10 THE LORD'S DAY WORSHIP

THE LORD’S DAY WORSHIP THE LORD’S DAY WORSHIP

A. B. Lawrence—By the Lord’s day, I mean the first day of the week, the day upon which Christ arose from the dead. By worship, I mean any act performed or word spoken as service to God. Acceptable worship consists in doing those things which God, in the New Testament, requires us to say and do. This only is acceptable worship (Colossians 3:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Only one item is confined to the Lord’s day, namely, the communion service. From Acts 2:42, we learn that the first church continued steadfastly in the “apostles’ doctrine (teaching), fellowship (contribution), breaking of bread (the communion), and prayers.” I do not understand Acts 2:42 must be carried out in the order mentioned. However, I see no wrong in following this order, unless discord is caused thereby. But according to the Scriptures at least these four items entered into the Lord’s day worship:

1. “Teaching.” What is to be taught? Only the revealed will of God. Who shall teach? Elders? That depends. Those best qualified. They are Scriptural and logical teachers. Who are to be taught? Those who need it. How must I teach? No definite plan revealed. But we find Jesus asking and answering questions and teaching by the lecture method also. So we conclude that either the lecture method or catechetical method is acceptable. Use the method that is best adapted to the circumstances, but do all things decently and in order. And teach at any time in which teaching can be done decently and in order. Do one thing at a time. Don’t sing and contribute at the same time. Any convenient hour on the Lord’s day is a scriptural time to meet.

2. Fellowship (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Contribution is just as essential as the rest. We might as well try to go to heaven without baptism, as to try to go without contributing as the Lord prospers us. I must learn to be a cheerful, liberal contributor. No covetous (stingy) person can go to heaven. Any convenient method of collecting the contribution is right. Nothing- is said on this point. Put your contribution on the table or in the basket, only be sure you contribute.

3. Communion. Here many lack information. We are too careless. The bread is often half-cooked, sticky and unsightly. The wine is often sour, and the cloths soiled. There should be a nice loaf of bread, and as many plates as are needed. The wine should be in a nice pitcher, prepared for the purpose, with as many glasses as are needed. The cloths should be nice and clean, and the one waiting on the table should be careful not to soil them. Be nice, orderly, and decent, always remembering that you are handling the emblems of the most precious gift that a loving, heavenly Father has ever given to man. These are emblems of the body and blood of our Savior.

4. Prayers. Prayer should be offered in earnestness and sincerity, avoiding vain repetitions. Pray intelligently, and in .accord with the will of God. We should study how to pray just as much as we should study how to preach.

Cleddie Wallace—Breaking bread, giving, teaching, prayer— these are the items of worship on Lord’s day. The breaking of bread is not more important than the other items. Singing comes under the head of teaching.

Traweek—Has God ever accepted a partial service? The teaching- at 10 o’clock a. m.—is that sound?

Lee P. Mansfield—Some will not give, because they are afraid the elders will buy literature with it. Teaching is a part of the Lord’s day work. None of us .want a separate organization to carry on this work. Division over three things: Who should teach? how should we teach? and where? Any one who can break bread may teach. Christ and the apostles taught both orally and by writing. We should follow their example. We should teach anywhere we have a suitable opportunity.

J. C. White—Every Christian should take part in the worship. Let us not make law out of customs. Be governed by needs, and let the elders direct the worship.

U. G. Wilkinson—Teaching is the most important part of the worship, the foundation of all other service. Some call communion the worship. It is only a part of the worship. I favor individual communion sets.

G. H. P. Showalter-—Individual cups are not objectionable. Six items’ of worship—three directed toward God, three not merely toward God, but also with a reference to man.

W. J. Bishop—Circumstances force some things on us. In foreign lands we are forced out of some of the ruts. The worship on Lord’s day is not all the work on that day. Worship  is a period of recuperation. In it we gain strength and energy for the duties of the coming week.

R. L. Whiteside—I call for scripture for putting the contribution on the table. Some refuse to contribute because the basket is passed around. I believe I’ll get up a new fad, and refuse to contribute because there is no scripture for putting my hand in my pocket! We do not commune with each other; we commune with the Lord. Individual cups would be nicer. I do not like to drink out of a cup after filthy, tobacco-smeared mustaches have been soaked in the wine. Teaching people the Bible is worship. (Question by a brother: “If teaching is worship, do not sinners, who are being taught, take part in the worship?”.) Not any more than they would be taking part in serving God, if teaching is only serving God ; and not any more than they take part In the worship, when in the communion service, you show forth to them (teach them) the Lord’s death.