God used Jesus to do something amazingly new, not
just for Israel, but for all people. As a result, the worship
practices of God’s people demanded something new.
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Program Transcript (click to view):
At least once a week,
Christians meet together for worship. We gather at particular places, at
particular times, and we worship in particular ways. But whatever our own
place, time and way, the essence of Christian worship is always the same. It’s
our response, as believers, to what God has done.
The ancient Israelite was to recite history as a reminder of who he was in the world, what his relationship with God was, and how he was supposed to respond to the God of his salvation. His confession expressed who he was, and how he was to live:
Jews and Samaritans simply didn’t get along. The trouble went way back, five centuries or so, to the days of the Jewish leader Zerubbabel. Some Samaritans offered to help the Jews rebuild their temple, and Zerubbabel rebuffed them. The Samaritans responded by complaining to the king of Persia, and the work stopped (Ezra 4).
The law given to ancient Israel was designed to last only until Christ came, and it should not be confused with the law of Christ given to the church. The Christian Sabbath is not a day of the week, but our eternal rest in Jesus Christ. In this article, we will look at aspects of the purpose and content of Christian worship.
Worship in the Old Testament
No human activity has greater relevance and meaning than that of the worship of God. There is much to learn about how we can worship more effectively today by looking at how the people of God have worshiped in the past.
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know of someone who might like to watch this program. If so, go to the bottom of
the page and click on "Email this page." Fill out the short form, and share the
good news! There's also a way to share the page on Facebook, Twitter,
Buzz, and other websites.
If you'd like to support this ministry, click here.
Discussion groups
might wish to prepare their own topics, request topics from the group, use the
following suggested topics, or mix and match all three.
Suggested topics:
1. Why should we
include the Father and the Holy Spirit in our worship?
2. How does Trinitarian
worship enrich our relationship with God?
3. Why is a proper
Christ-centered focus Trinitarian?
4. How has God
completed his work of salvation in the person of Jesus Christ?
5. How does
our response to God come from God himself?
6. Have your
prayerful laments ever been “transformed from despair to hope”?
7. What are
your thoughts on how God relates to the “unbelieving” world?
8. How does
“restored glory” stimulate us toward joyful and thankful worship?
A few simple
guidelines for leading a discussion: 1) Encourage open discussion. 2) Ask
questions relevant to the topic. 3) Listen attentively. 4) Encourage divergent
views. 5) Encourage everyone to participate. 6) Summarize and paraphrase. 7) Minimize
teaching and preaching.
Program Transcript (click to view):
Introduction:
This special edition of You’re Included
comes to you from the city of St. Andrews, Scotland. The University of St.
Andrews, founded in 1413, is the oldest university in Scotland and one of the
oldest in the English-speaking world. In its 600-year history, the university
has established a reputation as one of Europe’s leading centers for teaching
and research. St. Mary’s College, the university’s divinity school, was founded
in 1539. The school is still housed in its original 16th-century buildings.
Join us now in St. Mary’s College Hall as J.
I can remember as if it were yesterday - my first visit to this denomination. I must admit I was a bit apprehensive. Questions rolled through my mind. What would it be like? Would I be accepted? Would I feel comfortable?
Some of the greatest points of controversy within the church today concern worship. Church members regularly express dissatisfaction over, or confess that they are uncertain about, the meaning and purpose of what is commonly called worship. Some are defensive about their traditions. They feel that enough changes have already been made, so they ask, Why change the format of our church service? Some, seeking a "more worshipful experience," wander from church to church looking for a service that has music and a form of worship that appeals to them.
Several pastors have asked, Has our policy on worship days changed? Are we favoring one day over another?
Yes, and no. Let’s discuss our policy about weekly and annual worship days, and why some people think that we are favoring one day over another.
Weekly worship
The Bible does not specify any particular day for worship. Indeed, it urges people with different preferences to give each other some slack on such matters (Rom. 14:5).
Friends, I feel compelled to alert us all to a most serious issue lurking beneath the surface of our current apparent tranquility. I refer, of course, to the issue of color. This potential crisis can perhaps be best described by examining some of my hypothetical friends, each a mostly normal individual, but within each is a certain quirk. Now each of these hypothetical friends is a Christian – seeking first God's kingdom and his righteousness, growing in grace and knowledge, but …
I can remember as if it were yesterday - my first visit to this denomination. I must admit I was a bit apprehensive. Questions rolled through my mind. What would it be like? Would I be accepted? Would I feel comfortable?
