Challenges To/For Public Worship-7 Series

CHALLENGES To/For PUBLIC WORSHIP-VII—John 2:12-25

OR

Some Dynamics Of Public Worship

Attention:

Describe the outward physical ‘trappings’ of worship—types/styles/setting targets/music/chosen frozen/emotionally driven, etc.

What do each of these(& more) say to others?

Public worship can & does present definite challenges!

The Church can be tempted toward many directions regarding the manner & message of its Public Worship. There are real Challenges to bringing about Public Worship!...There are dynamics which, if denied, will keep our church & the public from being able to fully worship in s(S)pirit & truth!

Jesus made it plain that the temple worship had become tainted with improprieties.

Public Worship is to be free from impropriety.

OR

There is to be consonance(harmony/agreeability with God) in public worship.

When is public worship consonant(agreeable/harmonious)?

Some Challenges to (consonant/harmonious/agreeable)public worship.

Previously we have found a Challenge to (harmonious)public worship is its...

1. OCCASION(:13)

2. INVITATION(:13-14)

3. PROTECTION(:15)

4. RESONATION(:16-17)

5. AUTHORIZATION(:18-19)

6. REPLACEMENT, RESTORATION & FOCUS(:19)

7. IMPLICATION(:20)

8. REALIZATION(:21-22)

AND where there is IMPLICATION(:20) & REALIZATION(:21-22) in Public Worship, there is also...

9—A challenge to (harmonious)public worship is its...

COMMUNICATION(:23)

Explanation:(:23)Proof/Conviction

:23—“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.”

“Perhaps more than concluding 2:13-22, these verses commence the Nicodemus narrative”—Andreas J. Köstenberger; D. A. Carson; F. F. Bruce

Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time the Passover feast was being held.

The Jews who came to Jerusalem to participate in the Passover witnessed “His signs.” Jesus did “signs” in Jerusalem “during” the Passover “feast.” Because of His “signs” many people put their faith in Him.

Upon a cursory reading, one would think that these who “believed in His name” not only witnessed the “signs” but recognized them, putting them into effect in their lives so that they repented & trusted Jesus!...

However,. :24-25 seem to discount the “belief”(faith) of these as merely superficial! “Jesus made a clear distinction between those who were superficially impressed because they saw the bare signs & those who penetrated beneath the surface & grasped the truth that was signified by the signs.” The authority to become children of God as in Jn. 1:12, “involves unreserved personal commitment,” something at disparity with what is declared in Jn. 2:23-25.—F. F. Bruce

Admiration of the spectacular yields applause from many.

“To exercise faith on the grounds of having witnessed miraculous signs is precarious.”—D. A. Carson

“Signs are done in order to strengthen true, saving faith.” “Of themselves they do not create faith. The Holy Spirit must do this.”—William Hendriksen

Miracles do not create faith nor do they maintain faith. They are pointers to the object & focus of faith. If one’s faith goes no farther than seeing the production of miracles only, then that ‘faith’ is limited to the miraculous. Thus it is not saving faith.

cf.—Jn. 4:54—“This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”

Regarding which...“In the interim, other signs had been performed in Jerusalem & vicinity.”—A. J. Köstenberger

“Passover”(See :13)—pasca—

“Feast”—eorth—1) A feast day, festival. Strong—of uncertain affinity; A festival.

“Believed”(See :22)—pisteuw—

“Name”—onoma—1) Name: universally of proper names; 2) The name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.; 3) Persons reckoned up by name; 4) The cause or reason named: on this account, because he suffers as a Christian, for this reason. Strong—from a presumed derivative of the base of ginwskw[To know](compare oninhmi[To gratify]); A “name” (literally or figuratively) [authority, character].

“Saw/Beholding”—yewrew—1) To be a spectator, look at, behold; 2) To see—2a) To perceive with the eyes, to enjoy the presence of one, 2b) To discern, descry, 2c) To ascertain, find out by seeing. Yewrew denotes a careful observation of details. Strong—To be a spectator of, i.e. Discern, (literally, figuratively[experience] or intensively [acknowledge]).

“Signs”—shmeion—Noun Accusative Plural Neuter—1) A sign, mark, token—1a) That by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others & is known, 1b) A sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature. Strong—An indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally.

“Did”—poiew—1) To make; 2)To do. Poiew denotes "to do", to designate performance, to denote merely productive action, & to point to the action result. Poiew means to accomplish. poiew often means to do a thing once for all, & thus not to do continually or repeatedly. From these distinctions it follows that poiew, being on the whole the higher word[than prassw], is more often used of doing good, prassw more frequently of doing evil. Strong—To make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct).

Argumentation:

Jn. 6:5-15—“Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, & seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves & two small fish, but what are they among so many?” Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, & when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, & the disciples to those sitting down; & likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, & filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come & take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.”