You will notice that only men lead in the public services of the church. God has told us that He does not allow women to have authority over men (1Timothy 2:12). This is not an insult to women, but simply respect for the commands of Christ whom we love.
WORSHIP
Their worship together consisted of singing together, praying together, taking communion and studying God’s Word together. This we do each time we assemble to worship our Heavenly Father, as they did, so we, on each first day of the week (Sunday), partake of the Lord’s supper together. Everyone is invited to participate in each of these spiritual exercises to the best of his ability.
First, worship in truth must include the teaching and preaching of God’s Word. An example or pattern of this can be seen in the case of the apostle Paul at Troas. Acts 20:7 states, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. ”This is an apostolic example of preaching being in the worship assembly.
Second, worship in truth must include giving or laying by in store, as a contribution upon the first day of the week. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”This emphasizes the personal, individual responsibility of each member to give upon the first day of every week a part of that which God has prospered us.
Third, worship in truth must include partaking of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice upon the cross in our behalf. The church at Troas is an example of those who kept this memorial supper upon the first day of the week. Paul even tarried in the city of Troas so that he could observe the Lords Supper with the church there upon the first day of the week (Acts 20:6-7). We are to partake of the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine (grape juice) in remembrance of the death of Christ upon the first day of every week.
Fourth, worship in truth must include prayer. InActs 2:42 we read where the church at Jerusalem, “…Continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”This passage includes the acts of worship which we have discussed so far. The “apostles’ doctrine” refers to their teaching and preaching of Gods word. “Fellowship” refers to their giving. “Breaking of bread” refers to partaking of the Lord’s Supper together, and “prayers” refers to the common practice of the early church to pour out their souls unto God in prayer and supplication.
Fifth, worship in truth must include singing. Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”This teaches that the instrument we use is our heart. We are not to attempt to worship God with a mechanical instrument or a machine, because God has specified the human heart as the instrument. Further, we are to sing and make melody in our hearts “to the Lord.”He is the one worthy of our worship, praise and adoration.
We should point out that two of these acts of worship (giving and the Lord’s supper) are limited to the first day of the week, because this is the only time we find them commanded or practiced by the apostles. However, teaching, praying and singing can be practiced as acts of worship at any time the church is assembled.
