Restoring the Worship of the New Testament
We continue our study by considering these three words: continuing, restoration, worship.
by Dr.Goshen Choi,Pastor
I. THE CONTINUING RESTORATION OF WORSHIP
A. Continuing
B. Restoration--Nature and implications of restoration.
1. Nature. Consider the history of God's people. Restoration is at the center of God's work in human history. To our universal shame, human beings tend to drift away from the Creator God. None is exempt, Eccl. 7:20, 29; Rom. 3:23; Gal. 3:22. When man strays, God always seeks our reinstatement. Thus restoration is a beautiful melody of God's love and the recurring theme of grace. God's eternal purpose is the basis of restoration. These theme occurs throughout the Bible, in dispensations past as well as in the NT age. Restoration implies that we enter the world in purity as a child, but that we become marred through sin. Restoration is a return to the way God created us to live; restoration puts us back to a normal condition with God. Restoration brings us back to an unimpaired state or condition. This implies that God has a standard for us, a rule to guide us.
2. Therefore, I am assuming that it is desirable to restore NT worship, that is it possible to restore NT worship. This means we must go back to the NT.
C. Worship
1. Worship must involve God
2. Worship must involve an integrated view of human beings Worship must reflect our story, worship in some sense grows out of our story. Everyone has a story. Earlier this year, Dr. Jerri Nelson was rescued from the ice bound South Pole. This is a personal story. It made headlines in the news. Worship is likewise personal. I have a story, but I am part of a longer story. My faith is the faith of Paul, Abraham, Ruth, David. But since we share a common commitment to restoration or renewal of the NT faith, my faith is also your faith. 2 Pet. 1:1-3, like precious faith.
3. Worship must involve the spiritual man
4. Worship must involve truth.
In the Bible are principles, not specifics. In the Bible worship is situational: families in the OT, tabernacle/temple, small groups like house churches or families, larger groups like churches. Because the Bible describes worship in different contexts, it is easier to generate principles than specifics or patterns. Text: John 4:24 = principles.
5. Worship must involve culture.
A church that connects.