Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: November 27, 2005
GOOD WORSHIP MANNERS
Dub McClish
The God we worship in our assemblies is not a God of confusion, but one who
wants everything done decently and in order (I Cor. 14:33, 40). I believe that
with a little more consideration for this principle, for one another, and for
some of our behavior we can improve our “worship manners.” For example:
1.) Arrive a few minutes before time to begin (Bible class or worship). Some
folks are late every time because they wait too late to start getting ready.
Consistent tardiness can and should be overcome. Late arrivers always cause
some distraction.
2.) Watch and follow the song leader. Nothing is as frustrating to a song
leader and as distracting from the praise being sung as to have a loud voiced
member or two drag a word or two behind the leader. With a little attention to
this matter our combined voices can be one voice of praise.
3.) If you have a baby and it begins to cry, take it to the cry room. I would
never knowingly say or do anything to discourage parents of little ones from
bringing their babies to worship at the earliest possible age. I deeply admire
and encourage those who do. However, when an innocent baby (or a toddler
who is old enough to be disciplined) starts to scream, it should be taken to
the cry room promptly, thus keeping disturbance of the assembly to the
minimum.
4.) Do not leave before the closing prayer unless absolutely necessary. Also,
do not let your child parade in and out unless it is necessary. Take care of
their water and rest room needs before worship and help them understand
that they will leave the assembly only for correction or misbehavior. Every
person who leaves during any part of the worship distracts others.
5.) If you arrive late, if possible wait until there is a pause between activities
to enter (between songs or between a prayer and a song, etc.). Otherwise,
enter and take a seat with as little distraction as possible.
6.) Read appropriate Scriptures during the Lord’s Supper (e.g., Matthew 26:26-
27:28) to help keep your mind from wandering. Have your contribution check
or cash prepared before you come to worship.
7.) Stay awake (retire at a decent hour Saturday night). Bring your Bible,
paper, and pen. Follow the Scriptures cited and take notes on the sermon.
8.) Sincerely sing the invitation song and refrain from distracting behavior
while it is being sing (talking, putting on your coat, etc.).
— Via East End Bulletin, East End church, McMinnville, TN — March 16,
2003
THOUGHT PROVOKING QUOTES
—> The man who speaks evil of your brother in his absence would speak evil
of you in your absence. To a backbiter, lend no encouragement.
—> Whatever makes men good Christians makes them good citizens.
—> I have never met a man who has given me as much trouble as myself.
—> Being conscious of no sin indicates many.
—> Let no one be asking, “What is the church going to do for me?” Rather, let
each be asking, “What will I be able to do for the church?”
—> A lot of ignorance can be successfully hidden by sealing the lips securely.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING
Sin is the most expensive thing possible!
—> It wastes money.
—> It wears the body into decay. But, as bad as these things are, there are
even worse things behind; for it blights the intellect and withers the moral
nature of man.
—> It weakens the will; it blunts the conscience; it hardens the heart.
—> It dries up all the finer feelings of the soul, so that ultimately all regard
for truth and holiness and purity is gone.
—> But worse yet. Sin is an everlasting thing. It becomes the master of the
man who indulges in it, and sets him to do that hardest drudgery. It hires
him out, as it were, to feed swine, leaving him to feed along with them.
—> That which was at first joy becomes in the end bondage. That which was
at first a pleasant companion becomes at length a cruel taskmaster, who
compels him to make bricks without straw, and sometimes even without clay.
—> Sin defiles, disfigures, debases, and blasts all it touches. It is at once a
state, guilt, and a pollution. — Anonymous