The Order of Worship
()
About this ebook
We have the “Order of Worship” because we want the worship to be planned, the ways to be proper, the work to be performed, the whole to be profitable, and the will to be pure. We have the “Order of Worship” so we can plan to be identified, involved, included, improved, and increased.
Since we have an “order,” let us get in order, be in order, and do things in order “For God is not the author of confusion…” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Our God is a God of order. Hence, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Dr. Jeffrey T. Rainey
Dr. Jeffrey T. Rainey graduated from Alabama A. & M. University, Huntsville Alabama with a BS Degree in Business Administration. He earned his Master of Theology (2011), Master of Divinity (2012), and Doctor of Ministry (2015) from Faith Evangelical College and Seminary, now Faith International University, in Tacoma, Washington. He has pastored the Christian Union Primitive Baptist Church, Mobile, Alabama since June 10, 1984. He has served as the Bible Expositor of the National Primitive Baptist Convention since 1998. His gifts has made room for him on platforms, on panels, and in pulpits across the United States. He is married to the former Carolyn Suzette Hunter. They have two daughters: Caryn (Brandon) Scott and Carmen Suzette Rainey, and one grandson, Caleb Javon Scott.,
Read more from Dr. Jeffrey T. Rainey
Paralysis in the Pew: Treating the Malady of Spiritual Quiescence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRaindrop Devotionals: Volume 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Deal with It Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRaindrop Devotionals: Volume Two Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Order of Worship
Related ebooks
Guidebook for Worship Leaders Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEstablishing a Culture of Lead Worshipers: How to Build a Worship Team Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWorship Beyond Talents: When Love Expresses Itself in Worship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Importance of Worshiping Together: Vital Biblical Dynamics for Unified Worship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMethod to Music: Utilizing the Psalms Method to Sing the Word of God with Intentionality Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAn Audience of One: Worship for God’S People Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDiscovering True Worship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOne Thing Needful: An Invitation to the Study of Worship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Cross of Nails: Joining in God's mission of reconciliation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBuilding Grace: Connecting Relationally As A Worship Team Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Worship Shepherd: A Call to Gospel-Centered Worship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAcceptable Worship: What Kind of Worship Does God Accept? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAt the Chancel Steps: Talking with the Children of the Congregation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTrue Worshippers: ...Armed and Dangerous Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPrayer Meetings - Preparing fot the Week of Prayer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRhythms of Worship: The Planning and Purpose of Liturgy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlanning Worship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPortrait of a Worshiper: How God Created and Designed Us to Fulfill Our Purpose Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSunday School Lessons : From the Apostle Paul's Letter to the Romans Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPower Push: Passionate Worship Devotional Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Privilege of Worship: Keys to Engaging Worship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMinistry Proverbs: Lessons Learned for Leading Congregations Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMy Favorite Sermon Vol 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEvery Hallelujah: A Songwriter's Journey Through the Psalms Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShadows and the Shepherd Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBiblical Worship: God Has Always Had a Way He Wants to Be Worshiped Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThematic Expressions for the Lord's Supper: Comprehensive Practice of the Eucharist: Themes of Scripture That Reflect God's Grace Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsI'm Accepted: WALKing the Journey from Rejection to Freedom Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Teaching Methods & Materials For You
Verbal Judo, Second Edition: The Gentle Art of Persuasion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jack Reacher Reading Order: The Complete Lee Child’s Reading List Of Jack Reacher Series Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dumbing Us Down - 25th Anniversary Edition: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher's Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Closing of the American Mind Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Anxious Generation - Workbook Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Speed Reading: Learn to Read a 200+ Page Book in 1 Hour: Mind Hack, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Personal Finance for Beginners - A Simple Guide to Take Control of Your Financial Situation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Writing to Learn: How to Write - and Think - Clearly About Any Subject at All Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My System Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Principles: Life and Work Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Animal, Vegetable, Miracle - 10th anniversary edition: A Year of Food Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Take Smart Notes. One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Think Like a Lawyer--and Why: A Common-Sense Guide to Everyday Dilemmas Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Inside American Education Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Order of Worship
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Order of Worship - Dr. Jeffrey T. Rainey
Copyright © 2021 Dr. Jeffrey T. Rainey.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,
graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by
any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in
this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views
expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the
views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,
and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
Unless otherwise noted, scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible,
English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing
ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture marked (CEV) taken from the Contemporary English Version ©
1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Scripture quotations marked (NASB) taken from the (NASB®) New American
Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman
Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org
ISBN: 978-1-6642-4409-2 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-4410-8 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-4408-5 (e)
WestBow Press rev. date: 9/20/2021
CONTENTS
40098.pngChapter 1 The Structure of Worship
Chapter 2 The Schedule for Worship
Chapter 3 The Summons to Worship
Chapter 4 The Statement Before Worship
Chapter 5 The Songs in Worship
Chapter 6 The Scriptures in Worship
Chapter 7 The Supplications in Worship
Chapter 8 The Salutations in Worship
Chapter 9 The Stewardship in Worship
Chapter 10 The Sermon in Worship
Chapter 11 The Solicitation in Worship
Chapter 12 The Surrender in Worship
Chapter 13 The Seal on Worship
1
40098.pngTHE STRUCTURE OF WORSHIP
Let all things be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40)
The Church at Corinth had a number of difficulties. One area in which they had difficulties was public worship. Their "Order of Worship" was, in reality, a Disorder of Worship. Anyone who wanted to sing, speak in tongues, interpret, and so on, did so whenever and wherever in the worship they wanted. It was chaotic and confusing. Therefore, Paul gave a general principle for the Worship. "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40).
While the core and the context of this chapter deals with speaking: the person authorized to speak, the purposed affirmed to speak, and the place allocated to speak, Paul capsules, captions, and concludes that "all things (πάντα) that pertain to whatever
be done (γινέσθω) in public worship on the part of the assembled congregation; whether Paul happens to have mentioned it specifically here or not, should
be done decently and in order."
When we arrive at the House of Worship, we receive a Bulletin. The Bulletin lists the prepared agenda, the programmed activities, the person(s) authorized, and the place allocated. The first thing we note and notice on the prepared agenda is the "Order of Worship."
In order for me to do a thorough treatment of this topic and this text, I will have to back into the verse. I will have to preach the verse backwards. So, in consideration of this passage and the program, we have the "Order of Worship" because we need and we want:
I. THE WORSHIP TO BE PLANNED
… in order (1 Corinthians 14:40)
The phrase "in order suggests planning because
in order means in sequence, in succession.
In order is the disposition of things following one after another.
In order means there is an arrangement made. The Worship is planned because
all things do not just fall
in order on their own or by themselves. So, our
Order of Worship" is planned. Worship is planned because it does not just happen. It is not happenstance. It is not haphazard. It is harmonized. It is planned.
The word "order" is the Greek word taksis. It carries the idea of "something done in a fitting way or something done according to order." The Jewish historian Josephus used the word taksis when he recorded the orderly way in which the Roman army erected their camps, indicating their camps were orderly, organized, and well-planned. The commanders did not engage in last-minute planning. Their camps were not hastily thrown together but rather set up in an organized and thoughtful manner.
The important thing is that the time of worship should not be something thrown together at the last minute with no thought or organization. After all, we are talking about believers coming together to worship the Almighty God! Therefore, when we plan corporate worship, it should be well thought out and organized.
Planning indicates that it is not just thrown together, but some time, some thought, and some toil was given to this task.
The Worship is planned for:
(1) the Lord to be exemplified
God is a God of order. Look at the order in:
a. God’s World. God’s creation has order. The place and the path of the planets have order. The sun has order. The earth has order. The seasons have order. Days have order. The elements have order. This is an orderly world.
b. God’s Word. The Old and the New Testament are order. There is an order for roles in the Church and in the home. There is an order for regeneration. We have to perceive, believe, and receive. We must admit, commit, and submit. There is an order for requests. We are to ask, to seek, and to knock.
c. God’s Work. God’s order is backwards and before. He sees the ending before the beginning. It is simply provision,
which means God sees before. Before the problem arises, God has the solution. Before the question is asked, God has the answer. Before man sinned, God had a plan for his salvation.
d. God’s Worship. Because God is a God of order, then our worship must have order so that the Lord is exemplified. We cannot exemplify a God of order in a disorderly worship.
(2) the laity to be expectant
When members come to worship, they should know what to expect. They should know the format, the features, and the flow of the worship. One does not want to be on edge and uneasy, and uncomfortable in my house…
(3) the liturgy to be edifying
"Liturgy means
order of worship." Accordingly, we plan worship so that those who come will be edified. We plan the genre for each group that gathers. We want everyone to be blessed while they are here and better after they leave as a result of the worship.
II. THE WAYS TO BE PROPER – DECENTLY
… decently … (1 Corinthians 14:40)
The word "decently is the Greek word
euschemonos. Other than this verse, the word
euschemonos" is only found two other times in the New Testament—in Romans 13:13 and in 1 Thessalonians 4:12. In both of these places, it is translated "to do something honestly or to walk honestly." It carries the notion of something that is done properly as opposed to improperly. It has to do with intent and motivation more than outward action, although such a good intention always results in right actions.
Proper has to do with:
(1) the appropriateness of the task
Everything is not appropriate for worship. Therefore, some things are not placed in the "order of worship" intentionally because it is not appropriate. Appropriateness has to do with:
a. the kind of task. Praise Dancing is not appropriate for worship. Praise Dancing is more about entertainment than enhancement. Praise Dancing is for other stages and other settings like programs, banquets, and concerts. I have had people to request a Praise Dance for a funeral. It is inappropriate. Stepping is inappropriate for worship. Stepping is from the Fraternity or Sorority Order. That should take place in step shows and rallies. It is inappropriate for worship. Rap Music is inappropriate for worship. Just because you add spiritual lyric to the rhythm does not make it appropriate. Rap music has its origin and orientation in secular society. Everything we hear on the radio and music shows and performed in concerts does not make it appropriate for worship.
So, we cannot do as some, as society, or as the secular. Everything we do should be and must be fitting and befitting.
b. the keeping of the task. Sometimes, persons performing task take advantage of the assignment and of the audience. That is, they do additional. It is inappropriate to do what you have not been asked to do. In this event, there has to be a keeper. The keeper in the worship is the pastor. Contrary to what is thought, the pastor is the leader of the worship and is responsible for making sure the order and the task are done with all good seemliness.
Now, I say that I am the spirit in the worship. I did not say that I was the Holy Spirit. I am the spirit in the worship because every task should be trusted and true. You see, some people get up to do a task they have been assigned or asked to do and then act like the Spirit has made it impossible for them to do what they have been assigned or asked. Now, here is where the pastor being the spirit comes in. If the pastor is the leader of the worship and the Holy Spirit is dictating and directing the pastor, then the Holy Spirit will not move on you to act outside of what He has directed the pastor to assign you or ask you to do.
So, if you feel you are more spiritual and cannot submit to the spirit, then do not agree to the assignment. If you are asked to read the Scripture, do not interpret it. If you are asked to speak, do not sing. If you are asked to sing, do not talk. Do what you are assigned and asked to do. To over talk your task and to overdo your task is inappropriate. That is not the proper way.
(2) the attitude towards the task
Our attitude towards a task should