Fundamental Foundations of Faith
Identifying The New Testament Church by Its Worship
INTRO.
A. In this series of lessons on the fundamentals of faith, we have been studying
the church.
1. In the first lesson, we saw that the church is the “called out” (ekklesia)
2. In the second lesson, we saw that the apostles warned of an apostasy, that the
church would fall away into error.
3. In the third lesson, we discussed several false doctrines that arose from the
apostate church.
B. Today, we will consider how we can identify the New Testament church that was
established by the Lord. How do we know which church is the true church?
Thankfully, God gave us a pattern to follow in the New Testament. If we can find that
pattern, we can find the New Testament church and we can be the New Testament
church.
C. For example, what is the pattern of New Testament worship that we find in the Bible?
If we find that pattern, we can find that church.
I. THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH PRAYED DURING WORSHIP
A. Prayers were offered in their assemblies
1. As is indicated in Acts 2:41-42
“41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about
three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in
the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
2. They prayed when they were thankful Col. 4:2
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;”
3. They prayed when there was trouble Acts 12:5, 12
“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by
the church... 12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the
mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together
praying.”
4. No matter what was going on, they were to pray 1 Thes. 5:17
“pray without ceasing”
B. One identifying characteristic of the New Testament church is that they prayed
without ceasing.
II. THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH GAVE DURING WORSHIP
A. The church was noted for its giving nature.
1. As is seen in the church in Jerusalem
a. Acts 2:44-45
“44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all,
as anyone had need.”
b. Acts 4:32-35
“32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one
soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his
own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the
apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace
was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all
who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the
proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet;
and they distributed to each as anyone had need.”
2. Such giving went beyond those in the local congregation
Acts 11:27-30
“27 And in these days, prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then
one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was
going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the
days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability,
determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did,
and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
B. To aid in the ability to give to good works, a weekly collection was commanded.
1. To provide for the needs of the saints 1 Cor. 16:1-2a
“1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the
churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each
one of you lay something aside…” A specific day of the week was commanded for
the offering to be collected. No other day is authorized. The N. T. church only
takes the collection on Sunday. If a group takes up the collection on any other
day, they are not following the Biblical pattern found in the N.T.
2. Principles were taught to determine how much one should give
a. You give according to your blessings 1 Cor. 16:2
“On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside,
storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
b. You give according to what you have 2 Cor. 8:12-13
“12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what
one has, and not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not
mean that others should be eased, and you burdened;”
c. You give according to what you have committed 2 Cor. 9:7a
“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart…”
d. You give with a cheerful, willing heart 2 Cor. 9:7
“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of
necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
f. You give, keeping in mind the principle of "sowing and reaping” 2 Cor. 9:6-8
“6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he
who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he
purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful
giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you,
always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every
good work.”
C. Another identifying characteristic of the New Testament church is that they gave of
their means each and every Lord’s Day, and only on the Lord’s Day.
III. THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH PREACHED DURING WORSHIP
A. They were noted for their attention to the Word of God.
1. The church in Jerusalem was very careful to study the word
Acts 2:42
“42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the
breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Doctrine was important.
2. As ambassadors of Christ, the apostles' words were taken very seriously.
a. 1 Cor. 14:37
“If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge
that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.”
b. 1 Thes. 2:13
“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you
received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as
the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively
works in you who believe.”
B. They therefore used their assemblies to hear God's Word
1. As when Paul spoke at Troas Acts 20:7
“Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break
bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his
message until midnight.”
2. Or when letters from the apostles had been received Col. 4:16
“Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of
the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea”
C. A third identifying characteristic of the New Testament church is that they studied
and learned from the word of God in the assembly.
D. So far, in these first three identifying characteristics, there is not much controversy in
these things. Most religious groups would readily agree to all that has been said so
far. However, the next two identifying characteristics are surrounded by some
controversy.
IV. THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH TOOK COMMUNION DURING WORSHIP EVERY SUNDAY
A. The communion was commanded by the Lord and His apostles
1. This memorial feast instituted by Jesus Himself Mt. 26:26-30
“26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it
to the disciples and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.’ 27 Then He took the cup,
and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this
is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of
sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until
that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.’ 30 And when they
had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
2. The importance of it was taught to the churches by the apostles
1 Cor. 11:23-29
“23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the
Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and
when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which
is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ 25 In the same manner He also
took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This
do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ 26 For as often as you eat
this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy
manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man
examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he
who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to
himself, not discerning the Lord's body.”
3. In this memorial there is a remembrance:
a. We are to remember the sinless body of our Savior, offered on the cross
b. We are to remember the blood He shed to provide forgiveness for our sins.
4. In this memorial they proclaimed their faith in the ability of the Lord's death to
produce the desired result of forgiving sins.
5. None of this is the controversial part.
B. The controversial part of the communion is, when is it to be taken. How often did the
New Testament church take the Lord’s supper? To help answer this, turn to Acts 20:7
“Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until
midnight.”
1. How often does the first day of the week come around? It comes around every
week. The simple understanding of this verse is that they took it every Sunday,
the first day of the week.
2. But someone objects saying, “It doesn’t say every first day of the week.” OK, Let’s
examine this in the normal way we would think of it. If you get a new job and you
ask the boss “When do I get paid?” and he says, “You get paid on the sixth day of
the week. You get paid on Friday.” Based on what he just said, how often do you
expect to get paid? You expect to get paid every Friday, don’t you? That is how
we would normally understand that statement. Why then do people have so
much trouble understanding this in the same way?
3. This is how the Jews would have understood this. Consider Ex. 20:8, "Remember
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." The text does not say to remember "every"
Sabbath day, but that is how they understood it and how they observed it. They
did it every week.
3. As further evidence, consider the statement found in 1 Cor. 16:1-2
“1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches
of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay
something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I
come” (NJKV)
a. It is interesting that the ESV adds the word "every" in this passage. The first day
of "every week" here, but they do not add the word "every" in Acts 20:7, even
though the Greek text "on the first day of the week," is exactly the same. This is
the natural understanding of the text.
b. It amazes me that so many groups cannot see that the communion is to be taken
each and every Lord’s day, but they have no trouble at all seeing that the.
collection is to be taken each and every Lord’s day.
c. “On the first day of the week” break bread.
“On the first day of the week” lay something aside.
C. A fourth identifying characteristic of the New Testament church is that they took the
Lord’s supper each and every Sunday and only on Sunday. A church that does not do
this is not following the pattern.
V. THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH SANG A CAPELLA DURING WORSHIP
There is also much controversy concerning this act of worship. A capella means “as in the
church.”
A. Songs were sung when the disciples came together for worship
1. Jesus and His disciples sang when they worshiped together Mt. 26:30
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” This was
at the institution of the Lord’s supper. Part of that worship was singing.
2. James taught the church to pray and sing together Ja. 5:13
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing
psalms.”
3. The apostle Paul also gave instruction regarding singing.
a. Col. 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
b. Eph. 5:19
“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,”
c. Notice that both of these passages command us to sing, and according to
Eph. 5:19, the instrument that we are to play is the heart.
d. This is an example of a “specific command.” When God issues a specific
command, that automatically excludes all other possible options. For
example, when God told Noah to build the ark out of Gopher wood, that
automatically excluded all other possible types of wood. The same is true
here. By commanding us to “sing,” God automatically excludes all other
types of music that could be offered.
e. If we say that it doesn’t matter, and we can add that which is not specifically
forbidden, then we must also say that we can add milk and Oreo cookies to
the Lord’s supper. If not, why not? Logically, it is the same argument.
f. Lev. 10:1-2 The sons of Aaron offered what God had not authorized and they
paid for it with their lives.
"1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put
fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD,
which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from before the
LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD."
g. The truth is, when God specifically commands a thing, it automatically
excludes all other options. The N.T. church knew this. Instruments were not
added for 600 years.
B. A fifth identifying characteristic of the New Testament church is that it sang in
worship without the use of mechanical instruments of music. A church that adds
them, is not following the pattern given in the Bible.
APP./CONC.
A. As we close, I want to share with you the words of Justin Martyr who was an early
Christian apologist (defender) who lived from 100-165ad. He was put to death during
the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius because he refused to give up the faith.
“And on the day called Sunday there is a gathering together in the same place of all
who live in a city or a rural district. The memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the
prophets are READ, as long as time permits. Then when the reader ceases, the
president in A DISCOURSE admonishes and urges the imitation of these good things.
Next, we all rise together and send up PRAYERS. And, as I said before, when we cease
from our prayer, BREAD is presented and WINE and water. The president in the same
manner sends up prayers and thanksgiving according to his ability, and the people
SING out their assent saying ‘Amen.’ A distribution and participation of the elements
for which thanks, have been given is made to each person…Those who have means
and are willing, each according to his own choice, GIVES what he wills and what is
collected is deposited with the president. He provides for the orphans and widows,
and those who are in want on account of sickness or some other cause…” Here we
have all five of the elements of worship that we have been discussing today and
notice that they were all done “on the day called Sunday.”
B. By looking at what the Bible has to say about the New Testament church, we can use
that information today to identify that church and to make sure that we are that
church.
C. God has given us a pattern to follow, and as we follow that pattern, we are the New
Testament church. May God help us to follow that pattern faithfully.
D. Invitation
