Acts of Worship, part 2: Teaching

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.  And all who believed were together and had all things in common.  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.  And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47 ESV

Teaching.  We are continuing now with the second direction of worship.  The first direction that I covered last month, Gathering, has to do with our entrance into the fellowship together and coming before God.  Next, Teaching, or as it’s sometimes called, the “Service of the Word,” has to do with God’s communication to us.

With God’s Word, the emphasis is on hearing from God, not learning about God.  As Constance Cherry says, “The Word is informational in nature (providing knowledge of God’s will and instruction in matters related to the Kingdom of God), but it is formational in purpose (useful for reproof, correction, training in righteousness).”  Indeed, instruction is important, but in the context of worship, listening to the Word from God and allowing it to shape us is what the teaching is about.

These may seem obvious, but acts of the Word in worship include:

•  Preaching
•  Songs we sing – Scripture or Scriptural themes set to music
•  Scriptures read corporately and aloud
•  Simple readings or dramatic readings of Scripture
•  Visual representations of Scripture (on screens, etc.)

The Acts 2 passage gives us a glimpse of the early Christians who were attentive to God’s Word (i.e. the apostles’ teaching).  This was manifest in the way they lived out their lives:  many wonders and signs, selling their possessions, giving to the needy, glad and generous hearts, praising God, favored by outsiders, grew in number.  How do you see these acts of worship represented in this second direction of our worship, Teaching?  As a result of our interaction with the Word?

The Scriptures are God addressing us through the Word, not us addressing the Word, lest we be impressed with our skill in handling God’s Word.  The Word will always affect us, our behavior and attitudes, if we allow it to do so.  Therefore, the next direction of worship we shall discuss, drawn from Acts 2 will be, ­Responding.

I am printing these articles, not only on my blog, but in Greenwood Christian's New Spirit (monthly newsletter) as well.  Please follow along, subscribe to the blog, then share your pertinent and well though-out comments, questions, and responses as we go.