Lesson Nine

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://ourworld-top.cs.com/rjmcclur/worship_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://ourworld-top.cs.com/rjmcclur/wors"><U><B>Twelve Lessons On Worship</B></U></A></FONT>  <A HREF="bible_study.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson One"><U>Lesson One</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Two"><U>Lesson Two</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Three"><U>Lesson Three</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Four"><U>Lesson Four</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Five"><U>Lesson Five</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Six"><U>Lesson Six</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Seven"><U>Lesson Seven</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Eight"><U>Lesson Eight</U></A>   |   <B>Lesson Nine</B>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Ten"><U>Lesson Ten</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Eleven"><U>Lesson Eleven</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Twelve"><U>Lesson Twelve</U></A>   <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/HolySpirit/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/Hol"><U><B>Studies On The Holy Spirit</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="02ad2c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.biblestudyoftheweek.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblestudyoftheweek.com"><U><B>Bible Study of The Week Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="059ac810.png" border=0 width="172" height="129" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div>  <img src="HTMLobj-114/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="200" height="133">  </div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B>Worship</B></div> <div> <B>IX New Testament Worship </B></div> <div> <I>Part One: Giving</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>1) We are to glorify God always (1Cor. 6:19,20). This might be considered a type of worship as we offer ourselves to His service (Rom 12:1, 6:12-16) Do you agree? Remember the definition of worship??</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>“Bow down” “Reverence” “Service” “Devotion” Offering whatever we have to God; humility, gifts, repentance, remembrance, thanksgiving. Romans. 12:1 that we are “to `offer' or `present' our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Back in chapter 6 of the same letter, Paul had written to “present your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” Just as in 1 Cor. 6:20, we are told to glorify God in our bodies! Remember, we are priests and must minister to the Lord daily!</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2) We are also commanded to worship God formally (together) (1Cor. 11:18-20; Heb 10:25; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). When is this to be?</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Although the first two of these passages do not mention a particular day of coming together, they both make obvious reference to assembling together for worship and fellowship. The later two verses both mention the “first day of the week” as being a time when the “breaking of bread,” and a collection (offering) was to be given for the saints in need. History also tells us that Sunday was the day that the early Christians met for worship and fellowship. Sunday, not Saturday night!</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>3) In 1 Cor. 16:2 and 2 Cor. 9:6,7 we read of collections for the saints in need being made. Would this be a form of worship? (2 Cor. 9:12-15)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Scripture never tells us that the `giving of money' is a form of worship. In fact, the New Testament never refers to us as “giving money to God”, but as giving glory, honor, service, thanks, etc. The collections of the New Testament were never for the `church building' or `church activities', but were always for those in need!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Turn to Matthew 25:40 (and surrounding verses), and 1Jn 3:16. When we truly give of ourselves in service, money, talents, we please our Father in heaven (Matt. 6:3,4). Why? Because of what we give? No (Mk. 12:41-44), It's not what we give that pleases God, but whether we give because of love (1Cor 13:1); and whether we are willing to actually give of our comfort because we care more for someone else (Acts. 20:35).</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The New Testament never mentions `tithing' specifically, but we will discuss this. What was the purpose of tithing? (Gen 14:17-20; Heb. 7:1-10; Gen 28:22; Lev. 27:30-32; Nu. 18:21-32; Deut 12:5-7; Deut 26:12-13)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In the first passages that deal with tithing (Abraham and Jacob), it is a giving to God as an act of worship. Unfortunately, when we think of tithing, we think of coins and greenbacks. But it meant much more than this to the early Jews; cattle, vegetables . . . .all was to be tithed!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>But in most of the OT passages (from the time that Israel existed as a nation) tithing was to meet the need of the Levite, stranger, orphan and widow. But it was still an expression of gratitude to God.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Today, we should tithe from gratitude by giving to the church. These tithes should be used prudently. We should also be prepared to `reach a little deeper' when someone is in need (benevolence and missions). If the Church of Christ were effectively ministering to those mentioned above, we would find it necessary to do without some things that we now enjoy, or to turn away!</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>4) If giving is a form of worship to God, how much do you feel that you should be blessed in return? (Acts 4:32, Lk 19:26; 1 Tim 6:17; Ex. 23:19)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Acts 4:32 “no one claimed that anything belonging to him was his own.”</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Lk 19:26 “to everyone who has to more shall be given…”</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1Tim. 6:17 “not…to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches.”</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Ex. 23:19 “bring the choice first fruits”</B></div> <div> <B>     </B></div> <div> <B>2 Cor. 9:6 “he who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly”</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rom 12:18 “he who gives, with liberality”</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>You'll have to answer for yourself!</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>5) What should our attitude be in our giving? (2 Cor 9:6,7; Matt 6:1-4; Matt 19:29; Heb 13:6,7)</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>We've really covered this in earlier questions, but we'll look at words in these passages describing a “good giver.”</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>GOD'S WATCHING!!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Cheerful           (Smile)</B></div> <div> <B>Purposed          (Plan ahead)</B></div> <div> <B>Bountiful          (Dig Deeper)</B></div> <div> <B>Secretly          (Don't rattle that $20)</B></div> <div> <B>Hoping          (We're waiting for Jesus)</B></div> <div> <B>Imitating          (Follow good examples</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.tripod.com/rjmcclur55/"><U>Bible Study of The Week</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="bible_study.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson One"><U><B>Lesson One</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Two"><U><B>Lesson Two</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Three"><U><B>Lesson Three</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Four"><U><B>Lesson Four</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Five"><U><B>Lesson Five</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Six"><U><B>Lesson Six</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Seven"><U><B>Lesson Seven</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Eight"><U><B>Lesson Eight</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>Lesson Nine</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Ten"><U><B>Lesson Ten</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Eleven"><U><B>Lesson Eleven</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lesson Twelve"><U><B>Lesson Twelve</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>