84. What are the disciplines of public worship?
The disciplines of public worship are recognition, service, discipleship, and corporate worship, which seek to behold, reflect and magnify God’s glory in the society of others.
85. What does the discipline of recognition entail?
Recognition is repeatedly submitting to the biblical view of our neighbor as a means of loving God, and thinking of all men as such.
86. How is our neighbor a means of loving God?
We may behold God’s glory in our neighbor as that neighbor reflects and reveals the Creator (James 1:17, 3:9; Ps 19:1), as an act of loving obedience (Jo 14:15; 13:34; 1 Pet 2:17), and as a means of loving what God loves and hating what He hates (Mt 5:43-45; 25:31-46; Prov 6:16-19; Phil 4:8).
87. Who is our neighbor?
Our neighbor is our worst enemy, and everyone closer to us than him (Lk 10:29-37).
88. What does the discipline of service entail?
Service is sacrificially meeting the needs of other Christians by obeying the one-another commands, (Jo 13:34) and of our unsaved neighbors through doing to them as we would want done to us (lk 6:31), and so loving Christ (Mt 25:31-45).
89. What does the discipline of discipleship entail?
Discipleship is increasing the number of fellow-worshippers through instruction (Mt 28:20), and the involvement of affection (1 Thes 2:7-9), exemplary living (1 Thes 2:10, 1 Co 11:1, 1 Ti 4:12, Tis 2:7), and patient, encouraging mentoring (1 Thes 2:11-12).
90. What does the discipline of corporate worship entail?
Corporate worship is assembling with a New Testament local church on the appointed day with circumspection (Eccl 5:1-2), to unite mind and heart with other believers to publicly read the Word publicly (1 Timothy 4:13, Colossians 4:16), preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-2), pray the Word (1 Timothy 2:1-2, 8), sing the Word (Ephesians 5:18-19; Colossians 3:16) show the Word publicly (the ordinances or sacraments) (Luke 22:19, Matthew 28:19-20) and respond in grateful giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2.)
About David de Bruyn
David de Bruyn pastors New Covenant Baptist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a graduate of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minnesota and the University of South Africa (D.Th.). Since 1999, he has presented a weekly radio program that is heard throughout much of central South Africa. He also blogs at Churches Without Chests.
