Why do we have church?
We have church because the New Testament Church set the example.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42
“… not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
Why do we have a preacher?
The Apostle Paul set an example of what a pastor/preacher does- teach and preach in the church.
“…and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,…” Titus 1:3
“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14 (NLT)
Why do we read scriptures publicly?
The Word of God or Bible, is our manual of operations and our source of life and inspiration. “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” 1 Timothy 4:13
Why do we have audible, loud praise to God?
All throughout Scripture, we are taught to praise the Lord.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Psalm 103:1 (King James Version)
“After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments… And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! … The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!” Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.” Revelation 19 1:6
Why do we have music in the church?
King David was possibly the greatest worshipper we are told of in the Bible. He instructed the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals. 1 Chronicles 15:16
Why do we sing different kinds of songs?
Singing is one way we are taught in Scripture to praise God.
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,” Ephesians 5:18-19
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16
“Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.” 2 Chronicles 20:19
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10
Why are musical instruments used in the worship service?
Many times in Scripture we are admonished to praise God with musical instruments.
“Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tamborine and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.” Psalm 150:3-5
“And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.” Revelation 14:2
Why do we pray and sing in tongues?
The Apostle Paul had instructions for the church in the New Testament and guidelines for a time and a place for this gift.
“For anyone who speaks in a tonguedoes not speak to people but to God”. 1 Corinthians 14:2
“For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.” 1 Corinthians 14:14-15
Why do we have speaking in tongues, as well as interpretations of those tongues?
This gift if seldom used in outside of our small groups, but there is a place for it when believers gather, as taught by the Apostle Paul.
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.” 1 Corinthians 14:39
“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.” 1 Corinthians 12:7-10
“I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.” 1 Corinthians 14:5 (NLT)
TONGUES are a gift promised by Jesus to His followers. These are languages that the Holy Spirit gives us. These are not learned or understood by our human intellect usually, but they build up the Christian’s spirit and allow us to communicate with God, spirit to Spirit.
What is prophecy?
Essentially prophecy equals tongues and interpretation.
“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.” 1 Corinthians 12:10 (New Living Translation)
“But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.” 1 Corinthians 14:3
Why do we have prophecy?
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1
“But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.” 1 Corinthians 14:3
PROPHESY is a spiritual gift in which God gives a message to a person for the benefit of the church which is spoken in the language understood by the people.
Why do we clap and lift up our hands?
“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” Psalm 47:1
“I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.” Psalm 63:4
“ Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.” Psalm 134:2
Why do we have this type of worship?
Jesus predicted this kind of group and individual worship.
“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24 (NLT)
“For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised (made different, set apart). We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,” Philippians 3:3 (NLT)
Why does the whole church pray together for specific needs?
“When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.” Acts 4:24