Training Up In Worship… by Example

We have gone from training up from infancy to training up using discipline. My prayer is that through this series you are encouraged to walk worthy of your calling, that you find that teaching your children is both important for their future as well as a part of God’s calling for you as their parent, and that you find some examples and suggestions which will help you on your path of training up. 

The most important way that a parent can teach their children any lesson is by example. When I was a little girl we had a poem hanging on our wall. It was called: “Children Learn what They Live.”  The poem clearly shows that children learn to live what they are taught while in childhood. The example that we as parents set will become the life that our children will live.

This is true in worship as well. This will require a looking within your own heart. It will require a true examination on your own part to determine 2 things. 

1. What example are you setting for your children in regards to worship.
2. Is your own heart right with God? 

This post will be an examination of scripture to look at God’s requirements for worship and God’s requirements for salvation. This is a longer post because we are going to dig into His word to see what His desires are for us. I believe with all of my heart that in order to know God’s plan for us, we have to look to His word, the Bible, and it alone as our guide for His will. 

Are You Training Up by Example of True Worship

What does God’s word tell us about when we come together to Worship? 

^” Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and having a High Priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 11:19-25.

We can draw near to God through Christ Jesus, our High Priest, we are to assemble ourselves together, exhorting one another and stirring each other to good works. So we can see that worship requires assembling together, fellowship with other Christians being encouraged to love and good works. 

Assembly

• Hebrews 10:25,26
• Matthew 6:33
• Titus 3:1

We are to pray and to sing. 

“I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” 1 Corinthians 14:15.

Prayer

• Acts 2:42
• Acts 4:31
• Acts 12:5
• Romans 12:12
• Romans 15:30

Singing

• Matthew 26:30
• Ephesians 5:19
• Colossians 3:16
• Hebrews 2:12
• James 5:13

Study of God’s Word, Teaching, Preaching, Prophesying

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” Acts 5:42.

• Acts 5:42
• Acts 15:35
• Romans 12:6,7
• 1 Corinthians 14:26
• Colossians 1:28

Partaking in the Supper of the Lord, Communion

 ^“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;  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.”  In the same manner Healso 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. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

• Matthew 26:26-30
• Acts 20:7
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

A collection for the support of spreading the gospel.

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

• 1 Corinthians 16
• 2 Corinthians 8:1-8
• Galatians 6:6
• Philippians 4:15

“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5,6.

Are You Setting an Example of a Heart Right with God?

Sadly, since the time of the Apostles there have been a lot of false doctrines gone out into the world. 

So what exactly does Jesus Christ require of his followers? 

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.“” John 14:6

There is one way, one truth and one life. You see if we want to go be with the Father when this life is over we must do so through Jesus Christ. He said,

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” John 7:13.

So have you entered the narrow gate? Or one that is wide? Do you know the difference? Satan is determined to deceive mankind. It’s pretty easy to do if he can simply convince man that he’s safe when he really isn’t. To be safe we must be obedient. 

“And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:32.

Without obedience we will not be given the Holy Spirit. 

“Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”” John 14:15.

Knowing that we are to obey Him and keep His commandments if we love him, what does he command?

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20. 

Following His resurrection and before He ascended into Heaven, he gave to His apostles the great commission, Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-20. He declared that He had been given all authority in both heaven and earth. He commissioned them to go and make disciples of all nations. Thus, He is saying that men and women from every nationality could become His disciples. But he didn’t stop there. He gave them instructions on how they were to make disciples, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;” Here we see that baptism is essential to being made a disciple. 

Following His ascension He sent His Spirit as He had promised. The Spirit came upon the day of Pentecost and the Apostles began to preach to those who were gathered in Jerusalem. We read this account in the book of Acts, chapter 2. Upon hearing the gospel which the disciples preached those listening were “cut to the heart” and asked what they must do to be saved. 

“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38.

Here we see that the Apostle Peter, who had received the commission of Christ and the Spirit, explained that they were to repent, which means to turn away from sin, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, so that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Remember that God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him, Acts 5:32. Peter says that the Spirit is given to those who repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Therefore it stands to reason that obedience is found in repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus for remission of sins. 

Are you a Living Example of Salvation

Hear the Word of the Lord

In order to know about salvation we must hear the word of God and the gospel of Christ Jesus. 

• Romans 10:17.
• John 10:27. 
• Matthew 7:24-27.

Believe in Jesus, the Christ

Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He was born into the world and lived a sinless life as a human , that he died on the cross bearing the sins of all, was buried in a tomb, rose to life again on the 3rd day, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father.

• Mark 16:15,16
• Acts 8:36-38
• Hebrews 11:6
• Acts 4:4

Repent, by turning away from Sin and Toward God.

God desires that all to repent and come to the knowledge of truth. He longs for us to draw near to Him through His son. 

• Acts 2:38
• Acts 17:30
• Luke 13:3

Confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God

• Matthew 10:32
• Luke 12:8
• Acts 8:37
• Romans 10:9-10
• Philippians 2:11

Be Baptized for the Remission of Sins

Just as belief, repentance and confession of Christ is a part of salvation, so too , is baptism. Peter said it was for the remission of sins. Therefore how can sins be remitted without the washing away of sins? It isn’t simply an outward showing, for God works in the Spirit. It is an obedient act in which God works to cleanse us from our sins. “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12. It is where we put on Christ, Galatians 3:26, Romans 6:3-5. 

• Mark 16:15-16
• John 3:5
• Acts 2:38
• Acts 8:36-38
• Acts 10:38
• Acts 22:16
• Romans 6:3-5
• Galatians 3:26
• Colossians 2:11-15
• 1 Peter 3:30-21

Live Faithfully

Once we act in obedience, confessing Christ, repenting of our sins, and putting on Christ in baptism then we are to live faithfully until death. 

• Romans 6:1-3
• 1 Corinthians 4:2
• Ephesians 4:1-2
• Colossians 3:1-6
• Hebrews 11:38
• Revelation 2:10

To come to the Father, we must seek to obey His will which He made manifest in Christ Jesus. Just as Christ died for our sins, we are to die to sin (repentance). Just as He was buried following death, we are to be buried with Him in baptism. Just as He raised to life again we are to rise from the grave of baptism to walk in a new life, having put on Christ. Just as He is living with the Father we are to live a faithful life in Him. Through salvation in Him we epitomize the gospel of Christ.

Through this obedience we receive the Holy Spirit and are added to the church.

Are you faithfully walking in Him? Have you obeyed His will as seen in the teaching of Christ and His Apostles? Are you living the example of salvation for your children to follow?

Remember that we are warned to be watchful of false prophets. We need to follow the scriptures because they are inspired by God. 2 Timothy 2:15-16. So when you are considering your heart and what you do, do you study the scriptures to be sure you are following His will and not the will of men?

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9.

This was a lot of study to work through wasn’t it? You can see that I try to only use the scriptures to set a clear example. I believe there is no greater example than Christ Jesus and what his apostles taught us with their teaching and their lives as they spread the gospel. 

Do you have questions? If you would like to know more about salvation and scriptural worship, please email me: greatpeaceacademy@gmail.com or visit World Bible School.

 

 

This post is the 8th and final part
of my Training Up in Worship Series.