Posts Tagged ‘worship’
Can 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…
Read MoreDoes worship have to be on Sunday?
Question: I was discussing with someone about coming to church on Sundays. What day should we meet? Does it matter which day during the week? Under persecution, you might not be able to meet Sundays, so I was wondering: does it matter the day the church meets? I do know that it states they came…
Read MoreNotes on Worship
What is worship? Worship is something distinctly done. Worship is not accidentally given. – Matthew 2:11; 4:8-9; 9:18; John 4:20; Revelation 9:20 Jesus’s definition of worship – John 4:21-24 It requires a worshiper (the existence of a rock is not worship. Animals do not worship). It requires an object of worship Worship must only be…
Read MoreParallel Worship (Children’s Church)
by Bob Berard Some elderships with announced good intentions have introduced the practice of excusing children and a few members from their congregation’s Sunday evening worship services for a special program called “children’s church.” While the remainder of the church engages in a worship assembly wherein are conducted the same worship activities as in the…
Read MoreDoes God put a yearning in our hearts for Him?
Question: Does God place a yearning for him in our hearts so that we seek Him? Is this yearning misunderstood by us and we start trying to fill this void with worldly things? Why is it that some people know early in life what that yearning is, and seek Him right away while the others, either never find…
Read MoreThe “Worship Wars”
by Wayne S. Walker In an article headlined “Understanding the ‘worship wars’” from World Magazine’s website on October 16, 2009, Warren Cole Smith began, “A recent Religion News Service dispatch caught my attention. Under the headline ‘Missouri Synod Leaders Declare Worship Wars “Sinful”’ came an article announcing the conservative Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s eight-page ‘Theses on Worship.’…
Read MoreIs Peter the rock of the church?
Question: In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said to Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it. Does Jesus give any guidelines as to how and when his followers or Christians should worship God? Answer: “He said to them, “But…
Read MoreSing with Understanding
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/SingWithUnderstanding.mp3 Text: I Corinthians 14:15-20 I. Singing is an expression of joy – James 5:13 A. It is form of worship and a way of teaching – Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16-17 B. Of course, people sing things all the time without thinking about what they are saying – just ask kids today what are the lyrics to…
Read MoreAre small group meetings in place of the Sunday evening assembly or midweek study scriptural?
Question: Hello. I appreciate your work and respect your knowledge of the Word. I have a question concerning the small group phenomenon in the Lord’s church. Is there a scriptural basis for the small group to not assemble at the appointed times (mostly Sunday evening worship and Wednesday Bible study) though the elders approved it?…
Read MoreHow was worship conducted in Israel when the temple was destroyed?
Question: I have a question regarding the Tabernacle and the first Temple in the Old Testament: Was the Tabernacle the dwelling place of God and was the Temple the place of worship for the people? If so, when the first Temple was destroyed and tabernacle removed, how did the people worship God if there was…
Read MoreDoes the whole church need to hear the whole sermon?
Question: Is there some biblical passage where it is mentioned that in the primitive church all listened to the preacher and all were present during the whole worship? Answer: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in…
Read MoreCan we worship and praise the Holy Spirit?
Question: A question was raised in class about worship and praise to the Holy Spirit. Can you give any passages that say we are to do so? I couldn’t find any that give a specific yes or no. There are some that infer it and we can be condemned by blaspheming Him. Answer: Worship is…
Read MoreIf God gives us talent, then can we not use that talent to worship God?
Question: I witness the following conversation between two brothers and it went like this: Brother A stated, “We are not to worship or praise God on this side of the cross with instrumental music.” Brother A went on to state “This applies to the first day of the week during corporate worship or praise and…
Read MoreDid Amos curse those who introduced instrumental music into Hebrew worship?
Question: Is it true that Amos pronounced a curse upon those who, like David, introduced instrumental music into Hebrew worship? Answer: David did not introduce instrumental music into Israelite worship, God did. Long before David lived God commanded the Israelites to blow trumpets as part of their worship (Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 10:10). Prophets used instrumental…
Read MoreDoes the Bible say the church worshiped on Sunday?
Question: I have a few questions and comments concerning the texts given as proof of Sunday worship outlined in the article: “Is sex on the Sabbath a sin?” The verses are Acts 20:7 and I Corinthians 16:1-2. Acts 20:7 speaks of an act that is done on any day and nowhere does it say that…
Read MoreWhy don’t you meet daily?
Question: I have another question, at the end of chapter 2 in the book of Acts, it is written that the church met daily. Where you worship does the body meet daily? If not, can you explain why not? Answer: “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to…
Read MoreSince they met at night in Acts 20:7ff, does that mean Christians today should only meet at night?
Question: In your article, “When Are Biblical Examples Binding?” you mentioned that there is no specific command as to when to partake of the Lord’s Supper, but that Acts 20:7 becomes a binding example because it is the only example. If this is true which I feel it is true, and verse 8 says there…
Read MoreWhat do you think about partaking of the Lord’s Supper after dinner?
Question: At our congregation, we take communion on the first day of each week. Our preacher has decided to have small groups meet in homes and have a potluck dinner and again partake of the Lord’s Supper, calling it an agape feast. This is causing a division in the church. He is using a lot…
Read MoreWorship: The Emotional Component
by Warren E. Berkley “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” (John 4:24). Every element of true worship involves some emotional component. The emotional component is not driven by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit (as in Calvinism) or “getting the Holy Spirit” (as in Charismatic practice). The…
Read MoreWhere does the Scripture mention buying a building?
Question: I visited your web site; it is very nice and helpful. My question is: Where, in the Scripture, does it mention buying a building for church worship? I could only find house worship. Answer: The command to assemble is “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,…
Read MoreShould Christians sing during the Lord’s supper?
Question: Should Christians sing during the Lord’s supper? Answer: I wonder what is next — singing during prayer or singing during the sermon!? I really don’t understand why people think that the Lord’s Supper needs some kind of “crutch” or “support” to make it meaningful and relevant to Christians. When the Lord gave the bread…
Read MoreIs it a sin to go to a youth group or chapel service during the week?
Question: I saw that the church only met on the first day of the week to gather and worship. Does this mean that I sin if I go to youth groups on Wednesdays (while still going to church on Sunday), or if my school has weekly mandatory chapel services on Thursdays? Answer: There are various…
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