My question is, in the five items of worship that are taught in the New Testament, which is the most important? These acts of worship are commanded to be done during the worship service on Sunday, the first day of the week. We are to sing, pray, preach or teach, observe communion and give of our means or money. Singing, praying, teaching or preaching and giving can also be done at other times as well; one can read of these acts of worship occurring on days in addition to the first day of the week. However, the Lord’s Supper is authorized in the New Testament for observance on the first day of the week.
Let me explain why I say giving can be done other times, too. If a person needs help on Monday, do you tell him or her to wait until Sunday because that is the only day of the week I am allowed to give? Of course not! This is silly. When Christ taught in Matthew 25:32-46 about dividing the sheep from the goats, He used the example of the needy that those on the right hand or the sheep helped. Nothing in this parable says anything about the first day of the week. We are commanded to give on Sunday by collection in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2, but that is not the only day we can give to the Lord. We are told to give cheerfully as we have been prospered in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. [Giving that occurred in Acts 4:32-5:10 does not appear to have occurred during worship on the first day of the week. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
Colossians 3:16 instructs us to teach and to admonish one another by singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. We are also to have thankfulness in our hearts to God. We are told to speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in Ephesians 5:19. There is nothing in any verse in the New Testament that says anything about singing beautifully, but we are told to sing and to teach others.
The Scripture does not anywhere teach or authorize playing an instrument in Christian worship. We are told to “sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). If we were instructed to play an instrument, then all would have to play, not just one or a few playing instruments. This verse says all are to sing.
Another item of worship is prayer. We are to pray through Jesus to God the Father. Jesus is our Mediator between us and our Heavenly Father (1 Timothy 2:5). Our prayers are to be fervent or sincere to God (James 5:16). Note Philippians 4:6-7, which reads, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God: and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
God commanded preaching. On one occasion, Paul preached until midnight, ready to depart on the morrow (Acts 20:7). In 2 Timothy 4:1-4, Paul told Timothy to preach the Word. He was to preach the truth even if the people did not like what the Scriptures said. He was not to tickle the ears of those who listened. Preachers, today, are also commanded to preach the whole Truth, even if others do not agree with what the Word of God says.
Acts 20:7 says Paul stayed with brethren about a week so they could commune together in Christian worship. What do we eat and drink during the communion? The apostle Paul cited 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 about when Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper with His apostles prior to His crucifixion. He prayed and broke unleavened bread. Then, He told those present, “This is my body which is broken for you.” Secondly, in the same manner, they were given the fruit of the vine, of which Christ told them, “This is the cup of the new covenant in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death til He comes.” We are also to examine ourselves and to take the bread and the cup worthily. Worthily (an adverb, referring to the manner) does not mean worthy (an adjective, referring to the quality of something). They are two different words.
Sing, pray, preach or teach, commune and give are all commanded in the New Testament for our worship to God. Do we read anywhere that one activity of worship to God is more important than another? Each item of worship is just as important as another. We are told in John 4:24 that God is a spirit, and we must worship in spirit and in truth.
[Editor’s Note: Doubtlessly, Catholic influence has indirectly led some members of the Lord’s church to presume that the Lord’s Supper is more important than other acts of worship, but the Scriptures do not teach such. Perhaps other Christians revere the vicarious, sacrificial death of Jesus Christ to the extent that they elevate Communion in their own minds. All acts of Christian worship, though, ought to be embraced fully, worshipping in spirit (emotional devotion) and truth (according to the Scriptures). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]