From God’s word in the New Testament, we find five parts of worship in the early Church. The commandments, patterns, and inferences in this scripture indicate that the brethren observed the Lord’s Supper, sang hymns, prayed, gave, and taught. We follow those same patterns today.

In Matthew 26:26-29, we learn of the elements of the Lord’s Supper: Bread and fruit of the vine. 1 Corinthians 11:26states we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper until He returns and Acts 20: indicates that the disciples observed it on the first day of the week. Worshiping in spirit and truth demands that we observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week with bread and the fruit of the vine with no deviations from God’s word.

“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,” is the command of Colossians 3:16. We are to teach and admonish each other with our psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. They are to be from the heart and not in vain. In this command and other New Testament scripture (Ephesians 5:18-20, 1 Corinthians 14:15), singing is authorized while instrumental music is not mentioned. Therefore we do not include it either in our worship.

Our prayer in worship is directed to the Father (Matthew 6:9). It is the desire of God that we pray (1 Timothy 2:8) and that we do so to His will (1 John 5:14). As in all parts of worship, we strive to pray in spirit and in truth, as the men lead the various prayers in an orderly worship (1 Timothy 2:8-12 , 1 Corinthians 14:40).

The apostle Paul gave the pattern for our giving in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 —
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do you. Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.” Here we have the time we are to give (Sunday) and how (as we are prospered). The concept of tithing does not apply in the New Covenant and in fact, Paul makes this statement in 2 Corinthians 9:7 — “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” Further, giving as part of worship is a responsibility of members of the congregation. As such, our visitors are not expected to give.

Paul exclaims to the young preacher in 2 Timothy 4:2 to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” We respect that command and do so at every opportunity. Our teaching comes only from the bible as “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)