Worship With Purpose: The Simplicity Of Worship In The Beauty Of Holiness

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Acts 2:42

This is about as simple as it gets when it come to a church service. Modernism has made many churches modern and they have lost the simplicity of the gospel, because they have lost the simplicity of worship.

Many church services have become more of mere entertainment than true worship. Some have resorted to lights, sounds and even smoke that feels more like a dance studio than a place of reverence and holiness. I am afraid that if many modern Christians were able to go back in time to a first century gathering, they may come back and say it was rather boring. But that’s the problem, people get bored real easy these days. With times changing and technology advancing what was new just this time last year has already become nostalgic and a new and better version has taken its place.

But I believe that if those Christians had a good understanding of what worship is all about, many would not get so easily bored, but inspired, because they would have witnessed the true presence of God. God is not an emotion or a feeling. Although emotions and feelings are a part of our worship, it is not limited to just those two aspects. God is a person, and a person has a presence about them. With such an overwhelming presence of God in their midst, they developed his personality, and that’s what made them appealing. All of this was brought together by their simplicity.

The four components of early Christian worship was

· They were doctrinally sound and the scriptures were deeply revered

· They had all things common, which created a fellowship knit together by love

· They took communion weekly, remembering the death of the Lord which kept them humble and pursuing holiness

· Prayer was essential to their worship. They understood that prayer was how the church was birthed and if it were to be the living organism that God intended to be, then they needed to continue in prayer. Prayer is the life breath of the church.

We also know from reading the Epistles of Paul in Ephesians and Colossians that Psalms, hymn, spiritual songs, and making melody in their hearts was a key component as well. Those who would attend the assembly were not only all struck by the convictions of those Christians, but also their contentment and compassion as well.

When these meetings convened they would leave empowered, equipped, and eager to change the world. And they knew that they could do it, because they had the conviction that they “Could do all thing through Christ which strengthened them.” (Philippians 4:13) and that “Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

The early believers did not feel that they had to entertain. They were overwhelmed by God’s holy presence. They did not seek to become like the world thinking that the world would eventually become like them. It was their simplicity, sanctification, and appreciation of their salvation in Christ, that created an lifestyle that many desired and could not resist seeking for. The beauty of their worship was in the Beauty of holiness! (Psalms 29:2)

Pastor Robby