Reading: The Place of Scripture in the Worship Service

Elements of worship (beyond music)
The place of Scripture in the Worship Service
Steve Elzinga

 
Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV) As the rain and the snow  come down from heaven, and do not return to it  without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Where in the Service does Scripture fit?
1. Call to worship
Psalm 118:24 (KJV) This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Where in the Service does Scripture fit?
2. Prayer
Ephesians 3:16-21 (NIV)  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
 
2. Prayer
Psalm 102:1-2  (NIV) Hear my prayer, Lord;  let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me  when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.
Where in the Service does Scripture fit?

3. Sermon
Luke 4:16-20 (NIV) He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,    because he has anointed me   to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners   and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.
Where in the Service does Scripture fit?

4.    Between songs
Psalm 100:1-2  (NIV) Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness;  come before him with joyful songs.
Psalm 105:1-3 (NIV) Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;  make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him;   tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Where in the Service does Scripture fit?

5.    Blessing
Jude 24-25 (NIV)  To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV) May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Where in the Service does Scripture fit?

6.    Confession
Nehemiah 1:4-7 (NIV) When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.  Then I said:
“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel (our church)  I confess the sins we Israelites (our church members), including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.”
Where in the Service does Scripture fit?

7.    Assurance of pardon
Romans 8:31-39 (NIV)  What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from …
Where in the Service does Scripture fit?

7.    Assurance of pardon
… the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Where in the Service does Scripture fit?

8.    Old Testament and New Testament lesson
The major problems with reading the Bible in a Worship Service
Predictable patterns
No emotion
Too fast
De-edifying of scripture

How to read the Bible in a Worship Service?
Study the passage
Visualize the passage
Find the drama of the passage
Communicate the emotion of the passage
 
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.    
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,     
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.  
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;  
 my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The importance of Scripture memory in the Worship Service
Romans 12:5
James 1:2-4
Jude 1:24,25 (NIV) To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

The importance of Scripture memory in the Worship Service
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (NIV)  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

The importance of Scripture memory in the Worship Service
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Jeremiah 29:1 (NIV) ”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Acts 20:24 (NIV) However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

The importance of Scripture memory in the Worship Service
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The importance of Scripture memory in the Worship Service
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV) May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,  since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

The importance of Scripture memory in the Worship Service
Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.