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The Cornerstone
This is the Stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the Chief Conerstone." Acts 4:11
Pulbished to Support the Work of the West End Church of Christ, Richmond, Virginia
Volume 8 * Number 15* April 13, 2008
Improving Our Worship
R. J. Stevens
The New Testament tells us what early Christians did in their worship and also the manner in which it was done. It is not up to man to invent ways to improve worship apart from the word of God (2Tim. 3:16-17). John 4:24 records, “God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” If I practice something in worship for which there is no scriptural authority or . . . if I have an attitude of bitterness in my heart when I worship, such is unacceptable before God (Matt. 5:23-24). Therefore, worshiping God acceptably involves doing what God says and . . . doing it from a sincere heart.
God deserves my best. Obviously, as a disciple of the Lord, I can worship God at any time and in any place. However, as a Christian I have the responsibility and privilege to assemble with fellow disciples. Even though there are times when we worship with others in an assembly, worship is still an individual matter. What can I do to improve my worship?
How can I improve my worship in song?
Passages such as 1 Cor. 14:15, Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 teach us to sing with spirit, with understanding, with a melody in your heart and with a heart filled with grace. The command to sing involves my learning something about singing. If I am a song leader in song worship, I need to learn to lead singing to the best of my ability.
How can I improve my worship in partaking of the Lord’s Supper?
It is obvious that the early disciples partook of the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week (Acts 2:42; 20:7).
However, according to 1 Cor. 11:23-29, I must partake of the bread and the fruit of the vine in memory of Christ. I must discern the Lord’s death till He comes again. Sometimes it helps me in my discernment to read scriptures or lyrics to songs that take my mind back to the cross.
How can I improve my worship in teaching and hearing God’s word?
A preacher is worshiping God when he preaches. As a preacher of truth, I can improve my worship in proclaiming the Word when I speak with all boldness (Acts 4:29). My worship in preaching will be more effective when I preach in the spirit of meekness and humility (Gal. 6:1-2). I must also speak with love in my heart; not only for my Lord, but also for the same people He loves (1 Cor. 13:1). Those who hear the gospel are also worshiping while listening. As a hearer, I should receive the message with all readiness of mind just like the Bereans (Acts 17:11). The worshipful hearer not only receives the Word but also embraces it (believes) and obeys. If I want to improve this part of my worship, I will show reverence for the Word.
How can I improve my worship in praying to God?
As one leading the prayer, I need to prepare myself. The lack of preparation in prayer often leads to wordy repetition. I need to pray loudly enough that the congregation can hear the words and be able to say “Amen.” The scripture teaches me to pray with spirit, understanding and faith. I need to be enthusiastic when I pray and mean every word that I say. On the other hand, as a listener to a public prayer, I need to concentrate on what is being said while having an attitude of prayer in my heart.
How can I improve my worship in giving?
The Bible teaches me to give on the first day of the week, as I have prospered, as I have purposed, and to give cheerfully, willingly and bountifully (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:7-8, 12; 9:5-7). I believe it is as essential to learn the truth about giving as much as it is to learn the truth about partaking the Lord’s Supper on the first day of each week or about singing praises to God without instrumental music. To not give as God instructs will make my worship vain.
My worship needs to be improved if, in any way, it is according to the commandments of men rather than instruction from God. My worship needs to be improved when it is only from my mouth and not from my heart. Whatever we can do that is in harmony with God’s expressed will — to worship according to truth and to worship from our hearts — needs to be put into practice. And remember — true worship glorifies our heavenly Father and edifies our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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No Sign but the Prophet Jonah
Matthew 12:38-42; 161-4; Luke 11:29-32
Charles Talbott
A wicked, evil, and adulterous generation asked Jesus for a sign (semeion in Greek, a deed manifested that others could not do5 that showed the divine authority of Jesus). He replied to them that the only sign that would be given was that of Jonah the prophet. As Jonah was in the belly of the aquatic creature, even so the Son of man would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. The repentant Ninevites, as well as the queen of the south would condemn that generation for one greater than the prophet Jonah and wiser than Solomon was among them.
Repentance is important, a true change of heart and actions. In Luke l6:27-31, the rich man pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus or someone from the dead to his five brothers. Abraham said that they have Moses and the prophets (the Scriptures) as evidence and if they hear them not, then neither will they be persuaded by one who rose from the dead.
Jesus’ resurrection should be the only sign that we need for our faith. If we need help with our unbelief, then let us look only to His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. We can be encouraged by His victory over death (I John 5:4-5). Our faith comes through the hearing and reading of the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) Believing in Him and confessing Him as Lord, Savior, and the Son of God, repenting of our sins, being baptized into the likeness of His death, then we also like Him arise as a new creature in Christ (Galatians 6:l5) walking according to His way. Let us be sure that we are those “that have ears that hear” (Matthew 11:15; 13:9; Mark 9:4; 7:16; Luke 8:8; 14:35; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).
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Just Thinkin
Warren King
“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. “A rolling stone gathers no moss”. “A little sweat never hurt anyone”. These, and other gems from the book of Third Kings, have a common theme: we need to be busy.
But, we need to be busy about the right things. Being a ‘busybody’ is not the busy we need. And, being busy in the works of darkness hardly prepares us for a crown of life.
Nor are we to be busy just for the sake of being busy. The clerk who shuffles and reshuffles the papers at his desk is staying busy, but to what end? Like the Israelites who traveled forty years in the wilderness going nowhere, some Christians go for years simply ‘keeping house’ for the Lord. But, God has given talents to each of us – and we had best be using them.
If you can’t find the book of Third Kings in your Bible, don’t fret. You might try looking in 1 Corinthians 15:58. Same message – but with the added advantage of inspiration! &
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