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
Worship (Acts) Preach and Teach Acts 20:7 Paul preached till midnight at Troas Acts 20:20 (Paul preached publicly and house to house in Ephesus) 1 Tim 4:13,16; 2 Tim 4:1-2 inform, convict, and convert 2 Tim 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Worship (Acts) Contribution 1 Cor 16:1-2 Lay something aside weekly 2 Cor 8:12 With a willing mind and according to what one has 2 Cor 9:6-7 Give as he purposed in his heart 2 Cor 9:6-7 not grudgingly but cheerfully 1 Cor 16:2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.