BIBLE LESSONS
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LESSON ELEVEN: THE WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH

Human beings are sure to worship the object of their devotion, even if it be an idol. The church is composed of saved people, and is therefore God’s family (Acts 2:47; 1 Timothy 3:15). So it is made up of people who have the true God as the object of their devotion. In Matthew 4:10 Jesus said, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve:” Surely then, it is vitally important that we know HOW to worship God.
In the midst of all the religious division it is easy to shrug off the differences and say we think God may be worshipped acceptably in various ways, but remember! -- We are to be guided by what GOD SAID, not by what WE THINK. “There is a way which SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO A MAN, but the END thereof are the ways of DEATH:” (Proverbs 14:12). In John 4:24 the Savior said we MUST worship God in spirit (with a sincere mind) AND in truth (according to the teaching of His Word, which IS truth - John 17:17).

WHAT DOES HIS WORD TEACH US concerning acceptable worship? This is the important question.

1. VAIN OR IGNORANT WORSHIP, EVEN THOUGH SINCERE, DOES NOT PLEASE GOD:

A. Concerning VAIN worship, please read Matthew 15:8-9, then answer below:

1. Were the Scribes and Pharisees worshipping God? YES ( ) NO ( ) (Check one)

2. Did the fact they worshipped God mean God was pleased? YES ( ) NO ( )

3. This passage shows two things which make worship VAIN (worthless, useless):

a. When people praise God, but their ___________________ is far from _____________ .

b. When they teach for _____________________ the commandments of _____________ .

B. Concerning IGNORANT worship, please read Acts 17:22-23, and then answer below:

1. Does it seem the Greeks at Athens worshipped sincerely? YES ( ) NO ( )

2. Would sincerity make their worship acceptable to God? YES ( ) NO ( )

2. TO BE TRUE WORSHIPPERS, WE MUST WORSHIP IN TRUTH -- Read John 4:23-24. God has ordained that certain things be done in the public worship of the church. That which He requires is made plain so that sincere people will not fail to follow the Lord's plan. The “true worshippers” today can be identified, because their worship is according to, and in keeping with, the teaching of the Scriptures. The New Testament reveals five things in which Christians engage in their public worship:

A. TEACHING:

1. Matthew 28:20, “ ___________________________ them to observe _____________ things whatsoever I have ___________________________ you.”

2. John 6:45, “And they shall be all ____________________ of God.”

3. Acts 20:7, “And upon the ___________________ day of the ________________ , when the _________________________ came together to __________________ ________________ , Paul ________________________ unto them.”

B. PRAYER:
1. Ephesians 6:18, “ ________________________ always with all ___________________ and ________________________________ in the Spirit.”

C. SINGING:

1. Ephesians 5:19, “ __________________________to yourselves in ____________________ and ________________ and spiritual _________________ , ______________________ and making _____________________ in your ____________________ to the _______________ .”

2. This and several other passages (such as Colossians 3:16 and Hebrews 13:15, for example) authorize speaking, singing (VOCAL MUSIC), and they specify that the instrument upon which melody is to be made is the HUMAN HEART. This is the ONLY KIND of music Christ authorized, and it is the ONLY KIND the early church used. Mechanical instruments of music were introduced into church worship in the 7th Century by the Catholic Church upon the authority of the Pope. Now, in our day, Catholics justify the use of instruments in worship by saying, “The Church authorized it.” Most Protestants justify their use by saying, “We like it.” Christians REJECT their use! The reason is simple -- it is that we must speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11), and the oracles of God DO NOT authorize their use. Let us respect God's silence on the matter!

D. LORD’S SUPPER:

1. Acts 2:42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ ________________________ and fellowship, and in __________________________ of _____________________ . . .”

2. Acts 20:7, “And upon the ___________________ day of the __________________ , when the ____________________ came together to _________________ _________________ . . .”

E. CONTRIBUTION:

1. 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the __________________ day of the ________________ , let every one of you __________ ________ him in store, as ____________ hath prospered him.”

2. 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his ___________________ , so let him ____________ ; not _______________________ , or of _____________________ ; for ____________ loveth a cheerful ______________________ .”

TRUE OR FALSE (CIRCLE ONE)

True / False 1. All sincere worshippers will be saved, regardless of how they worship.

True / False 2. Worship must be in truth (according to the truth) as well as in spirit.

True / False 3. As directed by Acts 20:7, the Lord's Supper may be eaten on Thursday night.

True / False 4. The church is authorized to take a collection at every week-day assembly.

True / False 5. The New Testament authorizes congregational singing in worship.

True/ False 6. Playing also is authorized (If TRUE, please give the verse: __________________ ).

True / False 7. Scriptural worship consists of teaching, praying, singing, eating the Lord's Supper every week, and giving -- So, those who leave off any one are guilty of sin.

True / False 8. I am concerned about God's TRUTH, and my worshipping Him according to truth.

The Twelfth And Final Lesson Will Be: “THE HOPE OF THE CHRISTIAN”

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