Twenty-one
The Worship Service
The note read: “YOUR WORSHIP SERVICE IS
BORING!”
Monday evening I called the writer of the note, a
visitor, to discuss the disturbing comment. “Can you
give me any suggestions?” I asked after a few
pleasantries were exchanged. “Yes, too many old
hymns, too much Bible stuff, and the sermon was too
long.” “What would you do instead?” I asked.
He would have gutted the service; he wanted a
band, dancing, and multi-media presentations. Nice, I
suppose, but beyond our capability.
Our worship service was bound to be boring to this
person. I, however, did take the note to the church
council for evaluation. In fact, we did spiffy the service
up some but probably not enough to satisfy our bored
friend.
The worship service is public; that is, visitors are
more likely to be present in the worship service
than at the prayer meeting or Bible study. It is at the
worship service that the gospel will be preached to the
unconverted as well as to the converted.
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The Worship Service
At this point in my ministry I try not to get overly
excited about what goes on in the worship service as
long as the form and content are biblical. However,
the worship service tends to generate more suggestions
and criticisms than any other single element in the life
of a church. In times past I would be tempted to take
any intimation that the service needed to be changed
personally. I would defend, argue, and thump my Bible.
Now, though, if changes are requested I am more
amenable just as long as the teaching and preaching of
the gospel remain central. What everyone eventually
comes to realize is that there are just so many things
that can possibly be done in a service anyway.
Let us consider the worship service. Notice I did
not say “Sunday” worship service since some groups
worship on days other than Sunday though I think
Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the day of the resurrection,
was normative for the early church (see Acts
20:7,Romans 14:5-6, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Colossians
2:16-17, and Revelation 1:10). A glance at the worship
of God as described in the New Testament, and there
is very little said about what actually went on in early
church services, reveals there were several distinct
elements to the worship.
Preaching and teaching were primary. There was
prayer, and communion (the Lord’s Supper or
Eucharist) was observed. Acts 2:42 reads: “They
devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Psalms where sung, new songs of the Christian
community were apparently developed, and there was
some free-form music. (See Colossians 3:16 and
Ephesians 5:19) In addition, prophecies were given,
revelations were announced, and tongues were spoken
with interpretation. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26-32) The
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problem is we know almost nothing about what these
forms of worship actually looked like or consisted of.
My view is that error may easily result if we read our
own contemporary experiences back into the New
Testament times. Modern charismatic or Pentecostal
understandings of tongues and prophecy may bear little
resemblance to the worship of the early church. There
are no video or audio recordings of what went on in
the church at Corinth or any other New Testament
church. Therefore, my conclusion is that I am unsure
of what a “scriptural worship service” actually looks
like. To be safe I stick with what I am sure of, preaching
the gospel, teaching the Scripture, singing the Psalms
and other songs that glorify God and lift up Jesus and
the cross, praying, celebrating the Lord’s Supper, and
fellowshipping with believers.
Let me briefly describe a worship service used at
Miller Avenue. (Warning: people who are looking to
be entertained or are wanting to be in on the
“happening” feel-good church do not last long at Miller
Avenue.) We begin with a hymn, have a “Call to
Worship” followed by a “morning prayer” that is made
up by the person who is leading the worship part of
the service. After the morning prayer we read the
“Collect of the Day” which is a prayer used by millions
of Christians of many denominations worldwide, and
our version is taken from a Lutheran worship manual.
From time to time I will substitute the Lord’s Prayer
for the collect. Using an overhead projector we sing
two or more choruses, old ones and new ones, with a
guitar and piano accompanying. All of this is rather
sedately done. Our choir makes a presentation after
the choruses or perhaps there is a solo or duet. Then
comes the memory verse, (I emphasize the memory of
Scripture) followed by a point to ponder or reflect upon.
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The time for reflection is vital. Moving quickly from
one segment of worship to another is not always what
people need. Having a time to think, reflect, pray, or
simply be silent, can be refreshing and pleasing to many
people.
The worship part of the service is over now, total
elapsed time about thirty minutes. Announcements
come next (I have finally given up on attempts to
eliminate announcements), which I view as part of
fellowship. During the announcements printed
material is often passed out and may include
newsletters, testimonies, reprints of helpful articles,
and so forth, and any inserts that are in the bulletin are
referenced, and recently Spurgeon’s Morning and
Evening Meditations have been used. (Bulletin covers
with pretty pictures seem to be a waste of money and
resources; rather, I look for articles and essays that are
of some spiritual value to adorn the bulletin cover.)
Tithes and offerings are received preceded by a thirtysecond
presentation of an “offertory theme”—a
teaching on biblical giving. Following the offering is a
time for “Revelations, Hymns, and Exhortations”
(except on Communion Sunday, the first Sunday of
the month). Every week I encourage people to bring
with them something God has given or shown them
during the week in their private devotions or ministry.
Of course, this can be risky because someone might
say some strange thing or take up an inordinate amount
of time, but the risk is worth it. This segment may run
five to ten minutes. Bible teaching is next, the Bible
Exposition, followed by a second hymn, and then the
sermon is preached. The Bible teacher and the sermon
preacher may be the same person or two different
people. The teaching and preaching may have a similar
theme or they may not. Some Sundays a general
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invitation to prayer for any reason at all is given, prayer
for conversion, healing, anything at all. A final hymn
serves as a benediction. The entire service will last an
hour and fifteen minutes to and hour and a half. The
sermon and Bible exposition occupy about half that
time.
The service will look different from time to time,
and I am generally willing to make changes. Someone
asks, “How about this?” I will say, “Okay, let us try
that.” People will say, “I wish we could change our
worship service.” My response is, “Okay, what would
you like to change? “Things can be changed around a
bit, but most changes are basically superficial.
Sometimes the announcements are cut out, another
hymn is used, or a couple more choruses are sung, the
offering is moved to the beginning or the end, more
people are involved in the service—small changes
really. There is nothing special or sacred about sticking
with a particular order of service. The order of worship
currently being used is unchanged for at least four
years. For most Christians the structure of the worship
service is not a great concern; it is the content that
matters.
We now have, as of February 2000, a Sunday
evening worship service and we call it “The Old-Time
Gospel Hour,” with all apologies to Jerry Falwell. It
begins at 6PM, we sing the great hymns of the Church,
preach a strong gospel message, then as many as are
up for it, drive over to a local fast food restaurant. This
is my favorite service though I put my best effort into
the Sunday morning worship service. The evening
service, however, allows people who would never be
able to attend a morning service, for whatever reason,
to hear the gospel preached. I wish I had begun it long
ago.
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The Worship Service
The public prayers in the worship service are
traditional and important especially the pastoral prayer,
which is prayer for the overall concerns and needs of
the congregation. In years gone by this was often a very
long prayer, but most are considerably shorter. In any
case, public or corporate prayer must be given great
attention. Everyone should be able to hear it, and it
needs to be sincere and serious. The congregation
needs to hear the great concerns of the people of God
being lifted up to heaven. Often I have felt unworthy,
discouraged, even upset, but when I pray I attempt to
put these aside and avoid praying according to my
feelings.
The public reading of Scripture is critical; it should
be read with all that is due the Word of God. Everyone
should be able to hear the words, and they are best
spoken somewhat slowly and with emphasis. It is not a
dramatic reading that an actor might make, no, but the
best the reader has should go into the reading. Perhaps
this is the only time during the worship service when
people will hear from God. To readers I suggest:
prepare, read loudly (best not to depend on a
microphone), and read so that people can tell the Bible
is being read. Sometimes I have heard people read the
Scripture in the same way they might read an
advertisement for soap. Much the same can be said for
the sermon, which should be delivered with all the
intensity and strength we have.
Sunday school—we do not have one but I want to
include a suggestion here that has worked for me and
may work for others who do not have a Sunday school
either.
Most everyone knows what “home-schooling” is.
Well, I have simply applied this to the Sunday school.
When a family with kids comes along I inform them
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that we do not have a regular Sunday school but that
we will help them home-Sunday school their own kids.
At some point we will make this an established ministry
of Miller Avenue complete with materials, meetings,
and so forth. It is an excellent way to incorporate people
with children into the small church when there is no
Sunday school in place. And it is quite biblical, too,
and may be even better than the typical Sunday school
model.
Rather than include a separate chapter on
“fellowship” I thought it best to say a word or two on
the subject here. One, provide as many opportunities
for fellowship as possible. Two, make special efforts to
include new people and help them to feel comfortable.
There will be cliques and this is not altogether a
bad thing. Cliques can not be helped. Over the course
of time a small group of people that regularly meets
for whatever purpose will become something of a
clique. But it does not have to be a closed group. And
this is the key—closedness—whereby new comers are
rejected. As long as new people are welcomed,
incorporated into the group, then this is a healthy
fellowship.
At Miller Avenue we have a light lunch or
sometimes simply coffee and tea after the Sunday
morning service. For a half-hour or more we sit around
and talk together. After the Old-Time Gospel Hour
on Sunday evenings we go down to a local fast food
place and spend more time together—simply being
together—where there is no agenda or topic or plan.
Then the Tuesday night Bible study is low-key and
there is plenty of time to just talk together. Everyone
in the church is not part of the more intimate fellowship
times, but they are available for those who desire it.
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The Worship Service
My job is to provide the opportunity; I can not force
people into fellowship.
Outline an order of worship you would use if you could.
Which is your favorite part?
Do you think you could bring it to reality?
How might you help a parent organize a home-
Sunday school?