We recognize the opportunity for us to worship God as individual Christians. For example, we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” And in James 5:16, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” These verses are examples of personal worship to God, as we praise His name in our devotions toward Him.
There is also an idea of collective worship in the New Testament. From the very beginning of the church we are told the new converts, “continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). An explicit example of this worship is given in Acts 20:7, when the disciples in Troas “came together to break bread.”
A term used for such worship is “corporate” worship. The word corporate in this context means “group.” Simply put, worship that God calls us to do together. As we look severally at the different acts of worship authorized by God, we begin here with some introductory thoughts.
First we consider the ingenious plan of God for us to come together to encourage each other, working together as a local congregation to serve the Lord. We note that in the first century churches consisted of bishops, deacons and saints, “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:1-2).
A common reason for the collective coming together is to worship God. But it is by no means the only reason. The congregation is a place where brethren are strengthened, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13). As this is a purpose of the local congregation, it is important we come together often. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Another purpose of our gathering together is to exercise discipline to the unruly, “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:4-5). God’s plan is obvious. He never intended for Christians to be separate from other brethren. We are to love each other, worship together, submit to one another, and strengthen each other in our efforts to get to heaven.
This is exactly why Saul, when he had come to Jerusalem, “tried to join the disciples” (Acts 9:26). We must understand that membership in a local congregation is not like joining a country club. It is an agreement with those of like precious faith to worship and work together, and hold each other accountable before God. When Barnabas spoke on Saul’s behalf, after initial hesitancy to accept him they were persuaded and Saul, “was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists…” (Acts 9:28-29).
We know that there are members and visitors that come together on a day of worship in a local congregation. What is the difference between them? Visitors have not made clear their desire to come in and out consistently with that local congregation. They have not made clear their intentions. And consequently the concept of oversight and fellowship in the work of the church is ignored. This is acceptable for true visitors. For example the apostle John sought to visit the congregation of Gaius and Diotrephes. Because of an evil desire for “preeminence” Diotrephes would not “receive them” and even went so far as to put out of the church there the ones who sought to be receptive to the apostle. It does not seem that it was John’s desire to join that congregation, only to be received for a time as an apostle of God. But this passage does show the concept of membership regarding those who were located there – who were in the church there.
God expects us to be answerable to our brethren. The fact that there were congregations of Christians meeting in various locations is not under dispute. The fact that a local group can control who is or is not to be a member of that congregation is likewise obvious (1 Corinthians 5:4-7; Romans 16:17; Titus 3:9-11).
As previously stated, one of the most important reasons for the local congregation to exist is to worship God collectively! A most obvious example of this we can use is the practice of the Corinthians, as they came together for the purpose of partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Their observance of the Supper was lacking for several reasons. Among them was the following: “For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it” (1 Corinthians 11:18). The divisions among them caused sin in the congregation as some were eating and drinking “judgment to [themselves], not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Corinthians 11:29).
We wish to examine the acts of corporate or congregational worship to determine what God expects of us as we come together to worship Him, and how He expects us to do it!
Next Week: Singing in congregational worship.
