Posts Tagged ‘worship’
Why Worship?
by Matthew W. Bassford via His Excellent Word There has literally never been a time in my life when I wasn’t regularly attending worship services with the Lord’s people. Even when I was a little kid, even when my parents were members of a little congregation in New Jersey that was lucky if it broke 20…
Read MoreShould someone who says he is gay lead singing in a congregation?
Question: Yesterday my husband was disheartened to hear that one of our song leaders at our church of Christ is a confessed gay man who came out on social media and declared he has tried all kinds of treatment but just can’t feel differently. We both wish the best for all people in seeking their…
Read MoreHow Man Is to Approach God
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/HowManIsToApproachGod.mp3 by Gary Wells
Read MoreHow do you deal with a woman who brings her dog to worship?
Question: We have a lady who has been attending worship with us for over a month. She has since placed her membership with our congregation. This morning when she entered the building she had a little Chihuahua dog in her arms. She stated that it was her service dog and he did not have any…
Read MoreHow should prayers be offered in worship?
Question: Where I need help is with prayers. Is it scriptural to pray saying “In Jesus’ name” several times in between the prayer before concluding? Does it not count as vain repetitions? Is it scriptural to raise prayer points while everyone prays until the person leading will ask everyone to round up and stop eventually?…
Read MoreEveryone worships differently, but does it matter if we are all worshiping Christ?
Question: I have one question that concerns me: There are many Christian denominations or groups such as Orthodox, Protestantism, Catholic, Baptist, etc. Each one of those denominations or churches has its own practices and symbols. Ones who have the cross without Jesus, ones who have the cross with Jesus, ones who believe in Saints, ones…
Read MoreCan a non-Christian lead the congregation?
Question: I’m in charge of scheduling the worship leaders for a small church of Christ. Recently I was approached by an unsaved regular attendee, who wished to participate in leading our body in different aspects of our Sunday morning worship service — prayer, reading, communion, etc. I approached our elders for guidance, as it just…
Read MoreCan non-Christians worship God?
Question: Should a Christian invite his neighbor (who is not a Christan) to “come and worship with us”? I believe I can and should invite him to come and attend with us, but a person who is not a Christian can not worship God as the Bible commands. A person must first obey the Gospel…
Read MorePraise the Lord!
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PraiseTheLord.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 113 I. What, exactly, is meant when someone says, “Praise the Lord!”? A. Do you go around saying “Praise the Lord!” once in a while? B. When something nice happens to a friend, do you respond with “Praise the Lord!”? C. Often words and phrases are used with little thought as…
Read MoreHow do we praise God?
Question: Mr. Hamilton, I hear a lot of people talking about what they do to praise God, so my question is: How do we praise the Father according to His word? Thank you. Answer: In the Old Testament, one common word that is translated as “praise” is tehillah, which literally means “to cause to shine.”…
Read MoreCan women help in serving the Lord’s Supper?
Question: I recently worshiped at a congregation where they allowed women to assist in serving the communion. The women stood alongside the men in front of the congregation while one man read Scriptures and prayed, then the women helped to serve communion with the men. Is this in violation of I Timothy 2:12 or any…
Read MoreCan a brother committing fornication be used in church worship?
Question: Good day, Brother Jeffrey, I need your help on this. There is a brother committing fornication. He stopped worshiping. The reason why he doesn’t want to wed is that his sister, who is living abroad promised him to help him work abroad. If he gets married, he may not have a chance to work…
Read MoreIs having members quote memory verses during worship proper?
Question: Good day, Brother Jeff, During our worship on Sunday, we sing (Ephesians 5:19); we have teachings from the Bible (or a Bible study part), since we have not allotted a day for our Bible study but only on Sunday; we pray; we have the “collection of the saints” (I Corinthians 16:1-2); and the Lord’s…
Read MoreIs it scriptural to go to church via the Internet?
Question: I have a friend who “goes to church” via the Internet. Is that a scriptural way of worshiping and meeting? Thank you as always. I am very appreciative of the work you’ve been doing for so long! Answer: No, it is not a scriptural way to worship. In doing so he cannot: Assemble: “And…
Read MoreCan a Christian’s worship be hindered if he is in sin?
Question: Good morning, Can a Christian’s worship be hindered if they are in sin? Does God expect Christians to be completely holy when we worship Him? Answer: “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that…
Read MoreIs it possible to feel the presence of God when one worships Him?
Question: Is it possible to feel the presence of God when one worships Him? Answer: You ask the question in the wrong way because in the realm of possibility when dealing with God, almost anything is possible. But if you ask how God made His presence known in the past, then we find: Seen “And they…
Read MoreIs it wrong to make recordings during worship?
Question: God bless you, brother Hamilton. There is something that kind of bothers me and I would like to hear what you think the Bible says on it. The trend now is for everyone to make recordings during church services. They may be taking pictures or recording it Do you think is OK or not…
Read MoreWhat do you think about area-wide services?
Question: Hi! There is a new movement starting here which has me troubled. One of the local congregations is organizing an area-wide morning worship service to replace the normal worship service in the local congregations. My husband has tried to point out Hebrews 10:25, but one of the preachers involved said there is no forsaking…
Read MoreShould I visit congregations that are changing how things are done?
Question: My question concerns the Sunday order of service and slightly different services. I was added to the body about two years ago. Sometimes I like to visit the services of other churches of Christ. After one such visit, I mentioned to someone that the church I visited had communion after Bible class. I felt…
Read MoreI know that there are bad people in churches and being in church won’t save them, but why does God threaten to punish the good people who don’t worship Him?
Question: I am a religious Catholic, who has never been swayed by any sort of religious persecution or negative commentary, whatsoever. I believe that we should not judge other people because that is not our job to do. We are taught to live as good people on this Earth, no matter how ill many people…
Read MoreWorship as Entertainment
by Mark Roberts via Abundant Life Romans 1 challenges us with its chilling words “they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man” (vv. 22-23). Man has the propensity to change God and the worship of God into what he desires. Instead of doing what the Lord…
Read MoreCan a man give a woman permission to lead a part of the worship service?
Question: This past Sunday something very disturbing happened in our worship service. Our song leader said that he as a man in the church was giving permission to a woman to lead a song. I was very disturbed by this because I don’t believe that a man has the authority to usurp what God has…
Read MorePersonal Worship
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2012Fall3PersonalWorship.mp3 by Rob Speer God and I
Read MoreAre singing and prayers during mid-week Bible study worship?
Question: Dear Brother, I am a member of the Body of Christ. I have a question that I hope you can answer for me. After midweek Bible class everyone gathers and we sing songs, offer up prayers, a short sermon is given, and an invitation is extended. Is this worship? I know it is not…
Read MoreShould a church have time in worship for members to pray quietly?
Question: I am a member of the Church of Christ in a local congregation. Of late, when we pray in the church, we do allow individual members some time to say their prayers adding that we should not speak loud. I am perplexed now. Answer: I don’t blame you for being perplexed. Such prayers would…
Read MoreCan a short service be held in a shut-in’s home?
Question: I have a dilemma. Our elders have recently approved of an “abbreviated service” on Sunday afternoons at the home of one of our members who is home-bound and dying. This includes singing, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper. They are encouraging other members to join them for this service. We have other members who are…
Read MoreDoes a long service affect one’s relationship with God?
Question: Does long Christian liturgy affect one’s relationship with God? Are they good or is it a sin? Answer: “Liturgy” is just a fancy word for the public worship service. There is no fixed length for how long a worship service is to be. The usual teasing reminder that preachers point out is that Paul…
Read MoreIs it wrong to get agitated at having baby dedication ceremonies during worship?
Question: I am in search of a church home and have visited several. The last church I joined was more focused on supporting its Christian school than on evangelism, or even Sunday school and joyful singing, and it really bogged me down. That said, when I sense something out of place about a congregation, it…
Read MoreWhy are singing, praying, communion, and giving called worship?
Question: I have been doing a study on worship in the New Testament and although there are about 75 references with the word, none of them are tied in with singing, praying, communion, or giving. So, I was wondering if you knew of a historical notation where, for the first time, worship is described as…
Read MoreSpiritual Worship
Text: Psalm 95 I. A critical danger that happens to most Christians is approaching the worship of God by rote. A. We go through the motions of worship, but our minds are not fully engaged. 1. With their hearts not involved, worship becomes a drudgery 2. We understand intellectually that is not right, but we wonder how do we…
Read MoreIf I don’t participate in activities that are scripturally wrong, then will I be all right?
Question: The worship is in spirit and truth. If I don’t take part in the fellowship hall activities, would I be in violation of God’s word by worshiping there? I made it plain to the elders I don’t believe in fellowship halls. Answer: The church in Sardis was not spiritually sound, yet Jesus said, “You…
Read MoreHow do I get over being afraid to do things in the church services?
Question: I have a real problem. I am very fearful of doing things at church eg. reading, exalting, etc. Here is the real problem: if I know that I am going to do something at church or called on without knowing, I do not go church. Honestly, I do not want to be like this.…
Read MoreWhat authority do we have to lead a prayer?
Question: What authority do we have to lead a prayer? Where in the Bible does it talk about this practice? Answer: I Corinthians 14:26-33 tells us the importance of church services being orderly. People are not to be talking at the same time. In that same discussion, there is mention of someone saying “Amen” when…
Read MoreDid the early church meet on any other days than Sunday?
Question: According to Hebrew 10:25, is there any example from the early churches meeting on any other days for Bible study or the like other than Sunday worship service? Answer: “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of…
Read MoreHow do you worship God Monday through Saturday?
Question: How do you worship God Monday through Saturday? Answer: Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19-20), praying (I Timothy 2:8), and even studying God’s Word (I Corinthians 1:18) are all forms of worship. Whenever a person is participating in these activities, which are not limited to the first day of the week, he…
Read MoreIs the Lord’s Sabbath on a Saturday or Sunday? What hour does it begin?
Question: Is the Lord’s Sabbath on a Saturday or Sunday? What hour does it begin? Answer: The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, which is currently called Saturday in English speaking countries. The Sabbath was designated as the day of worship for the Israelites living under the Old Law. “The LORD our God…
Read MoreIf you don’t use instrumental music, then should you not use hymns composed on pianos?
Question: In doing some research for a book, I came across your web site. I was really surprised by the bluntness of your home page. I grew up in several different churches of Christ, Christian, and restoration movement churches. The instrumental churches and non-instrumental churches have always puzzled me. I’ve spent the last 1 1/2…
Read MoreHow can you prove that the New Testament contains God’s only pattern for worship in the Lord’s church today?
Question: How can you prove that the New Testament contains God’s only pattern for worship in the Lord’s church today? Answer: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you…
Read MoreCan instrumental music be used for worshiping God on days other than Sunday?
Question: I was also speaking with her regarding instruments in worship. She claimed that since it is only the first-day assembly, which is that worship was done together in one place, then to go to a place where they have instrumental music on a Wednesday night is not sinful. She went on to talk about…
Read MoreIt doesn’t seem that Hebrews 10:25 is the right verse to explain why children’s church is wrong
Question: Hello. I’m responding to the article “Parallel Worship” by Bob Berard. I have my own misgivings about children’s church and junior church, which is why I began searching for articles. However, Berard immediately puts himself on the wrong footing by claiming that such groupings for kids “violate the injunction of Hebrews 10:25 ‘not to…
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