BE DEVOTED TO WORSHIP

The first Christians were devoted to worship. Notice what Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves… to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” The phrase “breaking of bread” refers specifically to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Down in verse 46 it says, “They broke bread together and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God…” The breaking of bread is intentionally separated from eating together. The believers would gather in a home to share a meal together and then they would take bread and wine and celebrate the Lord’s Supper. You can picture the believers gathering for an evening of discussion of the apostles’ teaching and sharing together followed by a dinner. Then the evening would be capped off with a time of prayer, praise, and communion. Worship was an integral part of life together for these new Christians.

When we look at the single-eyed devotion to worship in the earliest church we cannot help but look at our own attitude toward worship. When we gather on Sundays most of us really enjoy the worship. We enjoy singing to God together. We enjoy the prayer. We enjoy the praise. Some of us even enjoy the preaching! We focus our attention on God for an hour and a half and usually go away having been blessed to be in the presence of God. We know that God created us for worship. So what about worship the rest of the week? Not just private worship during our quiet times; what about gathering for worship during the week? What if we meet together in small groups and spend time in worship? Do you think that would be pleasing to God? Is there any reason why we should be less devoted to worship than the earliest church was? This is worthy of serious prayer and consideration. I think we would find our lives dramatically changed if we began getting together in small groups in homes for a time of worship.