Today we have worship services with our altars our pulpits our musicians and set programmes with all of the action happening up at the front while the rest of the congregation just stand when it’s time to sing and to sit down when told to sit down. We call our meetings worship services. However, how do we define ‘worship’ in the context of how the first century Body of Messiah conducted their assemblies as we see described in New Testament?
In the New Testament the gatherings of believers were not called worship services. Rabbi the Apostle Paul expressly directed; “What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, and has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification” (1 Corinthians 14:26).
He also wrote; “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). As the author of Hebrews also writes; “…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near”(Hebrews 10:24-25). The context is a public gathering of believers meeting together to edify one another……
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