Christian Worship
The Christian Age Pt. 3

Lesson 13 went into detail about the gospel, how we are commanded to obey it and be saved. When we do this we are then added to the Lord’s church. [Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:47]

In the New Testament we learn of many who obeyed the gospel. Now we will learn what to do after one has been added to the Lord’s church. We will look at some scriptures and see how the church worshipped in the New Testament.

The first time we read of people obeying the gospel is in Acts chapter 2 verse 41. The very next verse teaches that they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine [teaching] and fellowship, and in breaking of bread [the Lord’s supper] and in prayers.

We learn from Acts 11:26 that the name by which the early disciples were called Christians. In Acts 26:28 King Agrippa told Paul that he was almost persuaded to become a Christian.

Acts 20:7 tells us that the early church met on the first day of the week [Sunday] to break bread [partake the Lord’s supper]. When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth he told them to lay by in store [or give] on the first day of the week [Sunday] when they came together. Here in 1 Corinthians 16: 1-2 we find the Corinthian Christians also coming together on Sunday. These should serve as examples to us today. We should also come together on the first day of the week to partake of the Lord’s supper and to give.

The New Testament has a great deal to say about the giving of our money. We are commanded to [1] give on the first day of the week as God has prospered [or blessed] us [1 Corinthians 16:1-2], [2] we are to plan ahead of time what we are going to give and [3] give that planned amount cheerfully [II Corinthians 9:7].

The Christian should put God first in all things and this included his material blessings [Luke 6:38]. God’s people in the Old Testament followed a system which required the giving of a tithe, meaning that ten percent of their prosperity was returned to the Lord [Malachi 3:8]. No Christian should want to do less than the Israelites of the long ago.

God’s word teaches us to sing. Ephesians 5:19 [Philips translation] says: “Express your joy in singing among yourselves psalms and hymns, spiritual songs, making music in your hearts for the ears of the Lord!” We are taught in 1 Corinthians 14:15 to sing with the spirit and to understand what we are singing. No where in the New Testament are we taught to use a mechanical instrument [piano, organ, guitar etc.] to worship God. We are taught not to add to God’s word or to take away from it [Revelation 22:18-19]. So we should sing only and not add to God’s word by using mechanical instruments.

We see that the early church wore the name Church Of Christ [Romans 16:16]. The early disciples were called by the name Christian [Acts 11:26]. The church met on the first day of the week [Sunday] [Acts 20:7]. When they came together they [1] broke bread [remembered Christ’s death by eating unleavened bread and drinking fruit of the vine [1 Corinthians 11:23-29], [2] taught God’s word [Acts 20:7], [3] prayed [Acts 2:42], [4] gave of their money to God [1 Corinthians 16:1-2] ,[5] sang praises to the Lord [Ephesians 5:19] and [6] had fellowship with each other [Acts 2:42].

If we today would take the Bible alone [not use creed books, confessions of faith, book of Mormons, prayer books etc.] and use only the Bible as our guide we would be the Church Of Christ that we read about in the Bible.

Jesus prayed just before he was betrayed that we might all be one [John 17:21-23]. He did not want many religions. He established only one church and prayed that everyone would be one in it [John 17].

In our next and last lesson we will discuss briefly the organization of Christ’s church. We will also discuss some scriptures that teach us how to live a good Christian life after becoming a member of His church.