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The Church of Christ
An Introduction to the Church of Christ
HOW WE WORSHIP GOD
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John 4:23 But the hour cometh,
and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in
truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (KJV)
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Jesus said "But the hour
cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in
spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." (John
4:23)
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Eph 5:19 Speaking to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody
in your heart to the Lord; (KJV)
Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison:
but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. (KJV)
Phil 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every
thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known unto God. (KJV)
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints; (KJV)
Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week,
when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready
to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (KJV)
1 Cor 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for
the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God
hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (KJV)
2 Cor 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth
in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth
a cheerful giver. (KJV)
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Many congregations assemble
three times each week for worship. The New Testament is used as the standard to
measure whether each service is acceptable with God. Our practice is as
follows:
Singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
making melody in our hearts to the Lord. (Eph 5:19)
Prayer made earnestly unto God in the name of
Christ. (Acts 12:5; Phil 4:6; Eph 6:18)
Teaching the entire assembly, by one man at a
time. The purpose is to edify, exhort, and comfort the hearers. (1 Cor 14)
The Lord's Supper is observed each first day
of the week in remembrance of the Lord's death. (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 11)
Giving cheerfully of our means, according as
God has prospered each one, and as each has purposed in his heart. (1 Cor
16:1-2; 2 Cor 9:7)
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1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively
stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (KJV)
Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like
unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God,
and the altar, and them that worship therein. (KJV)
1 Cor 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the
temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile
the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which
temple ye are. (KJV)
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We view the church, then, as a
"spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5) John was given a divine
standard and told to go and evaluate the church, its worship services, and its
members. Note Rev 11:1 "And there was given unto me a reed like unto a rod
(a divine standard, not man's): and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure
(with the standard provided) the temple of God (Church -- 1 Cor 3:16-17), and
the altar (worship service), and them that worship therein." Thus, we
readily conclude that the New Testament provides a dependable standard by which
we can determine (1) the organization, purpose, and functioning of the church;
(2) acceptability of its worship service; and, (3) the righteousness of the
members who have lawfully entered. This is how we worship the Father in spirit
and in truth.
Come let us reason together.
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