Lesson 7: Scripture and Prayer in Worship

Memorize Matthew 6:5-8.

XYZ Church is well known for its worship time. Their services follow this pattern:

People like the music at XYZ church. Visitors compliment the high-energy service. However, Pastor Michael has become concerned about the long-term results of his ministry. New converts soon drift to other congregations. Even worse, a survey of long-term attendees found that the church “is not producing solid disciples of Jesus Christ. Numbers, yes; disciples, no.”[1]

Michael believes that part of the problem is the church’s understanding of worship. At XYZ Church, worship equals music. Pastor Michael is beginning to ask, “Does true worship include more than music? Are we separating God’s Word and prayer from worship? Does this diminish the impact of preaching?”

► Please respond to Pastor Michael’s concerns. Is there a difference between worship and preaching? How can XYZ Church connect all parts of the worship service in the minds of worshippers?

As evangelicals we teach that our doctrines and worship are guided by scripture. We believe that the Bible should hold a central place in our worship. God speaks to His people in the reading of the Word. Since Old Testament times, scripture has been central in worship.

Sadly, though we say that the Bible is at the root of our worship, many churches include little scripture in their service. It is possible to attend a service in some churches and hear no more than a few verses of scripture. This is far from the biblical model of worship.

Reading the Word Was Important in Biblical Worship

► Read Exodus 24:1-12.

In Exodus 24:7, Moses took the book of the covenant, and read in the hearing of the people. The people promised to follow God’s commands: “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” Following this, God wrote a summary of the covenant (the Ten Commandments) on tables of stone. Israel was a people of the Book. The written covenant was central to Israel’s worship.

The Word of God was central in the Tabernacle and Temple. The annual feasts were the most important events in the Jewish year. At Passover, the Feast of Firstfruits, and the Feast of Tabernacles portions of God’s Word were read publicly. Every seven years, the nation gathered to hear the law read, and the covenant was renewed.[1]

In the New Testament, Paul commanded Christians to read scripture publicly. This included the Old Testament, letters by Paul, and other writings classified as scripture.[2] He instructed a young minister to devote himself to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching (1 Timothy 4:13). The Word of God was central in New Testament worship.

Preaching the Word Was Important in Biblical Worship

► Read Nehemiah 8:1-18.

After the return from Exile, Ezra read the Law to the people. The people gathered to listen as Ezra read the Law in the presence of the men and the women, and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law (Nehemiah 8:3). In response, the people said “Amen” and fell on their faces in worship. As Ezra and his associates read, they explained the scripture and caused the listeners to understand the reading. This is a biblical example of preaching, explaining, and applying God’s Word to the needs of the people. True biblical preaching inspires worship in response to the Word.

[3]Jesus came to the synagogue on the Sabbath day as was his custom and read from the Isaiah scroll. When he was done, Jesus preached a sermon in which he showed that he had come to fulfill the promise of Isaiah (Luke 4:16-29).

In his sermon at Pentecost, Peter showed that the Old Testament promises were fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit. He concluded his explanation of scripture with an invitation to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:14-41). Biblical preaching called for a response from the listeners. Preaching speaks to the mind, but it must also speak to the heart. Preaching must call for a response from the will. When Jesus opened the scriptures on the road to Emmaus, the listeners’ hearts burned within them (Luke 24:32).

Preaching was important in the spread of the early church. In Acts, the word of God is referred to more than 20 times. The apostles preached the word of the Lord; they spoke the word of God with boldness; they taught the word of God. In response, many people received the word of God; the word of God grew and multiplied; the word of God prevailed; and Gentiles glorified the word of the Lord. God’s Word was the foundation of the apostles’ message.

While preaching is not the only means through which scripture speaks, it is the primary means for bringing God’s Word to God’s people. In order to accomplish this purpose, a pastor must never forget that God’s Word must be central. Biblical preaching must begin in God’s Word, explain God’s Word, and call for a personal response to God’s Word.

Preaching the Word Was Important in Church History

Preaching was central to worship in the early centuries of the church. In the second century, Justin Martyr wrote that Christians gathered on Sundays to read the Epistles and the Prophets and to hear them explained. By the third century, portions of each major section of the Bible were read during worship.

During the Middle Ages, the Catholic church minimized the role of preaching, but the Reformers returned preaching to a central place in worship. The goal of Reformed preaching was not entertainment, the preacher’s personal agenda, or the cultural demands of society. The goal of preaching was the careful exposition of God’s Word; explaining scripture in a way that impacted listeners and called for a life-changing response.

If the Word of God should be central in our worship, how do we put this principle into practice? Practical steps for making scripture central in our worship include:

Scripture Should Be Included in All Parts of Worship

We should not wait until the sermon to hear scripture in worship. There is no better way to begin worship than with the Word of God.

Consider two openings for worship. Which is a more effective invitation into God’s presence?

1. “Thank you for coming to church today. The rain made travel difficult for some of you, but I am glad you came. Let’s focus our attention on God and worship. Can you stand as we sing, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’?”

2. “‘I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD!’ Welcome to God’s house! In the Temple, Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up. He heard angels singing ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ Join in praise as we sing ‘Holy, Holy, Holy.’”

The first leader reminded us of the difficulties of travel; the second leader reminded us of the joy of worship. The first leader began with common words; the second leader began with the Word of God. The first leader announced an ordinary hymn; the second leader reminded us that the angels sing this hymn in their praise of God. Which church will sing with more enthusiasm?

After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, congregations gathered in their churches on Sunday for worship as usual. Compare the opening of worship services from these two churches:

1. “Thank you for joining us today. This has been a tragic week in our nation. Many of us are grieving. Thank you for coming to worship even in this dark time. We will begin by singing ‘The Old Rugged Cross.’”

2. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. In these difficult times, we must not forget that he is our hope; He is our refuge. Join together as we remember that ‘A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, a bulwark never failing.’”

The first leader reminded the congregation of their grief; the second leader reminded them that God is their hope. Scripture and a hymn based on that scripture provided a solid foundation in a week when people’s confidence was being tested.

Scripture can be used in many parts of the worship service:

• The opening words of the service

• The invitation to the offering

• The words of the music

• Prayer

Our worship should be saturated with the Word of God. Worship is a response to God’s revelation of himself in his Word. Scripture should underlie all parts of the worship service.

The Reading of Scripture Should Receive a Central Place in Worship

Have you ever heard a pastor say, “We are short of time today and I have a long sermon, so I will skip the reading of the text?” Which is more important, God’s Word or our words? We must give time to scripture in worship.

Because the reading of scripture is worship, we should pay attention to how we read it. It should be read clearly and distinctly. The reader (whether the pastor or a layperson) should practice before the service. In the first three centuries of the church, the position of reader of scripture was a sacred trust. The readers kept their assigned books at home and practiced the readings. When they read in worship, they were prepared to read clearly and expressively.[1]

Remember, this is God’s Word being read in God’s house to God’s people as an act of worship. If worship music deserves practice, God’s Word deserves practice. It is not a matter of pride in our abilities; it is a matter of making sure that the Word of God is communicated to the listeners. This is God’s Word; it is important!

We should make the reading meaningful. Using different types of reading will keep the scripture fresh in the ears of the listeners.

(1) Sometimes the scripture can be read by the leader as the congregation listens to God speak. This type of reading is appropriate for much of the Pentateuch and most of the prophetic books.

(2) Sometimes the leader and congregation can alternate reading. Many of the Psalms are suited for this type of responsive reading.

► Read Psalm 136. Have the class leader begin each verse; the class should respond with the second half of each verse, “for his steadfast love endures forever.”

The Beatitudes are appropriate for responsive reading (Matthew 5:1-10):

Leader: Blessed are the poor in spirit,
Congregation: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Leader: Blessed are those who mourn,
Congregation: for they shall be comforted.

(3) Some scriptures can be read by the congregation in unison. Like congregational music, reading scripture as a body demonstrates the unity of the church. All the church joins in speaking God’s Word. Prayers such as Psalm 124 are suited for unison reading.

Nehemiah’s account of Ezra’s reading of the Law shows the impact when scripture is central in our worship.

► Read Nehemiah 8 again if you need to review this account.

Notice the details of the reading.

• Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people. There was a visual connection with the Word.

• He stood above all the people. The reader could be clearly seen and heard.

• When he began to read, all the people stood up. There was a physical response to the Word.

• As he read, all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands, and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. They expressed their submission to God’s Word.

• The Levites read the law of God clearly, and gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. They gave attention to understanding the Word of God. This is the goal of preaching today.

• The people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Nehemiah commanded them to rejoice, “for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” God’s Word inspired both repentance and joy.

While not every detail of this special occasion will be repeated in our services, this account shows the power of scripture. We must keep scripture central in our worship.

Checkup

Does your congregation recognize the importance of Bible reading in worship? Describe some of the behaviors and responses that you see as you look around the congregation during the reading of scripture.

On an average Sunday, how many different scripture passages are heard by your congregation? Do worshippers know why each passage is included?

The Preaching of the Word Should Be Central to Our Worship

Just as musical styles change in every generation, preaching styles change to meet the needs of each generation. Scripture does not define one musical style as the biblical style for worship music; scripture does not define one preaching method as the biblical style for preaching.

Style may change from generation to generation and from culture to culture; content must not change. Scripture does not define musical style, but it does define content. In the same way, preaching styles may change from generation to generation, but the content must not change.

[2]The sermons in scripture show that the proclamation of God’s Word is the primary responsibility of the preacher who stands before a congregation. A focus on God’s Word must remain central in contemporary preaching. Changing technology and learning styles may affect the style of preaching; the content must remain rooted in scripture.

Preaching as Worship: Practical Implications

What are the practical implications of viewing preaching as worship? How will this affect our approach to preaching?

Preaching requires careful preparation.

[3]If preaching is worship, we are responsible to carefully prepare. We must bring our best gifts to God’s altar. David would not give that which cost him nothing; we should not bring unprepared sermons as our gift to God. We should carefully prepare our sermon before the service (2 Samuel 24:24).

Preaching requires a response from the congregation.

If preaching is worship, it requires a response from the congregation. In worship we see God, we see ourselves, and we see the needs of our world (Isaiah 6:1-8; See Lesson 1.). Our sermons should reveal God to the listener, our sermons should convict the listener of a need, and our sermons should inspire the church to reach a lost world. Preaching as worship will bring conviction to sinners and will inspire believers to evangelism.

Preaching requires a response from the preacher.

If preaching is worship, we will recognize that preaching requires a response from us. If we prepare to preach as an act of sacrificial worship, we will see God; we will be convicted of areas of need in our own lives; and we will see the needs of the world around us. In response, we will cry out with Isaiah, “Here I am; send me.” True preaching will change the preacher. We must not bring God’s message to our congregations until God has spoken to us personally and we have responded.

Jesus did not rebuke the scribes (preachers) of his day for bad sermons; he rebuked them for failing to live what they preached. They knew scripture and how to explain scripture, but they were not changed by scripture. Jesus said, “They preach, but do not practice” (Matthew 23:3). If preaching is worship, we as pastors will be changed by the truths we preach. In turn, God will speak through us to change the hearts and lives of the people to whom we preach.

The preacher must be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

If preaching is worship, the preacher must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Just as all other areas of worship rely on the Holy Spirit for true power, a preacher must be anointed by God’s Spirit if he is to be effective.

► Read 2 Corinthians 3:3-18.

We bring our best sacrifice of preparation to the sermon; however, after our preparation is complete, power in preaching comes through the Holy Spirit. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we may speak to the mind, we may impress the congregation, and we may have good content, but we will not change lives.

Checkup

Is your preaching an act of biblical worship? If a person listens to you preach regularly, will they hear balanced biblical truth?

The Bible has lost its place in the daily life of many professed believers. Sadly, it has also lost its place in the weekly worship of many churches. Where the early church sang psalms, some churches today sing songs with little or no biblical content. Where the early church read long passages of scripture, some churches today read only a few verses prior to the sermon. In many services, scripture has been replaced with songs and a sermon that gives little attention to God’s Word.

Some leaders in the contemporary worship movement insist that the public reading of scripture no longer speaks to modern needs. A well-known pastor recently asked his church staff to evaluate his preaching. They told him that he was using too much Bible! “It is good for you to base your sermon on the Bible, but you better get to something relevant pretty quickly, or we stop listening.” This church staff did not think that the Bible was relevant to people today!

As worship leaders, we must maintain the centrality of scripture in worship. In worship, we speak to God through prayer and songs of praise. In worship, we hear God speak to us through the reading and proclamation of the Word. Regardless of our worship style, we must never lose the centrality of God’s Word in worship.

► Review Nehemiah 8. Make a list of every phrase that shows the value the people put on the reading of the Law. Compare this to the reading of scripture in your worship today. Discuss one practical step that could increase the impact of scripture in your worship.

Mary[1] is a committed Christian. Even when she was in school, she took time alone with God each morning. Before breakfast, she spent time in the Bible and prayer.

But now that she is the mother of four children, prayer and Bible reading are increasingly difficult. One child is an infant and awakens Mary during the night. Mary finds that she often struggles to get out of bed in the mornings before the children are awake. By nighttime, she is too tired to focus on prayer and the Bible.

Mary is happy when Sunday arrives. Each Sunday, she receives a spiritual boost during worship, but during the week she becomes discouraged. She feels that her devotional life has become a total failure.

► Please give Mary practical advice for her devotional life.

We began this lesson with a study of scripture in worship. We will continue with a study of prayer in worship. In scripture, God speaks to us; in prayer, we respond to God. Scripture and prayer should saturate our worship.

Public and Private Prayer in Biblical Worship

We have seen that the book of Psalms was the hymnbook for Jewish worship. It was also the prayer book for Jewish worship. Psalms included prayers for public worship and for private prayer. Both public and private prayer was important for Jewish worship.

At home, faithful Jews prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10).[2] Many psalms are private prayers. These can be recognized by the use of I instead of we in the prayer. Examples of psalms for private prayer include:

• Psalm 18 – a song of thanksgiving

• Psalm 32 – a prayer of joy for forgiveness[3]

• Psalm 38 – a prayer of repentance

• Psalm 41 – a prayer for mercy

• Psalm 51 – a prayer of repentance

• Psalm 88 – a lament in time of suffering

• Psalm 116 – a song of thanksgiving for God’s care

In the Temple, Jewish worshippers joined together in public prayer. At the dedication of the Temple, Solomon led in a national prayer for God’s favor on the people (2 Chronicles 6). Isaiah brought God’s message to Judah; “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7). After the Exile, synagogue worship focused on the reading of the Law and on prayer. Services in the synagogue began with a series of prayers.

The Hebrew pattern of prayer continued in the early church. First-century Christians prayed three times a day at home. When Christians met together for worship, they prayed as a body. The Lord’s Prayer was part of each worship service. Other prayers were offered throughout each worship service.

Prayer in Worship Today

If prayer was important in biblical worship, prayer should be important in our worship today. Both public and private prayer is important.

[4]Private prayer connects us to the Vine and provides nourishment for our spiritual lives. A lack of private prayer may explain the lack of spiritual power in many churches. If Jesus needed times of private prayer during his earthly ministry, how much more we depend upon prayer for spiritual nourishment and power in ministry.

Public prayer is an important element of worship. Some churches give little attention to prayer. One pastor defended the lack of public prayer in his church by saying, “You can’t keep people interested when their eyes are closed.”[5] He believed that pleasing the audience is more important than pleasing God.

Corporate prayer corrects the false idea that Christianity is only about me and my relationship with God; we are part of a body. As we hear prayer requests and join in corporate prayer, we become aware of a fellow Christian’s illness, emotional hurts, and life circumstances. Corporate prayer reminds us that the members of the church are one body. Corporate prayer reminds us that God cares about the congregation as a body.

Just as scripture should be used throughout the worship service, prayer should be offered throughout the worship service. From an opening prayer that welcomes God’s presence in the service, to the focused time of prayer for the needs of the people, to a closing prayer of blessing as the members depart to minister in the world, prayer should give focus to our worship.

What are some practical ways that we can make prayer a more meaningful part of public worship? Here are six practical suggestions.

[1]Cultivate Your Private Prayer Life

No one is prepared to lead others in worship until he or she has first worshipped. No one is prepared to lead public prayer until he or she has first prayed privately. It is only as we develop a private prayer life that we are equipped to lead in public prayer. As a worship leader, commit yourself to the discipline of daily private prayer.

Learn How to Pray

Jesus’ disciples asked, “Teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). In response, Jesus taught the model prayer known as the Lord’s Prayer. Prayer can be learned.

To some degree, prayer is natural to every child of God; however, prayer can be learned. A young child learns to talk without taking talking lessons. However, as a child grows, they learn more about language, vocabulary, and proper speech. In the same way, a young Christian naturally desires to talk to God, but as we mature in the faith, our understanding and appreciation of prayer is deepened.

Books on prayer can deepen your understanding of prayer. A few classics on prayer that can benefit every Christian are:

• Power Through Prayer by E.M. Bounds

• With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray

• Mighty Prevailing Prayer by Wesley Duewel

Pray the Words of Scripture

There is no better place to learn prayer than in scripture. The first school of prayer is the Bible. The Psalms and other biblical prayers teach us to pray effectively. Through church history, great Christians have filled their prayers with scripture. Some great prayers in the Bible include:

• Prayers of adoration. Exodus 15:1-18, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, 1 Chronicles 29:11-20, Luke 1:46-55, Luke 1:68-79, 1 Timothy 6:15-16, and Revelation 4:8-5:14.

• Prayers of confession. Ezra 9:5-15, Psalm 51, and Daniel 9:4-19.

• Prayers of intercession. Genesis 18:23-33, Exodus 32:11-14, Ephesians 1:15-23, and Philippians 1:9-11.

Focus on Communing with God

Too many times, our prayer only makes requests to God. Some people give God a list of requests, thank him for answering yesterday’s requests, and then say “Amen.” True prayer must be more than a list of requests; prayer is communion with God.

The Lord’s Prayer provides a model for prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). The Lord’s Prayer included:

• Adoration: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

• Submission: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

• Petition: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

• Confession: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

• Prayer for Guidance: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:”

• Praise: “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.”

Many Christians follow a four-part pattern that includes each of the elements in Jesus’ model prayer: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication.

Adoration

Prayer should never omit adoration and praise. By beginning with praise, we make sure that our prayer is more than a list of requests for help. The Psalms provide a model for prayer that is grounded in praise. Even the psalms of lament include praise. If prayer is true worship, it will include adoration of God.

Confession

Isaiah 6 shows that when we see God (adoration), we will see ourselves. When we see ourselves in the light of God’s perfect purity, we understand our need of confession. No Christian, no matter how mature, no matter how deep his walk with God, should reach a place where he says, “I have no need to confess. My perfection is absolute.” Jesus said to his disciples, “When you pray, say …and forgive us our sins; for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4). True worship includes confession.

Thanksgiving

Adoration praises God for who he is; thanksgiving praises God for what he is doing in our world. Thanksgiving recognizes that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above (James 1:17). In thanksgiving, we thank God for what he has done in our life. The story of the 10 lepers shows the importance of thanksgiving (Luke 17:12-19).

Supplication

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus showed that God values the requests of his children. God is not like an earthly ruler who is too busy to be bothered with the needs of an ordinary citizen. Instead, God is the perfect Father who delights in giving good gifts to his children. In the Lord’s Prayer, we are encouraged to pray for ordinary needs (“give us our daily bread”) and for spiritual guidance (“lead us not into temptation”).

In the Lord’s Prayer, we learn to submit our will to God when we make requests. As trusting children, we learn that his will is perfect; his “no” is for our good. Prayer is not a magical tool to force God to our will. Prayer is a spiritual discipline that brings us into joyful submission to God’s will.

Align Your Priorities with God’s

Prayer often shows what is most important to us. What inspires our most earnest prayer, physical needs or spiritual needs?

In his prayer for the Christians at Thessalonica, Paul said, “we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him…” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). Paul’s greatest concern was that God would fulfill his purpose in their lives. These Christians were being persecuted, but Paul’s prayer was not for God to rescue them from suffering. Instead, he prayed that the name of the Lord Jesus would be glorified in them.

Just as our requests show our priorities, our thanksgiving shows our priorities. If most of our thanksgiving is for material blessings, material blessings may be what we value most. If most of our thanksgiving is for God’s help in our spiritual life, spiritual growth is what we value most.

In his prayer for the Thessalonians, Paul gave thanks to God because their faith was growing abundantly, and their love for one another was increasing (2 Thessalonians 1:3). His greatest thanks was not for temporal blessings; his greatest thanksgiving was for their spiritual growth. What gives you greatest cause for thanksgiving, a financial blessing or an evidence of spiritual growth in your life?

Talk to God, Not to the Congregation

Through scripture, God speaks to the congregation. In prayer, the congregation speaks to God. Public prayer time is not the opportunity for the leader to tell the people (through the prayer) what he wants to say to them! Prayer speaks to God.

Jesus told his disciples how to pray in a spirit of true worship:

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him (Matthew 6:5-8).

True prayer does not try to impress God or the congregation; it speaks simply and clearly to our heavenly Father.

► What will you do to grow in your personal prayer life? How will you make prayer a more meaningful part of public worship in your church?

Prayer is a natural response to God’s Word. Because of this, we should follow scripture reading and the sermon with prayer. In prayer, we respond to the truth we have received from God’s Word; we commit ourselves to obedience.

The offering is also a response to God’s Word. In the Old Testament, the sacrifice (offering) was the worshipper’s response to the Law (God’s Word). In the New Testament, the offering symbolizes the surrender to God of our entire being.

The offering is part of worship. The psalmist called worshippers to bring an offering, and come into his courts (Psalm 96:8). The writer of Hebrews connected worship with giving; “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Hebrews 13:16). Paul told the Philippians that their gift to him was a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18).

A Theology of Worshipful Giving

Many churchgoers see the offering primarily as the way we pay the church’s bills. This makes the offering a financial transaction rather than a spiritual act of worship. Christian stewardship should be understood as part of worship. Each of the following principles should be part of our theology of giving.

Worshipful giving is motivated by grace, not fear.

Giving as an act of worship is motivated by gratitude for God’s grace. Paul asked the Corinthians to give to help needy Christians in Jerusalem. He did not threaten them, “You must give because you may someday need help.” Instead, he concluded his appeal with praise, “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Their giving would be motivated by thanks for God’s gift of grace. If an offering is true worship, it comes from a willing heart.

Worshipful giving is motivated by love, not reward.

True worship is motivated by love for God, not the desire for a reward. Monetary gifts are a symbol of our gift of ourselves to God. Paul praised the Macedonian Christians because “they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us” (2 Corinthians 8:5). Their gifts were a symbol of their love for God and for the apostles who brought the gospel to their region.

Just as music or any other worship activity can be done for the wrong reasons, giving can be motivated by a desire for reward rather than love for God. Some evangelists promise that God will repay monetary gifts with financial blessing. By twisting texts out of their biblical context, they promise a hundredfold reward for gifts to God. Such giving would not be an act of loving worship, but would be like buying a cosmic lottery ticket in which the giver hopes to hit the jackpot! Nowhere does the Bible commend this kind of giving.

Rather, the Bible commends the giving of Mary. When she anointed Jesus, there was no reward in sight. She poured out her savings with no thought of return. Even the disciples were angry because of her waste. Only Jesus saw and praised her gift, a gift that was motivated solely by love (Matthew 26:6-13).

Worshipful giving is motivated not only by love for God, but love for others. John reminded his readers that true love is more than words; it is action. The love of the Philippians for Paul was seen in their giving. A believer’s love for others is seen in giving.

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:17-18).

Worshipful giving is generous, not stingy.

Paul challenged the Corinthian church to generous giving when he said, “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” Their generosity was an expression of their thanks to God. “For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11-12). For giving to be true worship, it must be generous.

Worshipful giving is motivated by humility, not pride.

► Read Matthew 6:1-4.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned of wrong motivations for giving. Some give to receive praise from others; their reward is praise. “They have received their reward.” Some give quietly, while praising themselves for their humility; their reward is self-satisfaction. Jesus said, “Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does.” Don’t compliment yourself on your generosity. Instead, allow your Father in heaven to see and reward you as he chooses.

A Story of Joyful Giving

John Wesley had just finished buying pictures for his room when a maid came to his door. It was a cold day and he noticed that she wore only a thin gown. He reached into his pocket to give her some money for a coat, and found he had little left. He cried out, “I have adorned my walls with the money that might have protected this poor creature from the cold!”

Wesley began to limit his expenses so he would have money to give to the poor. In his journal, he recorded that one year his income was £30, and his living expenses £28, so he had £2 to give away. The next year, his income doubled, but he still lived on £28 and gave £32 away. In the third year, his income jumped to £90; again he lived on £28, giving £62 away. The fourth year, he made £120, lived again on £28, and gave £92 to the poor.

Wesley preached that Christians should not merely tithe, but give extra. He believed that with increasing income, our giving should increase. He practiced this throughout his life. Even when his income rose into the thousands of pounds, he lived simply and gave away surplus money. One year his income was over £1,400; he gave away all except £30.[1] He said that he never kept more than £100. He gave away most of the £30,000 he earned in his lifetime.[2]

The point of this story is not a legalistic command to poverty! The point is joyful and willing obedience to God. God does not give everyone the same income as John Wesley; God does not call everyone to give at the same rate as John Wesley. The test is not, “Am I giving as much as someone else?” The test is, “Am I giving in joyful obedience to God?” God calls us to worship with sacrificial giving.

The Practice of Giving

Because giving is an act of worship, offerings should be collected in ways that contribute to a spirit of worship. Consider the following practical ideas.

The emphasis in the offering should be worship, not needs.

Perhaps the reason that many Christians see the offering primarily as the way to pay the church’s bills is that the emphasis in the offering is on paying the bills! This is made worse when a financial crisis leads us to say, “The church will close” or “We can’t send a missionary” if a generous offering is not given. Sometimes a pastor apologizes for asking for an offering; “I wish we didn’t need to ask you for money.” Instead, the offering should be expression of joyful thanksgiving.

When taking an offering, the emphasis should be worship. The offering can be introduced with a scripture that reminds worshippers of the purpose for the offering. Scriptures such as 2 Corinthians 8:9 and 2 Corinthians 9:7, Exodus 25:2, Acts 20:35, and even John 3:16 point to the true motivation for giving.

The offering should be part of the worship service itself.

In some cultures it is common to encourage people to give their offering apart from the service itself. While this may be motivated by a desire to avoid show or to save time in the service, it tends to separate giving from worship. Taking the offering as part of the worship service helps worshippers understand giving as an act of worship.

Since the offering is our response to God, you may consider taking the offering after the sermon rather than before. This says, “We are giving to God in response to his Word.”

Parents should introduce their children to giving in worship.

Just as we teach our children to sing, pray, and listen to scripture read and preached, we should teach our children to give joyfully. As our children learn that giving is a joyous act of praise, they too become worshippers.

The music during the offering should be worship.

If the offering is worship, the music during the offering should be worship. This music can be instrumental or vocal; it can be a solo or congregational; it can be quiet and reflective or joyful and exuberant; regardless of the style, it should be a part of worship. Those who provide music during the offering should pray for spiritual guidance just as the worship leader prays for spiritual guidance. No part of worship should be taken lightly.

The offering should be followed by a prayer of dedication.

Since the offering is a gift to God, an offering should be followed by a prayer of consecration. This reminds worshippers of the purpose for giving and provides a visible evidence of giving as worship.

Church leaders should be good stewards of the gifts of the people.

In the offering, worshippers are entrusting their gifts to the stewardship of the church’s leaders. Church leaders must be good caretakers of the gifts. An accounting to the congregation for the use of the money shows that the offerings are being used for God’s work. This encourages giving and reduces the temptation to dishonesty in church leadership. In a world in which Christian leaders are viewed with distrust, we should do everything possible to show ourselves blameless.

The offering is much more than a way to pay the bills; it is an act of worship. Through his Word, God reveals himself to worshippers. We respond with sacrificial gifts given from joyful hearts. This is true worship.

Checkup

Do the people in your church feel that they are worshipping when they give, or are they simply paying the bills? What practical steps can you take to make the offering an act of worship?

► Discuss your church’s observance of Communion. How often do you celebrate the Lord’s Supper? When you observe Communion, is it an integral part of the service?

Just as God is revealed in the written Word (the reading of scripture) and in the spoken word (the preaching of his Word), he is revealed in the demonstrated word of the Lord’s Supper.[1] The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of Jesus’ atoning death and a celebration of his resurrection. The Last Supper was related to Passover, but it also inaugurated the new covenant.

► Read Matthew 26:17-30 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34.

[2]New Testament references to the Lord’s Supper include accounts in the Gospels and Paul’s instructions to the church at Corinth.

Three questions are often asked related to observance of the Lord’s Supper.

• What is the meaning of the Lord’s Supper?

• How often should the Lord’s Supper be observed?

• How should the Lord’s Supper be observed?

What is the Meaning of the Lord’s Supper?

Observance of Communion is a meaningful part of worship.[3] Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul showed that in the Lord’s Supper:

1. We look back to Christ’s death (“you proclaim the Lord’s death”).

2. We look forward to Christ’s return (“until he comes”).

As we celebrate Communion, we remember his sacrifice, and we look forward to his promised return. The elements represent the body and blood of Christ and they remind us of our participation in the Lord’s death. “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16) The Lord’s Supper is a powerful symbol of the continuing presence of the crucified and risen Lord.

How Often Should the Lord’s Supper Be Observed?

Neither scripture nor church history gives a definitive answer to this question. In the early church it appears that the Lord’s Supper was taken every Sunday. Today, some churches celebrate Communion weekly while others observe it only once or twice a year.

As long as the Lord’s Supper is a reverent aspect of worship, frequent observance does not diminish the meaning of the Lord’s Supper any more than weekly Bible reading diminishes the significance of scripture in worship.

How Should the Lord’s Supper Be Observed?

Paul warned the Corinthians about eating and drinking “in an unworthy manner” (1 Corinthians 11:27).[4] Some practical steps can help us in observing the Lord’s Supper in a manner worthy of its significance to Christians.

Communion should be a central part of a worship service, not an addendum.

A natural time for the Lord’s Supper is following the sermon. In this case, the sermon should lead us to a deeper understanding of the Supper. This can be done through a sermon addressed directly to the Lord’s Supper, or through a sermon on a related topic (redemption, the atonement, grace, discipleship). For churches that celebrate the Lord’s Supper frequently, it is not appropriate to focus the theme of every service on Communion. However, there should a clear link between the observance of Communion and the preceding service.

Communion is both a solemn and a joyful occasion.

Communion is a time of solemn self-examination and of joyful celebration of God’s grace. The solemnity of the observance is reflected in the reminder that the Supper is eaten in remembrance of the Lord’s death. The joy of the observance is reflected in the promise of the Lord’s return.

On occasion, the celebration of the resurrection and anticipation of Christ’s return may be the primary emphasis in Communion. At other times, the solemnity of Jesus’ death and the importance of self-examination may be the primary emphasis. Both aspects are part of this observance.

We rejoice in Communion because the Lord’s Supper is made possible by God’s grace. At the Lord’s Supper, we are reminded that grace alone provides our salvation. We recognize the solemnity of Communion because we remember that our participation in the Lord’s Supper represents a commitment to flee from sin. At the Lord’s Table, each worshipper must examine himself.

Communion should reflect the unity of the church.

It is sad that Communion, an ordinance that was intended to reflect the unity of the church, has sometimes been the cause of division. Differences over how the Lord’s Supper is served (individual cups, a common cup, dipping the bread into the cup) and differences over who can partake (all professed believers, only those who have been baptized, only members of the local church) have led to division between churches.

Paul reminded the church at Corinth that as they shared one bread, they must be one body. “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:17).

We should remember that in Communion, worship is primary while procedures are secondary. The church must maintain procedures that are faithful to the Gospels and 1 Corinthians. However, regardless of the manner in which the Lord’s Supper is served, it should not become divisive. In the Lord’s Supper, we celebrate the unity of God’s family.

Is worship important? Here is a testimony from 1945 that shows what can happen when an ordinary person worships through prayer.

During WWII, a converted Buddhist Japanese-American student at Baylor University became an instrument for revival. Reiji Hoshizaki worked as a janitor to pay his way through school. As he cleaned classrooms, he began to pray beside each desk.

One day, after weeks of prayer, Reiji was sitting in class when he was so overcome with a burden for his classmates that he dropped to his knees and began to weep and pray. Students asked, “What is wrong with Reiji?” Nothing was wrong with Reiji; his chair had become his altar.

Through Reiji’s intercession, revival spread through Baylor University and then through the state of Texas. Dozens of student evangelists left Baylor’s campus to take the revival through the entire southwestern United States. Prayer is an essential part of worship. As we worship, our world is changed by God’s power.

To view or print Reviews of all lessons, click here for a PDF.

(1) We can make scripture central in worship by including scripture in all parts of our worship.

(2) Since scripture is central in worship, we should make sure that it is read clearly, expressively, and with a variety that will keep the reading fresh.

(3) Since preaching is part of worship:

• Preaching requires careful preparation.

• Preaching requires a response from the congregation.

• Preaching requires a response from the preacher.

• The preacher must be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

(4) Practical ways to make prayer a meaningful part of public worship:

• Cultivate your private prayer life.

• Learn how to pray.

• Pray the words of scripture.

• Focus on communing with God.

• Align your priorities with God’s.

• Talk to God, not to the congregation.

(5) Since the offering is part of worship:

• Giving should be motivated by grace, not fear.

• Giving should be motivated by love, not reward.

• Giving should be generous, not stingy.

• Giving should be motivated by humility, not pride.

• The way we collect the offering should contribute to a spirit of worship.

(6) The Lord’s Supper

• Looks back to Christ’s death.

• Looks forward to Christ’s return.

• Should be observed in a worthy manner.

• Should be observed in both a solemn and joyful manner.

• Should be observed in a manner that reflects the unity of the church.

(1) In Lesson 6, you selected songs related to five different topics. For each of these five topics, find 3-4 scripture references that speak to the topic. Your lists will be used in a later lesson as you plan a worship service.

• 3-4 verses on the nature of God

• 3-4 verses on Jesus and his death and resurrection

• 3-4 verses on the Holy Spirit and the church

• 3-4 verses that call God’s people to a surrendered, holy life

• 3-4 verses on evangelism and mission

(2) At the beginning of the next lesson, you will take a test based on this lesson. Study the test questions carefully in preparation.

To view or print Tests of all lessons, click here for a PDF.

(1) List three examples showing the importance of scripture in worship.

(2) Name three parts of a worship service in which scripture can be used.

(3) List four practical implications of the principle preaching is worship.

(4) List three practical suggestions for making prayer a meaningful part of public worship.

(5) List four theological principles of worshipful giving.

(6) List four practical ideas for making giving an act of worship.

(7) List two aspects of the Lord’s Supper recognized in 1 Corinthians.

(8) Write Matthew 6:5-8 from memory.