Tag: worship
Biblical Principle #205: Israelites Tempting Idolatry to be Stoned
Biblical Principles List Principle Under the Law of Moses, an Israelite who enticed another Israelite to worship other gods was to be put to death. Explanation It would be an understatement to say that GOD is serious about His children not worshiping other gods. The punishment for tempting a fellow Israelite to sin by idolatry…
Biblical Principle #99: Humans Elevated Above Heavenly Creatures
Biblical Principles List Principle The heavenly creatures—the first sun, moon, and stars of creation—are brought lower than GOD’s elect humans. Explanation Genesis 37 records two dreams that Joseph, son of Jacob, had: 5 Then Joseph had a dream, and reported it to his brothers. 6 Thus he said to them, “Hear this dream I dreamed:…
Biblical Principle #81: Worship Means to Bow Down
Biblical Principles List Principle Worship means to bow down. Explanation The first occurrence of the word “worship” in the Bible is Genesis 22:5. Genesis 22 is the account of Abraham offering Isaac on the altar to GOD (and GOD stopping Abraham from killing his son). Today, Christian culture defines worship as: None of these modern…
Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday?
Why do Christians worship on Sunday? It’s a simple question and there are a few reasons. Here are three basic reasons why Christians assemble together to worship on Sunday. Reason #1: Christians celebrate their belief that Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the first day of the week. Scripture says: 1 On the first…
Must Women be Silent in Church Meetings?
Does the Bible teach that women must be silent during church meetings? Few topics can stir up as much emotional response among Christians as that of gender roles within the church. In this article, we examine what the Scriptures teach regarding women’s participation in church assemblies.
Jesus’ Church: Organism or Organization? (Why Our Thinking About the Church is Wrong)
I recently read a newspaper article written by a preacher that was discussing his view of the purpose of the church. Since I’ve been thinking and writing about similar things recently, the headline caught my eye, so I read it. The contents got me to thinking. As Christians, we understand (intellectually) the individual truths that…
3 Benefits from Participatory Church Meetings (Why Mutual Participation Works)
In my post entitled “The Formula for Spiritual Growth,” I explained how participation is a key component in our spiritual growth. Why do participatory church meetings work? What makes participating in church assemblies more effective than sitting silently? What is the desired outcome of “church?” Too infrequently do Christians pause and consider this question. The…
Why Christians Should Quit Saying ‘Worship Services’ to Describe Church
In a few recent posts, I’ve mentioned the biblical definition for worship. Well, Christians tend to have our own lingo at times. Some of it is biblical; other times it’s traditional or popular within a congregation or particular fellowship. Within this vocabulary, there is one particular phrase that I wish especially strongly Christians would eliminate entirely:…
How Do I Grow Spiritually? (Here’s the Formula for Spiritual Growth)
What is the most effective way to grow spiritually? There is a process—a formula, if you will—that, when followed, leads to spiritual growth 100% of the time. Let me show you. I have previously shown that the church exists for the purpose of helping to change the lives of people, which is GOD’s purpose for each of us…