Worship or Exhorting?

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laymen

laymen

Senior Member
#1
Apr 6, 2014
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#1
Would you say Church is for Worship or Exhorting?:

The term ‘worship’ is misunderstood if it gives the impression that the major element is what human beings do or offer to God. Biblical religion is primarily concerned with what God does for his people (Mk. 10:45). This is particularly evident in the NT, where words expressing the human activity of worshipping God are surprisingly rare in descriptions of church meetings (Heb. 13:15f.; 1 Pet. 2:5). Marshall, I. H. (1996). Worship. In D. R. W. Wood, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., p. 1250). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

The term Exhort looks more like this if in Church:
Instruction and prophecy were given by persons gifted by the Spirit, and prayer was offered. Thus God’s communication with his people and their human response took place in an informal, largely unstructured gathering. Paul lays emphasis on the need for all that happens in the church meeting to ‘build up’ the congregation in Christian character.

Marshall, I. H. (1996). Worship. In D. R. W. Wood, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., p. 1250). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
 
laymen

laymen

Senior Member
#3
Apr 6, 2014
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#3
tourist said:
Perhaps the church is supposed to be both.
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It could be...This verse talks about ministering.
Mk 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (1995). (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version., Mk 10:45). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Worship. [Heb. generally a form of shachah, “to bow down,” “to worship”; Gr. generally latreuō, “to serve,” especially with respect to the outward forms of worship, and proskuneō, “to do obeisance,” “to prostrate oneself,” “to reverence.”]

By NT times local synagogues were replacing the temple as the regular meeting places of the Jews, the majority of whom were too far distant from the Temple to visit it other than on special occasions. Activity here centred on the reading of Scripture, accompanied by a ‘sermon’ based on the text, and placed in the context of prayers and praises to God.

Marshall, I. H. (1996). Worship. In D. R. W. Wood, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., p. 1250). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.


I just don't find much in the bible other than the few verse in the original post. rare in descriptions of church meetings (Heb. 13:15f.; 1 Pet. 2:5).

I am starting to look at worship more and more these days after COVID and when i see them gather in the Old Church like in Acts I see more Praying and giving to build up the church. I don't think songs are bad Ephesians 5:19 just don't see singing in the church just says sing to each other. I don't think reading the bible is bad ehter Act 2:42 But even here you see breaking of bread and only prayers.
 
T

TheIndianGirl

Guest
#4
#4
laymen said:
Biblical religion is primarily concerned with what God does for his people (Mk. 10:45). This is particularly evident in the NT, where words expressing the human activity of worshipping God are surprisingly rare in descriptions of church meetings (Heb. 13:15f.; 1 Pet. 2:5).
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Rather surprised in reading this. I always thought that the Bible is full of examples of people worshiping God. Perhaps, people worshiped God in terms of belief, maybe not as an activity. What is considered worshiping God? I'm thinking of of praise/worship songs during Church. I don't usually think of sermons as worshiping, as it is more a teaching. Prayers are also a form of worshiping if you praise/thank God during the prayer.
 
mustaphadrink

mustaphadrink

Senior Member
#6
Dec 13, 2013
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#6
laymen said:
Would you say Church is for Worship or Exhorting?:

The term ‘worship’ is misunderstood if it gives the impression that the major element is what human beings do or offer to God. Biblical religion is primarily concerned with what God does for his people (Mk. 10:45). This is particularly evident in the NT, where words expressing the human activity of worshipping God are surprisingly rare in descriptions of church meetings (Heb. 13:15f.; 1 Pet. 2:5). Marshall, I. H. (1996). Worship. In D. R. W. Wood, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., p. 1250). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

The term Exhort looks more like this if in Church:
Instruction and prophecy were given by persons gifted by the Spirit, and prayer was offered. Thus God’s communication with his people and their human response took place in an informal, largely unstructured gathering. Paul lays emphasis on the need for all that happens in the church meeting to ‘build up’ the congregation in Christian character.

Marshall, I. H. (1996). Worship. In D. R. W. Wood, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, & D. J. Wiseman (Eds.), New Bible dictionary (3rd ed., p. 1250). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
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For me, my guidebook is the scriptures and I talk about the four pillars of the church which are teaching (apostles doctrine), fellowship, prayer, and eating meals together. it does not include the so-called Lord's Table as it did not exist in New Testament times.

Just as a matter of interest the true meaning of worship is surrender. If you are not surrendered to the Lord when you sing, you are not worshiping, you are just singing songs.
 
JaumeJ

JaumeJ

Senior Member
#7
Jul 2, 2011
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#7
I cannot say for today but back just a few decades everyone referred to what the church conducted were "worship services," nothing complex about it.
 
laymen

laymen

Senior Member
#8
Apr 6, 2014
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#8
TheIndianGirl said:
Rather surprised in reading this. I always thought that the Bible is full of examples of people worshiping God. Perhaps, people worshiped God in terms of belief, maybe not as an activity. What is considered worshiping God? I'm thinking of of praise/worship songs during Church. I don't usually think of sermons as worshiping, as it is more a teaching. Prayers are also a form of worshiping if you praise/thank God during the prayer.
Click to expand...

Yes the Bible is full of whys to worship, just hardly see some of the things we do in church today exemplified in a church setting of yesterday. I do see allot of praying..

I think some of the traditions we have today come from synagogue and others added from the church started with Constantine? I only then question if traditions has made void the meaning of church as we see it today.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. The Holy Bible: King James Version. (1995). (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version., Heb 10:25). Bellingham WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

If you think about it we are all right now doing this by sharing.
 
laymen

laymen

Senior Member
#9
Apr 6, 2014
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faithlife.com
#9
mustaphadrink said:
For me, my guidebook is the scriptures and I talk about the four pillars of the church which are teaching (apostles doctrine), fellowship, prayer, and eating meals together. it does not include the so-called Lord's Table as it did not exist in New Testament times.

Just as a matter of interest the true meaning of worship is surrender. If you are not surrendered to the Lord when you sing, you are not worshiping, you are just singing songs.
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Yes sir, I agree about being surrendered. Just would like to see the examples we use today found in the Church of yesteryear. Just see it used in more personal ways rather than of forum of group worship.
 
laymen

laymen

Senior Member
#10
Apr 6, 2014
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#10
JaumeJ said:
I cannot say for today but back just a few decades everyone referred to what the church conducted were "worship services," nothing complex about it.
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As long as tradition does not make void "The Word of God". Bible says "worship in Spirit and Truth"
 
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