The religious world is confused over the subject of worship to God - not only the many denominations but also many within the church don't understand and don't practice the simple teaching regarding worship as given in the New Testament.
Some see the building as a special place of worship. However we should remember that the "where" of worship is not as important as the "how" of proper worship. This is where we should place our concern.
What is the nature of true worship?
Worship must be directed toward God.
We may ask, "Why does God deserve our worship?" Let us look at two important reasons:1) We are created beings. God created us. He brought us into existence, and so for this plain fact we pought to praise Him.
2) While God is eternal in His entire being, we, in regards to our physical side, are temporal. We had a point of birth (the beginning of our existence) and we will see a point of death. Yet God is not limited in this way. He is deserving of our acknolwedgment and our worship.
We must worship in spirit and in truth. God expects of us that we worship Him in the right way.
This means that we do it in truth. There is a standard to follow in regards to our worship activity, and we are to follow that pattern. The activities of worship have been established for us. The New Testament has provided it and we must follow its examples and commands.
The time of worship - on the first day of the week
The activities of worship
The Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)
Preaching and teaching (Acts 20:7; 2 Timothy 4:2)
Prayer (Luke 11:1; Romans 12:12; 1 John 5:14)
Singing (Ephesians 5:19). We praise, teach and admonish when we sing
Giving (1 Corinthians 16:1,2). We should plan to give, and we should do so with the right attitude.True worship should be done in spirit (Psalms 122:1)
We must worship with our heart or it cannot be considered real worship. Do we live like the world through the week and then attempt to worship God in spirit on Sunday? Do we prepare to worship? Or do we stay out late on Saturday night and turn in to bed at a late hour, then struggle to get up, not at all prepared to worship our Father?
1 Corinthians 11:24-26
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.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.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
1 Corinthians 16:1,2
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2 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.Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
