What is common in many worship services today?

Children’s bible hour Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. 1Co 11:20 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 1Co 14:23

Dividing the worship assembly for “small-groups”. Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. 1Co 11:20

Choirs, Praise teams & solos 1. Is there a Biblical example of such being done in N.T. worship? 2. Is the congregational singing “so bad” that we require such? 3. Do we need these groups to entertain us at other times with their singing? 4. If someone has a talent for singing shouldn’t they be able to perform a solo for the congregation? 5. The answer to all of these questions is NO!

Choirs, Praise teams & solos Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col 3:16 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Eph 5:19

Choirs, Praise teams & solos Many would be wise to remember that such instruments originated with David and not with God. The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord also began, with the trumpets and with the instruments of David king of Israel. 2Ch 29:26-27

Choirs, Praise teams & solos Many would be wise to remember that such instruments originated with David and not with God. …with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. Neh 12:36b

Choirs, Praise teams & solos Many would be wise to remember that such instruments originated with David and not with God. four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the Lord with musical instruments, "which I made," said David, "for giving praise." 1Ch 23:5

What are the dangers of such “worship”?

sin Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 1 Jo 3:4

Vain worship 6 He answered and said to them, " Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:' This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. '8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men — the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."9 He said to them, " All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. Mark 7:6-9

selfish worship Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! Isa 5:21

Eternal Separation from God because of such “worship”. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. Isa 59:2

What is the answer?

Repent Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent. Rev 2:5

Return to true scriptural worship 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Jn 4:23-24

Return to true scriptural worship There are 5 avenues of worship: 1 – Preaching/Teaching Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 1Co 15:1

Return to true scriptural worship There are 5 avenues of worship: 2 – Praise from the Heart What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 1Co 14:15

Return to true scriptural worship There are 5 avenues of worship: 3 – Prayers And they continued steadfastly in the apostles ' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42

Return to true scriptural worship There are 5 avenues of worship: 4 – Contribution 6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2Co 9:6-8

Return to true scriptural worship There are 5 avenues of worship: 5 – The Lord’s Supper 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you:that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, " Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, " This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

Return to true scriptural worship There are 5 avenues of worship: 5 – The Lord’s Supper 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 1Co 11:23-26

Conclusion 1. The only way to truly worship is to worship according to the scriptures. 2. Any worship not authorized by God is vain (useless) thus must be abandoned. 3. Let us never be so bold as to think we can worship God according to our standards and not God’s.