03.08. The Lord's Day Meeting

THE LORD’S-DAY MEETING.

Churches may have as many meetings as they desire, but as concerning the Lord’s-day meeting they have no choice—the Lord commands the church to meet on this day for worship. preparation for the meeting The object of any meeting can be better attained if proper preparations have been made. The Lord’s-day meeting can be made more helpful and satisfying if the churches as a whole will give attention to proper preparation for the services. Special preparation should be made by those who have the lead in conducting the services. comfortable houses. Every church should have a comfortable place in which to meet, if within their power to do so; and usually they can have, if they will. Why not have an attractive place in which to worship the Lord? See that the building is well heated in cold weather and properly ventilated at all services. supply of bibles, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105). As respects the Bible, some churches are not very well lighted. Have a good supply of Bibles in the building; see that they are conveniently arranged, so that those present will have ready access to them. Every congregation should also have a good concordance, a Bible dictionary, and maps of the Bible lands, to be used in their study. song books. A good supply of song books should be provided. Exercise care in the selection of books which have intrinsic value. The custom of some congregations in changing books every year is due to the fact that they do not buy books which have lasting qualities. They learn only a few songs in the book, and soon desire a change.

OBJECT OF MEETING. supplies some of our needs. The meeting on Lord’s day supplies some of our spiritual needs, else the Lord would not have ordered it. To worship God. We do not mean by this that a man cannot worship God at any other time, but there are some acts of worship that he can attend to only in this meeting. when is the object attained? The object of this meeting has not been attained when a man has simply partaken of the Lord’s supper, and let no man think that because he has had part in this one part of the service he has fully attained the object of the meeting. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42).

WORSHIP meaning. The Greek word more frequently used to express the idea of worship is proskuneo. Another word sometimes translated "worship" (Php 3:3; Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 10:2) is latruo. This word is more frequently translated "serve." A few other Greek words are occasionally translated "worship." A careful survey of all the Greek words translated "worship" leads us to this conclusion—namely, that to worship God acceptably is to render sincere and reverential obedience to him. We are unable to draw that hair-splitting distinction between worship and service that some affect to see. The distinction between worship and service which some think they can make has enabled some to engage in some unauthorized things in what they call service, which they would not do in worship. vain worship. "But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men" (Matthew 15:9). It is vain because it does not benefit the worshiper, nor does it reflect honor on Jehovah (see Mark 7:6-7). Doing things as a religious ceremony which God has not commanded is worship, but it is vain worship. It is not the province of man to plan his own worship, neither can he devise a system of worship which is pleasing to Jehovah. Determine whether your worship is acceptable, whether it is vain, by measuring your actions by the word of God. true worship. "God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). True worship is the only worship that is worth our time and attention, for it alone is pleasing to God. True worship is to worship the Father in spirit and in truth. To worship in spirit is to put our spirits into the worship—to be sincere, not formal nor indifferent. Man has always been inclined to drift into empty forms, and God has always been displeased with such worship. "But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied unto him with their tongue. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant" (Psalms 78:36-37; see Matthew 15:7-8). To worship in truth is to be guided by the truth. "And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh unto me, and with their mouth and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which have been taught them" (Isaiah 29:13). Their fear, or worship, was regulated by the teaching of men, "But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth, but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing" (James 1:22; see Ezekiel 22:26; Ezekiel 33:30; Ezekiel 33:32; Matthew 15:8-9; Colossians 2:20-23; Mark 7:13).

TEACHING AND ADMONISHING. an essential part. All true worship is based on proper teaching, "O, Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). "Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; I will walk in thy truth" (Psalms 86:11). "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God" (Psalms 143:10). "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6). "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). The early church "continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching" (Acts 2:42)—that is, they continued attentive students of the apostles. According to the Great Commission, after the people had been taught and baptized they continued to be taught (Matthew 28:19-20). The proper discharge of this duty requires that every church make a systematic effort to develop every member to the highest point of efficiency in teaching the word, not only to the members, but to those who do not know the Lord. obligation on all. Some seem to think that Bible study is a privilege rather than a duty, whereas it is both. Every child of God should regard it a great privilege and blessing, as well as a solemn duty, to learn more of himself, to learn of God and the way of life. In the Great Invitation Jesus said: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me" (Matthew 11:29). We are commanded to give diligence in adding knowledge (2 Peter 2:5). God expects all his children in a reasonable time to arrive at such a degree of knowledge as to be able to teach others. "For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food" (Hebrews 5:12). In the temptation of our Savior, he relied on the word of God as his weapon of defense (Matthew 4:1-25). "It is written" was the end of each temptation. Every one should so familiarize himself with the Scriptures as to be able to use an appropriate quotation in every temptation.

Take part in the Lord’s-day Bible study, either as a teacher or student. It will help you and encourage the work. Be a helper, and see how it helps you. In the work of teaching, remember that you are working with God: "And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (2 Corinthians 6:1). what to teach. The word of God, being the source of all spiritual light, should be the only matter taught in the Lord’s-day meeting. We should speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11). No one should seek to force his opinion into the study. Certainly all available help may be used in arriving at the true meaning of any part of God’s word; but the class should keep in mind the fact that they are trying to learn the Bible and are using helps only as a means of arriving at the true sense of the text.

How teach. God has tied us to no particular method of teaching. The printed page may be used, or oral comments. Teachers should strive to make the lesson interesting and instructive. Interest lags when the class drags. Let the teacher be fully prepared. Discussion of points is helpful, but endless discussion is death to interest. When each one has told what he thinks about a point, pass on, even if you have not arrived at agreement. Admonish each one to take the points expressed and think the matter over at home. The interest in the class may be killed by wrangling over points in which, perhaps, only two are three are interested. "Foolish and ignorant questioning refuse, knowing that they gender strifes" (2 Timothy 2:23). preparing the lesson. The teacher should feel his responsibility, and, if he is truly a teacher, he does. We would not long tolerate a teacher in our schools and colleges who habitually goes before his class unprepared. Your responsibility as a teacher of God’s word is greater than his. If you can’t bring yourself to a keen realization of this responsibility, do not make a mockery of the sacred office of teacher—give it up to some one with a keener sense of responsibilities. "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Each student should feel his responsibilities. No one should be a drag. A wideawake student is a wonderful stimulant to others. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sit-teth in the seat of scoffers: but his delight is in the law of Jehovah; and on his law doth he meditate day and night" (Psalms 1:1-2). Search the scriptures (John 5:39). THE CONTRIBUTION. In another lesson in this volume we have discussed this lesson at some length. the collection. In the Scriptures there is no particular method revealed by which the collection is to be made. Proper order should be maintained throughout the services. Confusion should be avoided, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:10). Certainly no congregation of any size will push and jostle in an effort to get to the table to deposit their offerings. Such confusion is inexcusable when a more orderly way is always more practical. Besides, some Christians do not like to advertise their gifts in so public a way. Their sense of the propriety of things rebels against it. No congregation mills around in such confusion in the Supper. You recognize the propriety of having the congregation waited upon in the Supper; do likewise in the collection.

SINGING. teaching, admonishing, melody."And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:18-19). "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God" (Colossians 3:16). Singing might be appropriately classed under the head of teaching. Yet it belongs also to prayer and praise. Hence, we discuss it as a separate item. The requirements laid down by Paul to guide us in singing make it our duty to look well to the nature of the songs we sing. All light, meaningless songs, made up of a jumble of catchy rhymes, should be religiously avoided. Many of the songs we sing have nothing to commend them but their tune, and even the tune is sometimes obnoxious to one who has any real musical discernment. Many of our songs are written by men of no Bible information, no literary training, no spiritual devotion, and little musical ability. A song is not good because it is old, neither is it bad because it is new. Since song writing became so general, each year has produced its quantity of songs, and only the good ones have lived. The good old songs we sing are the gleanings from countless hundreds written in years gone by. An occasional song written now will live, but most of them perish in a season, or at most in a few years. Think of the songs you sang a few years ago—who sings them now? Every church owes it to its children to sing songs, some at least, that will abide with them in the years to come. Such songs are a real spiritual uplift. A careful study of the passages at the beginning of this paragraph will show you the nature of the songs you should sing. The songs should be scriptural and devotional. appropriate songs. In the great variety of songs at our command it is not difficult to select an appropriate song for any occasion or any part of the worship. The song leader who at a baptismal service sang as the candidate was raised from the water, "pull for the shore, sailor, pull for the shore," created more merriment than devotion. One leader sang "Why Not To Night" as an invitation song at the morning service. There are appropriate songs for every appropriate occasion. rendition.Speak your words plainly and distinctly.Unless people understand what you say, you are not obeying Paul’s injunction to teach and admonish one another in your singing. This is an essential part to consider. Making music is not obeying the inspired injunction. No congregation should so forget the purpose of the singing as to sing to no purpose. "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also" (1 Corinthians 14:15). This means that your spirit is in the singing, and that you will sing so that others can understand. The context clearly indicates this meaning. A note, as to length, has no absolute value; its value is relative. The movement, whether rapid or slow, should be determined by the sentiment of the song and the occasion. Remember, you should not sing to please the people. the director. Certainly the director should be a Christian—one who is not deeply religious should never conduct any part of the worship. The song leader can make or mar this part of the worship. A religious service is no place for him to show his musical skill nor to do any vocal "stunts." He is the leader in that part of the worship which can be made very devotional and uplifting. He should look carefully to the selection of suitable songs, and then to so lead the congregation as to produce the designed results. Let no light, funny remarks be indulged in between the songs. Usually, the less he says, the better, unless by some well-chosen remark he can make the singing more edifying. When we come to worship it is no time to sing the notes! THE SUPPER. the table. When the church is permanently settled in a meeting place of its own, a table suited to the purpose should be a part of the furniture. the linen and vessels. Good linen of sufficient size is not very costly, and should be procured. Increased sanitary knowledge is creating a demand for the individual communion service. Where this is desired, by all means purchase a neat service which can be kept sani­tary. Whether you have the individual service or not, procure a service becoming that part of the worship. Then keep both linen and vessels clean. preparing the emblems. In every congregation there are good women who have an interest in pure worship. One of these should be entrusted with the duty of preparing the loaf. The Supper was instituted in connection with the last passover under the law (Luke 22:14-23). In that feast no leaven was used; hence, they used unleavened bread when the Lord’s Supper was instituted. Unleavened bread was made without any ingredients to make it rise. A good grade of flour, a little salt, rich sweet milk or vegetable oil, and water should be used. Avoid making the bread hard or brittle, but see that it is well baked. We see no ground for controversy over the use of grape juice or grape wine— both are fruit of the vine (Luke 22:18). presiding at the table. Are you to preside at the table? Then do not preside at that sacred feast looking unkempt and unkept, as if you had no regard for the service. You would not so appear if you were called on to take a leading part in any other meeting. And the Lord’s Supper is no place for controversy or scolding. Unless an appropriate sermon precedes, a few well-chosen remarks may be helpful. Speak loud enough for the entire congregation to hear. giving thanks. Prayer is made up of petition, praise, and thanksgiving. But giving thanks is not praying, and praying is not giving thanks. Many people who are called on to give thanks at the table pray instead of giving thanks. Give thanks—do not pray—leave the praying for the appropriate occasion. And, in giving thanks, speak so all may hear, that all may say "Amen" (1 Corinthians 14:16). And use a little thought. Often one is heard to say, "Father, we thank thee for this fruit of the vine which represents thy blood," as if it was the Father, and not the Son, who shed his blood. Such ignorance, or thoughtlessness, is inexcusable. who should partake? "For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant of my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). This was written "to the church of God which is at Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1:1). It is the Lord’s table (1 Corinthians 10:21), and is in his kingdom (Luke 22:29-30). Certainly all Christians have a right to partake of it. Do not eat or drink unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:28-29; see lesson on Lord’s Supper, SOUND DOCTRINE, Vol. I., pp. 168-183).

PRAYER.

There is such a thing as congregational prayer—that is, a prayer which is offered by a body of people. "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 18:18). This teaches that a body of people may agree beforehand that they will ask for a certain thing. the leader. It is not expected that the whole body will speak out. One is called on to lead. He is to lead the congregation, and should pray for such things as the whole congregation may desire. He is giving voice to the prayer of all. The congregation should follow him, and indorse his prayer with an audible "Amen" (1 Corinthians 14:15-16). This makes it necessary for the leader to speak loud enough for all to hear, otherwise he is not leading them. No one can say "Amen" to a prayer which he does not hear. The prayers recorded in the Bible are short. Some prayers are not scriptural as to length.

PROMPTNESS.

Announce the time to begin, and begin on time. A church in its affairs should manifest the elements of enterprise and promptness that are essential to success in any calling. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10). "In diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11).

TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION AND DISCUSSION.

• Edifying.

• My Part in the Lord’s-Day Service.

• Tarry One for Another.

• The Church a Light.

• Little Things

QUESTIONS