Lesson 13 – God’s Guide for the Christian Congregation

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1. WHY IS PUBLIC WORSHIP IMPORTANT?

Matthew 4:10 — Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.

Psalm 95:1,2 — Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

Matthew 18:20 — For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

Luke 11:28 — Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 — And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

Psalm 96:8 — Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.

Matthew 18:19 — If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

Public worship provides opportunity to honor God, to hear his Word, to bring him offerings, to join in prayer, and to do all this together with our brothers and sisters in Christ. (The day and the time are not important.)

2. HOW IS PUBLIC WORSHIP ABUSED?

Matthew 7:21 — Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 7:15 — Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Hebrews 10:25 — Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Public worship is abused by failure to worship with a pure heart, by failure to proclaim God’s pure Word and by absences unacceptable to God.

3. HOW SHOULD CHURCH MEMBERS TREAT EACH OTHER?

John 13:35 — All men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Galatians 6:10 — Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

1 Peter 4:8 — Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

As fellow members of God’s family, we must love, assist and forgive each other.

4. WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION?

Acts 20:26-28 — Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Guard yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Romans 10:13,14 — For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

John 8:31,32 — To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The Christian congregation exists to win souls and keep souls in the pure truth of God’s Word.

5. WHAT IS THE REWARD FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW GOD’S GUIDE FOR THE CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION?

Luke 11:28 — Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

We will enjoy the blessings of God’s guidance, God’s comfort and Christian fellowship.

Romans 3:23,24 — For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

We cannot deserve God’s favor, but he graciously bestows these blessings upon the congregation, and for Jesus’ sake alone continues to grant forgiveness and life to those who trust him.

SUMMARY: God wants Christians to come together to worship him as their Lord and Savior, not merely in outward show, but in sincerity and truth. More than that, the Christians who come together are to be a family of believers who love each other and work for the preaching of God’s truth, among themselves and in all the world. As we follow God’s guide for the Christian congregation, we will enjoy greater peace of heart and experience warm Christian friendships. These blessings come only because God is gracious and forgives our sins. Our worship life and church relationships are vital to a living faith in Jesus Christ. But God gives eternal life because Jesus paid for our sins, and for that reason alone.

Organization of the congregation

Order of Worship

  1. Repentance (to God)
  2. Forgiveness (to us)
  3. Praise (to God)
  4. God’s Word (to us)
  5. Offering (to God)
  6. Prayer (to God)
  7. Sacrament (to us)
  8. Blessing (to us)

QUICKIE QUIZ (T or F)

  1. ___ You don’t have to go to church to go to heaven.
  2. ___ Many people who go to church are hypocrites.
  3. ___ The church has a right to collect money to pay its bills.
  4. ___ God will answer the prayer of the Christian congregation more quickly than the prayer of the individual Christian.
  5. ___ God doesn’t care what church you worship in, as long as you worship.
  6. ___ Hypocrites cause the quarrels in the church.
  7. ___ Racial prejudice should not be tolerated in the Christian congregation.
  8. ___ It is not the job of the church to improve social conditions in the community.
  9. ___ It is more important to keep the present members than to gain new members.
  10. ___ A good church member has a better chance of getting to heaven.

WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY

  1. that Jesus is present with those who worship him?

    Matthew 18:20 — For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

  2. that happiness is hearing God’s Word?

    Luke 11:28 — Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

  3. that the preacher speaks for God?

    1 Thessalonians 2:13 — And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

  4. that church members should help each other?

    Galatians 6:10 — Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

  5. that the church must be careful to teach the truth?

    John 8:31,32 — To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

For more information you can watch this lesson presented as a Bible study HERE.  Please click HERE to find the complete series of Bible studies.

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