Our True and Proper Worship of God

Worship in the Word of God is about Reverence

Lexham Theological Wordbook:

An outward display of an inner attitude of reverence [toward] the Creator.

Worship is an outward display of an inner attitude of reverence toward God. If the Christian feels love for God, then it is a matter of worship to treat Bibles, prayer books, the altar, and other instruments of church service gently and with grace. If the Christian feels humbled by God, then it is a matter of worship to kneel during prayer.

Acts 2:42–47 (NIV):

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2 is the occasion of Pentecost. After the apostle Peter preaches to the masses in tongues, he commands them to accept Christ and be saved, which they do.

Because everyone was awed by the wonders and signs of the apostles, they outwardly displayed this awe by the breaking of bread, prayer, charity, and praise.

While not everyone is required to sell their things, it is true and proper worship to obey our Christian convictions and the urging of the Spirit whatever it may be.

People imagine worship as smoke machines, rock bands, strobe lights, and singing about Jesus, but in reality none of that is true and proper praise, and even true and proper praise is only part of what it means to truly and properly worship God.

Out of the four convictions and habits of the apostles (breaking bread, prayer, charity, and praise), only praise was about singing hymns and songs to God with our voices.

Worship in the Word of God is Orderly and Educational

1 Corinthians 14:26–33 (NIV):

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

1 Corinthians 14 is Paul’s instruction to disordered Corinthian churches; Paul teaches that true and proper worship is not about spiritual frenzy, but about order and peace, instruction and encouragement.

Even if whatever you have to give is from God, everything must be done so that the church may be built up rather than broken down or confounded.

If there is multiple tongues, the speakers must speak one at a time and there must be an interpreter present to make sense of the tongues.

If there is multiple prophecies, two or three prophets may speak one after the other and, if a latter prophet speaks, the former must be quiet.

The spirits, that is to say the wills and wherewithal of the prophets, are subject to the self-control of the prophets; self-control is not quenching the gifts.

Whatever occurs during the services of the church must be peaceful and orderly, because God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. True and proper worship is humble, graceful, and profitable for everyone’s instruction.

Worship in the Word of God is Sacramental

Acts 2:32–39 (NIV):

32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

In response to the sound doctrine of Jesus Christ and the fear of God, the people immediately knew that they needed to do something.

The people wanted to know what to do because they were “cut to the heart”; their outward expression was due to an inward reverence.

If the new Christian is cut to the heart by grace, then it is true and proper worship to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Baptism is our first act of worship;. If the new covenant is marriage to Christ, then Baptism is our marriage vows; it seals, forgives, and anoints.

If the baptized Christian is cut to the heart by grace, then it is true and proper worship to self-examine and receive Christ’s Body and Blood in Communion.

Communion is the centerpiece of all our worship; in Communion, there is submission to, meditation on, remembrance of, and participation in Christ’s sacrifice.

“I see Baptism in this passage, but where is Communion?”

Acts 2:42–47 (NIV):

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

After the Baptism of whosoever would repent and believe, the fellowship of believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, and “the breaking of bread.”

Acts 2 is the perfect passage for worship in the Bible and the church. It begins with sinners being “cut to the heart,” seeking God, finding Baptism, and then being led into the life of the church, which is fellowship, Communion, prayer, charity, and praise.

It is this progression from death in sin to life in the church that is our true and proper worship.

Worship in the Word of God

Worship in the Word of God is about Reverence: it is the outward display of an inward reverence for God. It can be baptism, breaking bread, prayer, praise, or any number of wholesome things.

Worship in the Word of God is Orderly and Educational: it is about carefully and prayerfully ordering the services of the church to instruct and encourage everyone, to build up the church and clarify the Word.

Worship in the Word of God is Sacramental: the Sacraments are reverent, orderly, and educational; they are an outward display of inward reverence and they teach us about the things signified through the signs.

And finally, Worship in the Word of God is Everyday: the Christian is pleased to live in Christ everyday by doing God’s will, praying without ceasing, and never forgetting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.