A Biblical Pattern for the Weekly Worship Celebration
by
Captain Bret
In my feeble attempt to come to grips with the whole counsel of God’s word concerning worship, it seems to me that a model that provides a time for every man of God to bring an unfiltered word from God to the congregation, AND a time for the elders to choose someone to bring a prepared message, comes very close to meeting these Biblical objectives. Therefore, the format for worship at Green Acres Household of Faith begins with an “open mic” worship time. This is led by a man whose family has some talent and skill in making music. There is a microphone on a stand at the front, and any man who believes he has “a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation” is encouraged to come forward to the mic. He must wait his turn to speak.
1 Cor
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.
When it seems good to the Holy Spirit and the elders, this part of the service is concluded, and a short intermission is called for parents to take their children to the facilities, and for everyone to stretch their legs. When the meeting reconvenes, one of the elders preaches a message from the Word. At the conclusion, this elder reads from 1 Corinthians 11 in preparation to serve the Lord’s table. He then calls for the heads of households to come and take cup of juice and a portion of bread for their own families. Each father determines who in his household should partake from the Lord’s table, and serves his own family. After this time of sharing the Lord’s table together, all the families put together the prepared food they brought from home, and share a lunch together. After lunch, families are encourage to fellowship and play together.
Exodus 20:25
If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with
dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.
I believe that this commandment provides some symbolic
insight into the fact that what we offer to the Lord must be of his doing and
not of our own. This is the same principle found in
Gen 4:3-5
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an
offering to the LORD.
4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.
The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.
It would seem that God had indicated to Adam what was
acceptable as an offering, and that while Abel obeyed, Cain had his own ideas
of what he wanted to give. God did not accept this offering of man's
choosing; for those that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
I believe Paul reflects this aspect of worship in
1 Cor 11:4
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head
covered dishonors his head.
This covering is a sign of his yielding to authority, as
Paul reveals to us in verse 10
10 For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a
sign of authority on her head.
And so every man who prays or prophesies should do so with
his head uncovered; in other words, without submitting what he has to say to an
earthly authority, such as a pastor or elder.
1 Tim 2:5
5 For there is one God and one mediator between
God and men, the man Christ Jesus
These studies lead me to the conclusion that the normal worship service needs to provide an opportunity for men to be led by the Holy Spirit to bring a word to the congregation.
1 Cor
26 What then
shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word
of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must
be done for the strengthening of the church.
(NIV)
The pattern revealed in God's law has a second aspect as
well.
Exod 26:1
1 "Make
the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and
scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman.
Exod 28:3
3 Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters
that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve
me as priest.
Exod 35:10
10 "All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the
LORD has commanded
While God commanded that his offerings be made on an altar
of uncut stones, he also commanded all the skilled workers in
1 Chr 25:1-8
1 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:
2 From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king's supervision.
3 As for Jeduthun, from his sons: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp in thanking and praising the LORD.
4 As for Heman, from his sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth.
5 All these were sons of Heman the king's seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6 All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king.
7 Along with their relatives-- all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD-- they numbered 288.
8 Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties.
There is a lot to be learned from a study of this passage of scripture. But I want to note in particular that there was an actual selection made of a group of men who were to prophesy to the people before the Lord, under the supervision of overseers. And these men, as well as the musicians, were TRAINED and SKILLED in the performance of their duties.
1 Pet 5:1-3
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
It appears obvious to me that one of the chief responsibilities God’s shepherd is to carefully and prayerfully prepare “hearty meals” for the sheep.
Heb 5:12-6:3
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
HEBREWS CHAPTER 6
1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,
2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3 And God permitting, we will do so.
This appears to be borne out by Christ’s apostles as well.
Acts 6:2-4
2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.
3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them
4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."