The Place of the Bible in True Worship

Opening Text: John 4:24

What is the word?

The Bible, is the very expression of God’s thoughts and character, it is God’s spoken and written
instructions for those who acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. These instructions range from how to
gain eternal life to living a holy life on earth, in preparation for the heavenly home. The Bible also is a
manual on how Christians should not only live but a guide to know what is acceptable and not acceptable
to God.

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness”.

The Bible cannot be separated from the very thought of worship. Worship begins with the Bible, it has its
being and structure from the very word that God has given… it can be said, that without the Bible, there
is no true worship, as true worship is directed by the word of God.

What is worship?
Worship is when we knowingly and openly turn to God to acknowledge who He is and to let Him
correct our sins and our failures. It is a total surrender to God as creator, acknowledging that He is
greater than us and we are subject to him.

Worship is when man faces God, with respect and honor, but with the willingness to expose personal
attitudes and actions to His will; knowingly and purposely approaching God with the humble view of self
that seeks forgiveness and guidance.

Worship is God centered and devoid of everything that is human, the focus is totally on God and
not man. The emotions, intellects and mental is directed to please God and God alone.

Worship is a daily commitment, to live in accordance to God’s precepts and commands.Worshipis

the Christian’s way of life, to always bring glory to His Name. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore,
whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

In the broadest sense worship is that complete recompense of glory which we owe to God as our Maker
and Redeemer. Our major concern here, is our communion with God in praise and adoration; in prayer
and meditation; and in the whole collection of reactions which we owe to God when we approach him in
private or in public. Worship is an eminent fruit of our reconciliation to God by the blood of Christ.

The Bible and Worship

The Bible is the very foundation of true worship; without the word of God, true worship cannot take
place because the Bible is the very source of guiding the worshiper into harmony with the demands of the
Divine. Anything short of following and practicing the word is not true worship… Jesus declares to
the Samaritan woman; in John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit
and truth." NKJ.

I take 'in spirit' here, not as a direct reference to the Holy Spirit, but rather to the spirituality of
worship [devoutness]; to its inward reality [Certainty] and power. True worship is heart work. The
Father looks for the love and devotion of redeemed hearts, and has no pleasure in the mere outward
forms of worship. 'The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, 0 God, you
will not despise' (Psalm 51:17). Jesus spoke in John 4:23 "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. God has always required the worship of men's hearts[the sincerity], in every age and dispensation.
Note: 'Scripture [the Bible] is the source of truth, then, Worship is the response of the mind to the God
who has revealed himself to us in Christ. 'In worship we must seek to reflect back to God by our response
to the knowledge that we have received of Him through his inspired word the Bible.

Why the word is central to Worship?

The word is our only guide.

Josiah’s reform was brought about by the word, it guided them back to true worship... The word is central
to Adventist worship because it defines what God expects from us… [All round]

The reading and preaching of God's Word [in Adventism] is central to Christian worship. We are
to listen with awe (for God, not the preacher), with attention and expectancy. Congregations are not
passive during the sermon, as is often suggested, but have a spiritual work to do in hearing, digesting
and applying the Word. It is a high part of our worship that our hearts are responding to all that God is
saying to us - responding in joy or in sorrow, and with all those holy commitments which God's Word
and Spirit call forth from our hearts. Any tendency to reduce the place given to the preaching of the
Word in worship is detrimental to worship.

Note: Christian worship is God-centered.

Our whole desire must be to offer to him acceptable admiration and worship, and to have our hearts full
of his inexpressible glory and overwhelming love. The question which must concern us is not 'What is
pleasing to us?', but 'What is pleasing to God? Nor must we easily assume that what does please us
will please Him, lest the Lord should say to us what he said to Israel through the prophet Malachi, ' "Oh
that you would shut the Temple doors so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not
pleased with you”, says the Lord Almighty' (Malachi 1: 10). A spirit of pleasure-seeking has crept into
our worship in which the chief concern seems to be the pleasure we have in it. True worship is pre-
occupied with God. When our worship becomes dull and dry the remedy is not to brighten it up
with a 'worship band' etc, but to repent of our unbelief and dullness of heart and to seek more of
God's presence and glory through His words.

How should the word be presented in worship?

Note: Dull, lifeless, unattractive preaching stifles worship; what is needed is lively preaching which is
full of faith and conviction, so that congregations ' are stirred and animated to worship and to adoring
praise. Contrition and repentance should be the very target.
E.G. White comments:

To the humble, believing soul, the house of God on earth is the gate of heaven. The song of praise, the
prayer, the words spoken by Christ's representatives, are God's appointed agencies to prepare a people for
the church above, for that loftier worship into which there can enter nothing that defileth.--5T 491. {PaM
176.3}

Since the word will prepare God’s people for the church above, therefore those who present the
word must be certain to present it as God has given it...

The bible should be the source of every word spoken by those who have been given the mandate to
preach the word to God’s people. Know the Bible for yourself first.

When Paul is dealing with the rather chaotic services of the Corinthian church, in (l Cor 14) he appeals
for two things, edification [teaching, improvement] and order [instruction, direction]. 'He who
speaks in tongues edifies himself, but he who preaches edifies [informs, instructs] the church' (v 4).

Paul's great concern, is that in all their services and worship 'the church may be edified' (v 5). 'What
shall we then say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a
revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.'
So we must ask ourselves, 'Is our worship producing strong, mature, all-round Christians?' This is a
severe test for us all.Those who are to break the bread of life or stand before God’s people to perform
any duty, should understand that it is for the strengthening of God’s church. If the sermon, song or
Sabbath school is not geared toward producing better and stronger Christians, then it’s in vain. Those
who stand before the congregation must give themselves wholly to God and understand, that whatever
they do is not for show but to edify the Church.

Fundamental to true worship is the Bible. The Word of God is that which exalts the Name of God.
It is that which introduces us to the Son of God, who is God Himself.

Psalm 138:2 “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness
and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”God means what He says
and takes His words very seriously. Worship looks to the place of sacrifice: the cross. Its praise is
not only for the human experience of God’s “lovingkindness,” but for His “truth.” Since He has
magnified His Word above His Name, our worship must magnify His Word.

Basically, worship is done by saved people who sing from their hearts in humble submission to God
while seeking Him in His Word.

Note:God is pleased when people worship Him by obeying His instructions.True worship demands that
man approach God as God directs him.

Appropriate worship is not optional; Christ included the word“must” in this very important teaching.
We must carefully hear and obey the words of Jesus. Jesus spoke of “true worshipers” and said, “for
such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers,” and He concluded the thought, “those who
worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” To be “true worshipers” we “must worship in spirit
and truth.” This is the type of worship that pleases God.

God’s way of worship is basically simple, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in
spirit and truth.” God’s plan of worship is “in spirit,” not physical; and derives its instruction, its
direction, from “truth” and is the only way God can be worshiped. It is so very important to note
the word “must” in Christ’s teaching on worship.

Worship must be directed to God the Father. True worship is in “spirit and truth.” Worship is not for
entertainment. Worship is not to be measured by how we feel afterwards. True worshipers let God
examine their lives.

There is a specific answer to the question “How should we worship?” in Christ’s response to the
woman’s inquiry about Samaritan and Jewish worship. The answer is, “true worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is Spirit,
and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). There is often great
discussion about the word “truth.” When Jesus spoke of “truth,” Pilate asked, “What is truth?”
(John18:38). Today, in our multicultural and permissive society, it is very commonly thought that truth is
relative; something can be true for one person, but not true for another. In a prayer to God and a petition
about His apostles, Jesus defines truth, “Sanctify them by Your truth; Your word is truth” (John
17:17).Truth is not relative but absolute because God’s word is truth and will forever remain
truthful.

Such worship operates in the realm of truth: clear and definite knowledge of God derived from his special
revelation (John 4:22). In such a setting, it would seem to us, worshiping in spirit and truth can only
mean A. rendering such homage to God that the entire heart enters into the act, and B. doing this in full
harmony with the truth of God as revealed in his Word.

ACTS, ACTIONS, ACTIVITIES OF TRUE WORSHIP

PREACHING:
The preaching of truth is very important in worship because of the fact that worship brings man and God
together face to face. God confronts man with His Word, His will; and man worships by listening and
obeying.

When we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next
day, and he prolonged his message until midnight (Acts 20:7). . . . Seek to abound for the edification of
the church (1 Corinthians 14:12).

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to
deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own
conscience as with a branding iron . . . In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good
servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which
you have been following (1 Timothy4:1-2, 6). . . . Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves
teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn
aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

“Good preaching” has often been measured by how it is accepted by the hearers.

On the way home from worship, a common question may be, “How did you like the sermon?” Among
preachers the question may be, “How many illustrations did you use?” or “How many stories did you
have to tell to keep the audience awake?” True worship seeks “sound doctrine” that produces conviction
and is achieved by encouragement, exhortation, and even rebuke, when necessary. “Good preaching”
confronts worshipers with God’s will for their lives. “Good preaching” is not entertainment measured by
how one feels after hearing it. The purpose of preaching is not to please people who are wanting to have
their ears tickled (2Timothy 4:3). Preaching may even hurt the conscience and wound the feelings of
those it reproves, rebukes, and exhorts. We must measure “good preaching” by God’s standards and not
by our own or by other’s standards.

E.G. White comments on the negative Attitudes by preachers of the word.

But things that transpire in the sacred desk are often wrong. One minister conversing with another in the
desk before the congregation, laughing and appearing to have no burden of the work, or lacking a solemn
sense of their sacred calling, dishonors the truth, and brings the sacred down upon a low level with
common things. The example is to remove the fear of God from the people, and to detract from the
sacred dignity of the gospel Christ died to magnify. According to the light that has been given me, it
would be pleasing to God for them to bow down as soon as they step into the pulpit, and solemnly ask
help from God.--RH May 30, 1871. {PaM 178.1}

Do not present to others what your own soul has not felt.

There is danger that ministers who profess to believe present truth will rest satisfied with presenting the
theory only, while their own souls do not feel its sanctifying power. Some have not the love of God in the
heart, softening, molding, and ennobling their lives.--4T 526. {PaM 187.2}

You cannot give what you do not have; the word of God must be entrenched in the believer’s heart; it
must quicken the mind, thoughts and emotions, the word must transform the character of the believer that
seeks to stand before God’s people to break the bread of life.

E.G. White comments:

Heaven is ashamed of many who are engaged in all branches of the work, and especially is Heaven
ashamed of those who are called to the sacred desk, and yet who do not try to do their best. Many read
newspapers and periodicals and books, and neglect the study of their Bibles. They do not wrestle with
God in the closet, for the help which He alone can give. They go forth to their work spiritless and without
Christ. Ministers go before their congregations, presenting fragments of a long-used discourse, instead of
a fresh portion of meat in due season for the people. They drift into dry, controverted subjects, and the
flock of God is unfed.--RH May 20, 1890. {PaM 187.4}

The length of sermon

Mrs. White, strongly favored Christ-centered, simple, “short”, spiritual, elevated, sermons rather than
long ones; sermons that “influence the people to obey the truth” that explain the word of God to the
people, without creating an “excitement of feelings”. For this element of worship also what matters most
is how the people are introduce to the presence of God and not the entertainment of listeners. Thus she
disapproves of sermonic practice that she describe as “theatrical” {acting, dramatic, exaggerated} when
ministers assume “attitude and expressions calculated for effect”.

The crucial moment of the worship service is when the word of God is explained “the heart of many in
the world as well as many church members are hungry for the bread of life and thirsty for the waters of
salvation. They are interested in the service of song, but they are not longing for that or even prayer.

They want to know the scriptures. What saith the word of God to me? The Holy Spirit is working on
mind and heart, drawing them to the bread of life. They see everything around them changing. Human
feelings, human idea of what constitute religion, CHANGE. They come to hear the word just as it reads.

Language in sermon…
Ministers have no license to behave in the desk like theatrical performers, assuming attitudes and
making expressions merely for effect. They are not actors, but teachers of truth. Undignified, boisterous
actions lend no force to the truth uttered; on the contrary, they disgust men and women of calm judgment
and right views. {GW 172.2}

Ministers should not make a practice of relating irrelevant narratives in connection with their sermons;
for this detracts from the force of the truth presented. The relation of anecdotes or incidents that create a
laugh or a light thought in the minds of the hearers is severely censurable. The truth should be clothed in
chaste, dignified language; and the illustrations used should be of a like character. No use of foul
language, insulting words and cursing and the likes… choose your words wisely and all should be to the
edification of the listeners.

Dressing.
The issue of dressing cannot be over emphasized, it is important to note that decency in our clothing is
something that is to permeate every area of our lives as representatives of God.

Not only Sabbath Days,mid-week or sun down worship

The presenter or preacher should not be shabbily dress, no sagging trousers or skirts.

In Dressing there should be decency, it should be something that people can look upon with grace and it
should bring glory to God, because once you are out to address the people of God, your dress is part of
your worship. Body parts should not be exposed like the thighs, chest and upper arms.
Body language also matters .your posture, attitude and mood is also something that you communicate to
people.

E.G. White comments

Carefulness in dress is an important consideration. The minister should be clothed in a manner befitting
the dignity of his position. Some ministers have failed in this respect. In some cases not only has there
been a lack of taste and of orderly arrangement in the dress, but the clothing has been untidy and
slovenly. {GW 173.1}

The God of heaven, whose arm moves the world, who gives us life and sustains us in health, is
honored or dishonored by the apparel of those who officiate in His honor.

The influence of the minister who is careless in his dress is displeasing to God, and the impression made
upon his hearers is that he looks upon the work in which he is engaged as no more sacred than common
labor. And not only this, but instead of showing them the importance of propriety and taste in clothing, he
sets them an example of slackness and untidiness, which some are not slow to follow. {GW 174.1}

God expects His ministers, in their manners and in their dress, to give a fitting representation of the
principles of truth and the sacredness of their office. They are to set an example that will help men and
women to reach a high standard.

Closing Remarks

Flowery (fancy) discourses (sermons) will not be sufficient to feed the soul of the famishing child of
God. The following desire will give a voice to the longing of many a heart that is fed on what are called
"smart sermons." An intelligent man remarked, "O that my pastor would give me something besides
pretty flowers, and brilliant periods, and intellectual treats! My soul is famishing for the Bread of Life. I
long for something simple and nourishing and scriptural." Daniel Webster gave utterance to these forcible
words: "If clergymen in our day would return to the simplicity of gospel truth, and preach more to
individuals and less to the crowd, there would not be so much complaint of the decline of true religion.
Many of the ministers of the present day take their text from St. Paul, and preach from the newspapers.
When they do so, I prefer to enjoy my own thoughts, rather than listen. I want my pastor (preacher) to
come to me in the Spirit of the gospel, saying, `You are mortal. Your probation is brief; your work must
be done speedily. . . . You are hastening to the bar of God. The Judge standeth before the door.'"--RH
June 23, 1891. {PaM 188.1}.

1Pet 4:11 ‘If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God [with God’s word NET]. If anyone
ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.’‘Amen.’