A Few Thoughts About the Worship Service

1 Timothy 4:13 NRSV Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching.

Reading

B1 This is reading the Scriptures publicly.

B2 Importance

C1 Psalm 119:130 NLT The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.

C2 People need the Scriptures, because the natural person cannot understand it: Psalm 119:130 NLT The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.

C3 We need God’s help to understand: John 16:8 NLT And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

C4 Psalm 119:130 NLT The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.

C5 Psalm 19:7 NLT The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

C6 2 Timothy 3:15-16 NLT You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

B3 Suggestions

C1 Church lectionary (Example: daily, Sundays, Sundays 2, daily 2 (found under heading of “daily lectionary” a pdf file)

C2 The passage being preached/taught that Sunday.

C3 Daily reading plan for whole church to read at home. (Example here, here)

C4 The plan I use which reads a chapter from the Old Testament taking 3 years and one chapter from the New Testament, which takes 1 year. I ask 2 questions:

D1 What does this chapter mean?

D2 How do I apply it to my life?

D3 Example:

MORNING

Ezra 9

What does this mean?

How do I apply this to my life?

EVENING

2 Corinthians 1

What does this mean?

How do I apply this to my life?

C5 Hearing the Bible reading, whether online or through an app.

D1 Online suggestions: you can search YouTube or other online video source. You might like Daily One Year Bible where you can choose what version (This also has commentary/devotion, but I can’t vouch for that).

D2 App suggestions: Bible Gateway, Blue Letter Bible (the icon in the lower left corner of the app), YouVersion, and many others.

Exhorting

B1 This is encouraging and motivating ourselves and others to think and live as Christians.

B2 The Greek word is παράκλησις paráklēsis. It means appeal, encouragement, comfort. It is the answer for a cry of help. The encouragement in this passage, I believe, deals with an encouragement for motivation to learn, live, think, act in society publicly and private according to God’s way. It is not bullying, controlling, or having arrogance.

B3 A few examples

C1 2 Chronicles 33:16 NLT Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings on it. He also encouraged the people of Judah to worship the LORD, the God of Israel.

C2 Ezra 6:14 NLT So the Jewish elders continued their work, and they were greatly encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. The Temple was finally finished, as had been commanded by the God of Israel and decreed by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, the kings of Persia.

C3 Acts 20:2 NLT While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece,

C4 Acts 23:11 NLT That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well."

Teaching

B1 This is teaching the meaning and application of Scripture, doctrine, and apologetics.

B2 An example of teaching comes from our Lord Jesus in what is named the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

The brothers and sisters share their gifts

B1 Ephesians 4:11 NLT Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

B2 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

B3 1 Corinthians 12:28 NLT Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.

All Christians have a spiritual gift (1 Peter 4:10).

Since we have a gift, the Holy Spirit expects us to use it. (1 Timothy 4:14 and Luke 19:11-26).

All gifts are to build up the church (the people). (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Ephesians 5:18-20 NRSV Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit,  19  as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,  20  giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:16-17 NRSV Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.  17  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

• We are to teach each other through music.
• We are to worship together through music.
• We are to learn Scripture through music (Psalms).
• We are to learn about the Scriptures through music.
• We are to learn doctrine through music.
• We are to honor God through music.
• We are to admonish and encourage the faith, the faithful, and to be faithful through music.
• We are to give thanks through music.
• We are to do this in the name of the Lord Jesus through music. This is giving honor, recognition, and His approval of what we are singing and how we are singing.