“The What of Worship, Part 7” (Ready to Worship S11E11)

April 3, 2020

Ready to Worship Season 11, Episode 11 for Friday, April 3, 2020

This season on Ready to Worship we are investigating worship. To conduct this investigation, we are using the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions of a reporter. This week, we will have our final installment dealing with the what question.
Thus far, we have considered four of the five acts of worship – the Lord’s Supper, giving, singing, and praying. This week, we will focus on the fifth and final act – preaching. In all likelihood, this is the longest portion of the worship hour. After all, long-winded preachers are involved. I’m just kidding. Seriously, I believe that preaching being the longest part makes sense. After all, in the other acts of worship, we are speaking to God, but in this act of worship – preaching, God is speaking to us. It makes sense that God should get the largest portion. As you know, God speaks today through His word (1 Thess. 1:8; 2:13) and He communicates this word through preaching (1 Cor. 1:21). The twentieth chapter of the book of Acts not only records an example of the early church observing the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week, it records an example of preaching being a part of that worship. Luke records, “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” (Acts 20:7). Please note that Paul preached. Preaching was a part of their worship, and it should be a part of ours. I’m afraid that many preachers and members do not take this part of worship as seriously as they should. Some preachers speak for thirty minutes and only reference one or two verses. Sadly, God can’t get a word in edgewise. Please understand that I am not against explanation or illustration in preaching. I believe that both have a place (Neh. 8:8; Mt. 13:34). However, the most pressing need in preaching is for sermons to be filled with the word of God. Preachers are to preach the word (2 Tim. 4:2) and to declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). When preachers don’t do this, they are not taking this act of worship as seriously as they should. Of course, members also have a responsibility to take this act of worship seriously. As members, we need to receive the word gladly and with readiness of mind (Acts 2:41; 17:11). We need to read and to follow along. We need to prove or to make sure that what we hear is so (1 Thess. 5:21; Acts 17:11). Members who doodle, play with the babies, sleep, go in and out to get water, or do a host of other such things are not taking this act as seriously as they should.
As we get ready to worship this week, let’s make sure that we participate in all the acts of worship, including the preaching. Let’s bring our Bibles, open them, read them, and study them together!