How did the New Testament church worship?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Beckworth

Active member
May 15, 2019
680
223
43
#1
Jesus said He would build His church in Matt. 16:18. The church was always in the future tense until Acts 2. It was 50 days after Jesus’s death, on the day of Pentecost, AD 33. After Peter’s sermon, ( JESUS said He would give Peter “the Keys to the kingdom”.), 3000 Jews obeyed Peter’s command to “repent and be baptized…for the remission of sins.” Verse 47 says that “THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH THOSE WHO WERE BEING SAVED.” This is the first time the church is spoken of as being in existence.

Christians met on the first day of the week (Sunday to us) to take the LORD’S SUPPER and Paul PREACHED to them. Acts 20:7 PRAYER was always encouraged in the New Testament1 Tim.2:8 and 1 Thess. 5:17. And SINGING Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 13:15. In 1 Cor. 16:2, Paul told the churches to take up COLLECTIONS on the first day of the week. THOSE ARE 5 acts of worship.

We are given the warning in REV. 22:18 not to ADD to his word or TAKE AWAY from it. Or God will punish us. Any other Acts of worship, if not in the New Testament,
would be from man—not God; or would be “boastful” works that originate with man and of which he can boast. Or would be “additions.”

2 John 9 we must abide in the doctrine of Christ to have God.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,661
5,908
113
#2
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38-39, 41-47‬ ‭

that’s the church in it’s pure form
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,778
113
#3
It would not be difficult at all to follow the New Testament pattern of believers assembling to worship on the Lord's Day, and also tke up collections for the poorer brethren and sisters, the widows and orphans, and the support of elders who labor in the Word and doctrine. But somehow, Christians go deceived into following a man-made pattern which just about rejects everything presented in the NT.

There is also the matter of exercising spiritual gifts for the edification of others, as noted in 1 Corinthians 12 &13. And we need not talk about "sign" gifts, since there are many others listed.

Furthermore, there would always be a plurality of elders -- not one man carrying the burden by himself, and quite unable to do so. God did not allow women to be either elders or deacons for His own good reasons, and now that has also been rejected by many.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,165
1,795
113
#4
First of all, the Bible does not call all this stuff 'worship'. In the New Testament, one word translated 'worship'... most frequently...refers to prostration, bowing down with one's head to the ground or floor. There is an equivalent word in Hebrew. David worshipped toward the temple. The Samaritans bowed down in Mt. Gerizim. The angel told John not to bow down to him. Another word translated 'worship' means service. Offering our bodies as a living sacrifice is a reasonable act of worship. This type of worship is holistic and encompasses the whole life.


Christians met on the first day of the week (Sunday to us) to take the LORD’S SUPPER and Paul PREACHED to them. Acts 20:7
On one occasion, they met on the first day of the week, which also might have been 'Saturday night' by modern reckoning. It was a Jewish custom, I have read, to have a meal at the end of the Sabbath, also. Paul started his evangelism in synagogues in city after city. Eutychus might have fallen out of the window after five or six hours of a discussion led by Paul or exhortation given by Paul on Saturday night, rather than after 18 hours of exhortation on Sunday night.


PRAYER was always encouraged in the New Testament1 Tim.2:8 and 1 Thess. 5:17. And SINGING Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 13:15. In 1 Cor. 16:2, Paul told the churches to take up COLLECTIONS on the first day of the week. THOSE ARE 5 acts of worship.
The Bible doesn't call these acts 'worship' and there is other stuff in the Bible besides these five. Also,. in I Corinthians 16, Paul says to 'lay by him in store.' Where do you get a weekly collection, as opposed to men personally saving up on payday for collections taken from time to time?

You also leave out scripture that specifically has to do with what to do in church meetings.

I Corinthians 14

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

Look at verse 26. Members of the assembly should sing, teach, share tongues, revelations, and interpretations 'unto edifying.' Tongues followed by interpretations are to be allowed in church. The church is commanded to allow prophets to speak.

I am not going to call edifying speech in the assembly 'worship' because I do not see where scripture does. I suppose it is included in the more general worship concept of 'service', but not 'worship. But worship as in proskuneo could potentially happen in reaction to prophecy.

I Corinthians 14
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

I Corinthians 14:26 also speaks every __one__ or 'each' (ἕκαστος ) of you has a psalm. That appears to be solos sung in church. One sings a psalm to the congregation. Now, I suppose one could 'have' a song and have everyone sing it. I do not think that is forbidden. If I were to apply the wooden 'logic' of some I have read on this topic to this verse, with the assumption that every act in church needs New Testament scripture authorization, i might point out that there is no passage authorizing congregational singing in church. But I would also point out that there appears to be some form of congregational singing in Revelation, along with the sound of stringed instruments. Also, from a cultural or historical perspective, songs sung at the end of Passover may have been sung 'congregationally' and Christ and the disciples sang after the Lord's Supper.

We are given the warning in REV. 22:18 not to ADD to his word or TAKE AWAY from it. Or God will punish us. Any other Acts of worship, if not in the New Testament,
would be from man—not God; or would be “boastful” works that originate with man and of which he can boast. Or would be “additions.”
Much of your 'thought map' here is weird and just made up. I know you didn't make it up. I'm guessing you are probably following Restoration Movement teaching, who adopted it from Presbyterians. John Knox had a similar line of reasoning, but aimed at the Roman Catholic litany.

Some problems with your interpretation--- the Bible does not define 'worship' the way you do. Revelation 22:18 is not specifically about 'worship.' There are people who go to bizarre extremes with the regulative principle concept. For example if someone claps his hands during a praise song, they will say, 'Clapping is not authorized in 'worship' in the New Testament.' The Old Testament says to 'clap your hands all ye people' and the New Testament was not written in a vacuum. If clapping hands during 'worship' is forbidden in Revelation 22:18 how about other practices not specifically authorized in scripture, like reading scripture out of a codex or off a computer or cell phone screen, driving automobiles, or eating gelatin?
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#5
^^^“Problems with your interpretation”
Lol
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
715
113
#6
Look how the Jews for Jesus [the Disciples] worshiped after seeing the Risen King of kings and Lord of lords. They appeared to be like drunks. They Praised like king David did when the Ark of the Covenant was brought back home to the people of God. They [UNDERSTOOD] WHO they were serving and Worshiping!
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#7
John 4:24
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

Why do we think the first gen church would worship any different? Did they have a piano and organ? Probably not, but they most likely sand hymns, since they sang a hymn in the upper room when Jesus was with them.

It’s sad and humorous that none of the responses have to do with the spirit, yet Jesus stated again “God is Spirit … worship in spirit …” There was most likely more of a focus on hearing God and his direction (unlike today).
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
715
113
#8
John 4:24
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

Why do we think the first gen church would worship any different? Did they have a piano and organ? Probably not, but they most likely sand hymns, since they sang a hymn in the upper room when Jesus was with them.

It’s sad and humorous that none of the responses have to do with the spirit, yet Jesus stated again “God is Spirit … worship in spirit …” There was most likely more of a focus on hearing God and his direction (unlike today).
Then get out of your flesh and worship 100% in the spirit and you might understand what I just posted about.
You spend more time controlling your spirit than letting the spirit Praise its Maker!
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
715
113
#9
If your mind controls your actions then it is NEVER the spirit who is in control so most churches don't have a clue how to Praise God!
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,080
6,883
113
62
#10
If your mind controls your actions then it is NEVER the spirit who is in control so most churches don't have a clue how to Praise God!
Actually both mind and spirit are engaged in true worship. Although worship is to come from the depth of our being, it is also to follow what God has prescribed. Otherwise you open yourself to bringing strange fire before the Lord.
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
715
113
#11
Actually both mind and spirit are engaged in true worship. Although worship is to come from the depth of our being, it is also to follow what God has prescribed. Otherwise you open yourself to bringing strange fire before the Lord.
Do you tell your arms to raise in Worship or do they just raise up because you understand you're in God's Presence?
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,080
6,883
113
62
#12
Do you tell your arms to raise in Worship or do they just raise up because you understand you're in God's Presence?
Raising your arms is allowed as a part of worship. What are you raising your arms in response to? Is it not the truth of what the lyrics speak to?
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
715
113
#13
Raising your arms is allowed as a part of worship. What are you raising your arms in response to? Is it not the truth of what the lyrics speak to?
I don't even pay attention to what is being sung. I am there to Praise and Worship even if everything else is wrong.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,080
6,883
113
62
#14
I don't even pay attention to what is being sung. I am there to Praise and Worship even if everything else is wrong.
Then you are missing truth in your worship. When congregations gather to worship, everything should be done decently and in order. How does one worship without the consideration of truths concerning God?
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
715
113
#15
Then you are missing truth in your worship. When congregations gather to worship, everything should be done decently and in order. How does one worship without the consideration of truths concerning God?
No I am not! God lives inside me. I can Praise and Worship any given time I choose. I am not bound by formalities. Only those whose flesh control them are.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,080
6,883
113
62
#16
No I am not! God lives inside me. I can Praise and Worship any given time I choose. I am not bound by formalities. Only those whose flesh control them are.
Right, but worship is ascribing glory to God for who He is and what He has done. How can you do that without considering what is true of God and what He has done?
 

FollowerofShiloh

Well-known member
Jan 24, 2024
4,321
715
113
#17
Right, but worship is ascribing glory to God for who He is and what He has done. How can you do that without considering what is true of God and what He has done?
Because I worship God for not just what He's done in the Bible but in my life. And by going only off what He's done in my life is already more than enough to worship Him for the rest of my natural life.
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
20,080
6,883
113
62
#18
Because I worship God for not just what He's done in the Bible but in my life. And by going only off what He's done in my life is already more than enough to worship Him for the rest of my natural life.
You are still worshipping in consideration of what He has done.
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#19
Then get out of your flesh and worship 100% in the spirit and you might understand what I just posted about.
You spend more time controlling your spirit than letting the spirit Praise its Maker!
Well, true. You need truth and order also. It’s important to be appropriate for the atmosphere.