By: Wayne Wise
”But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” Habakkuk 2:20
• Be silent. Be thoughtful.
• Be reverent, for this is the house of the Lord.
• Before the service, think on God.
• During the service, speak to God & let God speak to you.
• After the service, speak to one another.
What can I expect from a worship service?
1 Corinthians 14:26
Worship is for EDIFICATION … BUIldING UP
• 1 Corinthians 14:26 “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”
Edification, Exhortation & Comfort
• 1 Corinthians 14:1-3 “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”
What was the purpose for Troas coming together? … Acts 20:7
• 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.” What does “Breaking Bread” accomplish?
• What does Breaking of Bread Accomplish?
Nothing … within and of itself!
– If our mind is wandering
– If we are distracted in the service
– We can eat & drink damnation to ourselves, not discerning the Lord’s Body … 1 Corinthians 14:29
• But with proper attitude and frame of mind … MUCH IS ACCOMPLISHED!
What does Singing Accomplish?
• It ALL DEPENDS …
• Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
What does Singing Accomplish?
• Nothing … within and of itself!
– If our mind is wandering
– If we are distracted in the service
– If the singing itself is a distraction
• MUCH! … If done with right attitude
So I have A Right …
• To be edified
• To receive something from the worship
• To go away uplifted & inspired
The “FIVE ACTS” of Worship
• SINGING
• PRAYER
• TEACHING
• LORD’S SUPPER
• GIVING
• All are given to edify .. Build me up spiritually!And the leaders in charge have a responsibility to see that edification is accomplished in these areas
• Worship services work on their own, even with minimal participation
• God has given us the tools for edification in worship, but we must apply ourselves to make it work
Malachi 1:6-8
• “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. 8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.”
Questions from Malachi 1:6-8
• What kind of sacrifice / worship did God demand?
• Why?
– Psalms 18:3
• Where were the priests getting these animals?
• What was the duty of the priests in this text?
• Apathy had set in … STARTING WITH THE PRIESTS! Worship Leaders, by virtue of their work are to make optimal provisions for edification
• Preachers
• Teachers
• Song Leaders
• Prayer Leaders
• SpeakersThe worship Leaders are mostly responsible for making this work
• PREACHERS & BIBLE CLASS TEACHERS
• Acts 20:32 “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
• We know what the presentation of God’s word CAN do … does it always do it?A Sermon or Bible Class Lesson
• Ill - Qualified
• Ill - Selected
• Ill – Prepared
• Ill – Presented T
he worship Leaders are mostly responsible for making edification work
• SONG LEADERS
• 1/3 of worship service
• Poor singing is a distraction!
• It does not edify
• It does not inspire
• It does not provoke me to want to return
• MUCH is due to song leader
The worship Leaders are mostly responsible for making edification work
• LEADING PUBLIC PRAYER
• Is that prayer thought out?
• Is it from the heart or just a repeat from another source?
• Can that prayer be heard?
• Is the message cohesive?
– 1 Corinthians 14:15-16
A note on comments in Bible Class
• Is my motive to “Build up”?
• Is this story relevant?
• Does it contribute to the lesson / class?
• Is it just a means of “chit-chat”?
• If I can keep from speaking up … don’t!
How can we Improve our Services to Edification?
A lesson for Leaders and all members
• Put your best foot forward!
• Leaders … be Qualified
• Leaders … Carefully Select
• Leaders … be Prepared
– Side note: Attire makes a statement about the importance of this duty
– “Offer it unto your governors”
• Members … be Present
• Members … be Punctual
• Members … be Attentive
• Members … be Supportive
• IMPROVING THE PASTOR'S PREACHING
• Sunday the sermon was sluggish, 'twas hard attention to keep.
• The theme was faultily chosen, it almost put me to sleep.
• Monday was blue with sheer boredom; Tuesday was carnal by choice.
• Wednesday my conscience was wakened by pleas from a still small voice.
• Prayer Meeting left me uplifted, loyalty lingering long.
• Thursday my heart was responding; Friday His nudging was strong.
• I came to thorough repentance the following Saturday;
• I yielded in full surrender as all on the altar I lay.
• Sunday the sermon was perfect, superb and quite at its peak;
• Amazing how greatly the Pastor improved all in the space of one week!