Prism Church Training – Worship Community
“What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” – 1 Corinthians 14:26
As we stated in our Prism Overview, you’ll understand the scope of Prism Church’s ministry through the triangle of Worship Community, Mission Community and Online Community. This edition of Prism Church Training will spell out in more detail the philosophical and Biblical basis for our Sunday gathering.
In recent years there has been an exciting theological renewal happening amongst a younger generation of pastors and believers. This renewed expression of God’s grace and the freedom that comes from being secure in Christ has birthed a new passion for missional living. With this re-thinking of how to “do” church, a mindset has developed that we don’t “do” church we “are” church.
While we couldn’t agree more that “church” isn’t just a meeting you attend but instead a community of Christian people with whom you live your entire life, there has been an unhealthy overreaction to traditional church methodology. This overreaction has given rise to the erroneous thought that gathering for public Sabbath worship and sacraments isn’t commanded by the Bible; instead, the interpersonal relationship component of church life is clearly taught in Scripture.
“The New Testament is clear that God’s people are to regularly gather for corporate worship. This is apparent by the frequent use of the Greek word ekklesia, which simply means “gathered assembly of God’s people.” Likewise, Hebrews 10:24–25 commands, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.” – Mark Driscoll
To say that a Sabbath day worship gathering isn’t contained in Scripture would be inaccurate. Part of the Decalogue (the 10 Commandments that comprise the Mosaic Law) is the command to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. Gathering with God’s people to worship and celebrate the communal aspects of the faith (communion and baptism) is not only evidenced in the book of Acts when the believers would meet together in the temple courts to pray, but is implied clearly when Paul gives instruction on what to do when gathering for worship (see 1 Corinthians 14:26).
In 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14, the Apostle Paul gives explicit instructions to the Corinthian church about how they should function as they gather for their public worship services. In these passages, written to the troubled Corinthian church, we’ll highlight what “Worship Community” should entail for the Christian. We call them the “3 O’s.”
1. Order not chaos
- We worship God collectively, which requires clarity of mind & heart.
- We wish to worship with our hearts, minds and souls.
- We worship in a fashion that is indicative of the God we serve.
2. Ordained leadership
- Teaching is done by those whom God has entrusted to be Pastors & Elders.
- Our worship services are overseen by the Pastors & Elders.
- Our sacraments/ordinances are to be led communally by Pastors & Elders.
3. Outsider attendance
- How we worship must be comprehensible to our non-believing guests.
- How we love each other will be observed by our guests.
- How we love them will impact their comprehension of God’s grace & love.
“God in his great wisdom has given clear principles and practices to guide the corporate worship of his people. However, he has not given his people clear methods or an order of service. There is no clear prescription of an entire worship service anywhere in Scripture, and there is no record of any early church worship service. Therefore, while God is very clear on the principles and practices to govern corporate worship, he has left it up to church leaders led by the Holy Spirit to determine the methods and service order used to implement them. This means that, for example, what kind of music is sung, in what order the elements are arranged, how Communion is administered, and the like, can and should vary from culture to culture and church to church because God provides just such tethered freedom for his people.” – Mark Driscoll on Worship Community
Prism’s Worship Community will feature our time of corporate worship, communion, baptisms and a message from our ordained Teaching Pastor(s). As well, Prism will offer learning seminars before and/or after the worship service. Our children’s nursery and pre-church Kindergarten through 5th grade classes will enable our kids to learn the gospel at an age appropriate level.
One of the driving forces in starting Prism Church is that we would have a worship service that enables Christians to worship in a way that is culturally comprehensible to their friends who aren’t Christians. If believers are excited about the possibility that their friends will have a positive experience, they are exponentially more likely to invite them to join us for worship. In the absence of this confidence, believers will not take their relational outreach to the next level of an invitation to join our worship community and experience the grace and love of God in Christ.
Next we’ll take a more comprehensive look at what Mission Community will entail at Prism Church. For a free download of Chapter 11 (the chapter on Worship) of Mark Driscoll’s book “What Christians Should Believe,” visit http://relit.org/doctrine.