Worship and Others

Did you read last week’s blog posting entitled “Worship and YOU”? It emphasized that worship is not a consumer activity. It is not about making us happy and fulfilling our expectations as consumers. It is about giving honor and praise to God. That is true whether one’s worship is offered in a weekly assembly with other Christians or as an expression of worship when alone.

And yet, when we intentionally come together to worship God, our worship also fills another expectation: encouragement of fellow believers.

Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul as he gives instruction regarding the assembly of Christians. Although he was specifically addressing issues regarding spiritual gifts, the application is broad.

I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church [assembly] I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. 

-- 1 Corinthians 14:19

Based on Paul’s instruction it seems that the Christians in Corinth were so excited about speaking in tongues (foreign languages) that they had placed too great an emphasis on that spiritual gift. After all, if there was no interpreter (translator), then the foreign language meant nothing to anyone. The simple point is that our worship gathering ought to be understandable and encouraging to everyone attending.

Eight times in 1 Corinthians 14 Paul makes an argument for understanding. Six times he specifically emphasizes the need for edification in the assembly. He was so adamant about understanding and edification that he instructed those who spoke in tongues to be silent if there was no one to interpret (translate). He instructed those who prophesied (delivering a message from God) to take turns to avoid confusion.

So, while worship consists of praise and honor TO God, all that is done as worship should be understandable and edifying to those participating.

Earlier in 1 Corinthians, Paul gave instruction concerning the Lord’s Supper, another problem area for the Corinthian Christians. He said…

As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 

-- 1 Corinthians 11:26

Even though the Lord’s Supper is focused on the life and sacrifice of Jesus, we should be aware that we are each making an open proclamation when we participate. We are announcing the Lord’s death to our fellow saints. It is not because they are unaware. Rather, it is a declaration of unity in our shared conviction regarding Jesus. But not only that, we do so “until He comes.” It is a simple celebratory memorial that announces the death of Jesus while each participant is convinced of His return. So to share in the Lord’s Supper is to collectively celebrate our salvation AND our hope.

This blog posting is for EVERY Christian who assembles to worship, but it is especially for those who lead. The prayers led ought to encourage. The songs chosen should encourage, and the way they are led ought to encourage. The comments at the Lord’s table ought to encourage us as they remind us of Jesus. The preaching and teaching ought to encourage. All glory and honor goes to God and to Jesus. And yet, in His divine wisdom, God desires for His worshippers to be encouraged when they assemble to worship.

Each of us has a part in our worship assemblies. Each week ought to be a kind of homecoming, until we go to our heavenly home.

Mark Stinnett

August 23, 2026

I Love That Song, But What Does It Mean?

I wish we would sing all my favorite worship songs...every week.

I don’t know how that sounds to you, but it occurred to me that my favorite songs might not be suitable for worship. Some of my favorites are written for performers, not for congregations of common folks. Some of my favorites should either be rewritten in modern English or retired because of the vocabulary that requires a dictionary and/or awkward wording that would challenge a literary scholar.

When the Apostle Paul wrote about singing in the assembly, he insisted that there must be understanding. The musical elements of a song are what make a poem a song. Musical elements can facilitate or distract, but the words are central to meaning. The words ought to convey a message, and that message ought to conform to the truth expressed in Scripture.

Song leaders ought to think about the content of each song selected. Does it communicate to the people attending? At times a brief word of explanation might be appropriate, but if a song requires an entire lesson defining archaic words and explaining complex poetry, it might be wise to omit that song from the weekly worship service?

Words spoken at the Lord’s Supper table and in prayer are supposed to communicate. Leaders ought to use a microphone if available, and if not, speak up! God may know our thoughts as we speak, but our thoughts are communicated among people who cannot understand them unless they are made known verbally and audibly in an understandable way.

I laugh, and sometimes roll my eyes, at newscasters reporting local sporting events. No longer can they say that a baseball player hit the ball, they use all kinds of slang expressions to describe a hit ball without using the word hit. He poked it, punched it, blasted it, blooped it, dinked it, tapped it, slammed it, or crushed it. If you are not a baseball fan, the message might be lost in all the jargon. Yet, that is the point, the message might be lost in all the jargon.

Sometimes, we fall into the same trap with excessive religious jargon. When we pray in the assembly we should use words that our audience understands, not potentially confusing jargon. Our words at the Lord’s Supper table should not need to be decoded.

I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.

—1 Corinthians 14:15

Paul acknowledged communication and communion with God through his spirit, but he also recognized communication and communion with fellow Christians through the mind. While all of our worship is directed to God, He intends for everyone to understand. Our purpose in coming together is two-fold: worship to God and encouragement of fellow Christians.

Of all the activities in which we participate in our weekly worship service, only our participation in giving requires little or no communication. For everything else communication is critical. For that reason it is imperative that our communication be understandable, appropriate for that aspect of the worship, and meaningful. For that reason, religious jargon and obsolete phrases should be omitted. There may even be songs that should be retired.

Everyone who serves in a leading role in the assembly should give thought to his service of leading. Put God first, but remember the importance of communicating in such a way that the church, the people of God, are encouraged.

Mark Stinnett

March 10, 2024