Restoring Biblical Worship
OABS Lectureship • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
I would like to begin by saying how truly honored I am that you are allowing me to preach God’s precious and awesome message during this lectureship.
As someone that has been in charge of a lectureship before I understand the many and I mean many hours, prayers, financial funds, and much more that go into making one work. It is certainly appreciated.
My topic for today, as was mentioned, is “Restoring Biblical Worship.”
The more I studied this topic and the more I meditated upon God’s word on the subject and how to put this sermon together the more I came to think that before we answer the question of how to restore worship we must first answer the question, which is our first point…
Why Does It Need Restoration?
Why Does It Need Restoration?
Restoration Implies A Falling Away.
Restoration Implies A Falling Away.
You and I know that if something is in need of restoration it is not in “optimal or even good shape.”
We might try and justify how broken something is rather than admit it is in need of restoration.
My wife’s family used to love going to garage sells and estate sells. That was never my cup of tea but they loved it. There were certainly times when I did go and I can remember one time when a person was asking about a beat-up old piece of furniture. I can’t remember exactly what it was but when asked if it would need much restoration the person selling it said something like, “No, that is just an antique look.”
That person was joking but the reality is sometimes we try to justify something that is broken as simply a “unique feature.”
In many of our local churches across this great nation of ours, worship is broken and yet that broke worship is being “passed off as simply a unique feature.”
So, how does a local congregation miss label their worship as “unique?”
We are most familiar when a congregation calls their broke and in need of restoration worship something along the lines of…
A More Moving Worship.
A More Moving Worship.
We have all heard of or been a part of congregations that have gone from participating in the acts of worshiping according to God’s law to adding to that worship to make it more entertaining as they try and “lure” people in with quote unquote “more moving” or “exciting elements.”
These can come in all sorts of forms as we all know but all of them are for “entertainment purposes.”
I personally know of congregations that have done everything from “lowering the lights during communion” to “mechanical instruments being used” to “to having women lead in the worship service” to “having their preacher dance up and down the isles.”
A congregation in western Oklahoma, near where I used to preach, on a particular “Easter Sunday” had a couple of members push the local preacher from the back of the auditorium, down the middle, and up onto the stage all the while he was tied up to a cross…notice I said tied up not nailed to it.
Man is replete with attempts to make worshiping God more about “them” than God.
Proverbs 12:15 (KJV)
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes…
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Many within the Lord’s church have forgotten God’s words in Galatians 1:10.
10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.
If man is seeking to please man he cannot be a servant of Christ, simply put.
And again, there is no doubt a growing trend to make worship in the Lord’s church more focused on bridging the gap between us and denominationalism, but the question is why is this the case?
Why are those in the Lord’s church continuing to push for more “moving or spiritual” worship as they put it.
Remember what Max Lucado’s wife said after they had their first “Lord’s supper” on a Saturday night, “It was the most spiritual and connect I have felt to Christ during worship before.”
Now you and I know, I hope, how silly it is to do the same thing you have always done but change the day and it somehow became more moving or spiritual.
However, I do not think we need to ignore what she and others have said along these lines in its entirety.
Because the reason a lot of worship is in need of restoration from being “an entertainment worship” today is because for far too long in the brotherhood here in America many if not most of our brethren have been…
Habitual Worshipers.
Habitual Worshipers.
Now some might think, what is wrong with being a habitual worshiper on Sundays?
My answer would be look what happen in the wake of Covid 19 and all the shutdowns.
What happen when local congregations started opening back up after being shut down for more than a month, some, even a year later or more than a years later?
I’ll tell you what happen, all those who where going because it was “just a habit” created a new habit and that new habit was “worshiping at home” or as a lady who cut my hair one time called it, “underwear church.”
I know a family of five that hardly ever missed a service, visited us a few years later and told us the reason they started back up to worshiping was because after the first time they had gone back to their home congregation “in the flesh” their kids complained and said “they didn’t like attending the worship service and much preferred watching it happen at home.”
Oh what an eye opening reality and condemnation on this impossible conclusion that one can worship with each other “over the internet.”
If that wasn’t clear enough, let me be as clear as possible, there never should have been a shut down of any kind in the brotherhood, if Jews and Romans actively trying to kill Christians wasn’t enough for God to say take a pause then neither was a virus that was far less effective than either Jews or the Romans (Acts 8:1-4; Revelation 6:10-11).
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
The fact of the matter is worship, over the last 70 plus years, had become more of a generational habit for many if not most than true biblical worship. How can I possibly know that?
Ask yourself how many congregations, even before Covid hit, could reach 50 percent of their Sunday morning attendance on Sunday evening, not to mention during bible class times?
Covid simply exposed what was already the case, many and again I dare say most of our members were worshiping out of a generation habit not out of a desire and love to worship their Creator in spirit and truth (John 4:24).
Summary
Summary
Now let’s tie this altogether with our topic at hand.
The reason we need to “Restore Biblical Worship” is because there has been a great number of our brethren who have been worshiping out of habit.
This led some to seek “more moving” worship through entertainment because they read of worship in the bible and see it is not habitual but spiritual.
This led others to stop worshiping altogether because they cared not for anything more than what they had and now they have a “new habit.”
So now the question must be asked concerning worship…
How Do We Restore It?
How Do We Restore It?
We Must Reestablish What Spiritual Means.
We Must Reestablish What Spiritual Means.
To restore worship we must worship God according to how God wants to be worship and Jesus gave the Samaritan woman, and thus us as well, the avenue of pursuit for restoration of worship.
We must restore worship to being both spirit and truth.
John 4:24 (KJV)
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
What does worship in spirit mean though?
Here is where those that go into the “entertainment business concerning worship” miss the mark on this one.
In an attempt to be “more spiritual” in their worship they ignore the truth on worship for a feeling not a “more spiritual worship.”
An elder I know, told me of how his father-in-law came to obey the gospel.
His wife had obeyed the gospel & had tried to teach him the truth but it all seemed to simple & not enough spirit.
He learned that a local Pentecostal revival was going on so he went one night.
Here he saw so many people rolling around & he gave it a try.
After getting up & dusting himself off he went back to his wife, studied, obeyed the gospel, & ended up being an elder in the church.
To worship in spirit, isn’t rolling around in the dirt, it means understanding the difference between flesh and spirit.
The spiritually devoted “will” put away fleshly or worldly desires for spiritual desires.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
People that are truly seeking spiritual lives will set their minds on spiritual things not fleshly or worldly things.
What happens to those spiritually devoted that put away worldly things?
Those spiritually devoted “will” then seek to worship God with a spiritual mind.
Romans 12:1 (ASV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service [worship].
The Greek word for “spiritual” here means “to logically think in the spiritual realm not the physical.”
Hence the KJV translating it as “reasonable”
The Greek word for “service” here means “to serve in the worship of God.”
Hence the translation as “service” in some translation and “worship” in others.
This all means that to worship God in spirit we must be devoted to the heavenly image not our earthly image.
Paul would write in 1 Corinthians 15:46-49…
1 Corinthians 15:46–47 (KJV)
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:48–49 (KJV)
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
When we worship God in spirit we are worshiping him bearing his image not our image.
Or as the great apostle Paul put it in Galatians 2:20…
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
So to restore biblical worship we must reestablish what it means to be spiritual when worshiping, which is making God the most important one in our lives & throwing away anything that keeps us from that
However, this is only the first step to restoring biblical worship because…
We Must Reestablish What Truth Means.
We Must Reestablish What Truth Means.
We live in an age wherein fewer & fewer people understand truth is not relative.
Now don’t get me wrong they understand it if you give them the wrong money back, or charge them more than the price stated.
They understand truth isn’t relative real quick.
However in other aspects of life this is ignored for selfishness not truth, see AI’s demonstrate what truth is by way of application.
You may encounter conflicting information or claims. To navigate this, take time to reflect on what truth means to you personally. Consider how your faith shapes your understanding of truth. Use this foundation to critically evaluate different perspectives and make decisions that evaluate different perspectives and make decisions that align with your beliefs.”
This type of thinking has permeated the church today, especially in our worship.
This relativity issue is why so many in the church have no idea how to actually study God’s word & why they have no idea what is true concerning worship and what is not.
Don’t get me wrong they can “read the bible,” but there is no way they are able to actually ponder a biblical question, go to their bible, and find the answer without asking someone else to tell them the answer.
How many brethren, without looking at what others have written on the subject, can answer why we…
Partake of the Memorial Feast every first day of the week?
Don’t use mechanical instruments in worship?
Don’t call people in the denominational world “a good Christian person.”
God’s word is self-sufficient, meaning it is enough to answer any question one might have on any and all topics if one knows how to study God’s word (2 Peter 1:3).
I’m not saying there is anything wrong with looking at other people’s written study on a subject, because there isn’t.
What I’m saying is that if there were no commentaries on a subject many if not most of our own brethren could not determine the biblical answer to their spiritual questions.
This is why we end up with our own brethren saying things like…
Acappela worship is “just” a tradition.
Partaking of the Lord’s Supper on every first day of the week is tradition.
That having song books, church buildings, PowerPoint slides, and the like God is silent on.
To restore biblical worship we must reestablish what truth is and how to find it with our brothers and sisters.
Let’s read John 17:17.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
God’s word is truth and is therefore singular in interpretation which means there is no such things as multiple interpretations of God’s word, doctrines are either the true or false.
Let’s read 2 Timothy 2:15 now.
15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
God’s word is meant to be “rightly handled” which means there is a right way and a wrong way of learning what God wants and does not want.
Truth is that which can be determined through logical or reasonable study.
This is why God asked Isaiah in Isaiah 1:18 to…
Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD…
So to reestablish biblical worship we must get people back to worshiping in spirit and in truth.
Jesus would put it anther way, we must get people to…
Luke 10:27 (KJV)
27 …love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Lastly, to restore biblical worship…
We Must Reestablish What Fellowship Means.
We Must Reestablish What Fellowship Means.
There must be a joy we have at the prospect of being around our fellow brothers and sisters.
I cannot tell you how sad it is to see those in the church who would rather spend time with their worldly family and friends “over” those they have opportunity to spend eternity with.
Remember the words of Jesus in Mark 3:32-35.
32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Fellowship with those that are “walking in the light as we are” (1 John 1:7) is a vital part of our worship.
I’m not saying that we come to worship to focus on each other, what I’m saying is that if we don’t have fellowship with each other and thus love each other we will not be able to worship in spirit and in truth.
Hebrews 10:24–25 (KJV)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Part of what makes worship biblical is our gathering together in one place to collectively worship God.
This is the reason one who is capable of meeting with his fellow brethren, but choose to watch at home is sinning.
Why are so many today in the church not worshiping biblically i.e., loving God above all, because they don’t even love their fellow brothers and sisters enough to put time with them above time with worldly people.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Summary
Summary
Restoring biblical worship requires that we reestablish what worshiping in spirit and truth is and a love for one another in Christ.
We require in the church that their spiritual self put away all of their earthly self.
We require in the church an understanding of how to rightly handle the word of truth.
We require in the church a honest assessment of their love for one another.
It’s a tall task but one elders & preachers have been tasked in their own way of requiring.
Conclusion
Conclusion
It’s then and only then will we be able to restore biblical worship in our local congregations.
However, we must make sure we “ourselves” are worshiping in spirit & truth before we can see clearly to help our brother & sister worship biblically.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.