REGULARITY OF WORSHIP

REGULARITY OF WORSHIP


To "belong" to a church is not enough. To have been converted to Christianity means that one has left the old ways of the world and begun a new life in Christ. Christianity, then is a way of life, a new life in Christ Jesus. Christ has told us to observe a memorial of His death, burial, and resurrection. The early church did this every first day of the week, which they called "The Lord's Day" in honor of Him. If we are to be followers of Christ, we need the spiritual blessings that we can only get through attending worship in fellowship with others and with the Lord.


1. Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake to them saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."


A. To whom was "all power" given?

B. Over what was this power given?

C. Does Christ have authority over us?

D. What three things does Christ tell us to do?

1. Teach the Gospel. (Good News)

2. Baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

3. Teach people to observe all things that He has commanded.

E. In what name are we to baptize?

F. For how long are we told to do these three things?



2. Matthew 16:18 "And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."


A. Upon what foundation was the church founded?

B. Whose church is it?

C. Does this give us any right to make any changes in the church?

D. Will Satan ever be able to completely destroy the church?


3. Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."


A. What does the word "steadfastly" mean? (Firmly, unchanging)

B. What are the four elements of worship in which they were to be firm and unchanging?

1. The apostle's doctrine.

2. Fellowship.

3. The breaking of bread.

4. Prayers.

C. Where did the apostles learn their doctrine? (From Christ)

D. Is the "doctrine" that we teach important?

E. What is a "fellowship": The dictionary says: "an association of like-minded people"

1. We fellowship in song.

2. We fellowship in giving for a common cause.

3. In "breaking of bread" (The communion memorial service)

4. In Prayer.



4. I Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."



A. How can we be "abounding" in the Lord's work?

B. Is "volunteer work" for the Lord ever really unpaid for work?

C. Who has promised to repay us for such work?



5. Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."



A. What would be included in the "all things" Jesus refers to here?

B. What promise does Jesus make to us if we observe "all things"?

C. For how long will He honour His promise?



6. 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."



A. Why did the early church gather on the first day of the week?

B. What did they do at this time?

C. Can we assume that they also had others gatherings? (See also Acts 2:46)

D. What would be our present day equivalent to such gatherings? ("house churches" and Home Bible studies)



7. Hebrews 10:25 "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."



A. Can a home Bible study or home church replace the assembling of all in one place?

B. Who is the loser if he only has the fellowship of a small "house church"?

C. What is he losing out on? (Often - song, fellowship, communion and even prayer.)

D. How do we mutually encourage one another?

E. Is this important today?



8. 1 Corinthians 16:2 "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."


A. What was the specific purpose of these "gatherings" Paul speaks of here?

B. What determines the amount to be laid aside? (The individual's income.)

C. Is this his "take home pay" or his pay after expenses?

D. By what name is this called in other scriptures? (The tithe, a tenth of all his income.)

E. The tithe is sometimes called the "first fruits" Why? What does this say to us?