MarieP
Puritan Board Senior
A co-worker and I were talking, and he mentioned that in the context of his studies, he's noticed a trend that says that preaching (in the common use of the term) is thought to be the center of the worship service. Everything leads up to and serves the preaching. He is not saying he has any problem with preaching, but he is saying that that's too narrow a view. The Word is the centerpiece of worship, whether it is proclaimed in consecutive reading, prayer, singing of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, a sermon, the Lord's Supper, or baptism (I've made another thread for the discussion of baptism as an element of worship). And this all points to the Word Incarnate, as heaven will be focused on Him even as we won't have a written Word in which we commune with and see Him now, we will see the Word face to face.
Do you think he's splitting hairs or making a valid assertion? Is this a problem that we have? What sorts of practical effects would this have on the worship service? I would think it would lead to more attentiveness Biblically saturated prayer, singing more Biblically based music, giving more attention to consecutive Scripture reading (the first time I visited my church, I wondered "what did that have to do with the preaching?" It may or may not, and it does more often than not, but it has to do with hearing the words of my Savior!), having a higher view of the Lord's Supper (I visited a church where the pastor said, "Unbelievers, we're going to take the Lord's Supper now. You don't understand it yet, so just wait while we do this..." I wasn't even Reformed yet, and I knew there was something wrong there!). And the focus would be on Christ ministering to us through His Word not only in the preaching but throughout the service. Also, it would become easier to look beyond the preacher and the other men leading to the One who is using them!
Do you think he's splitting hairs or making a valid assertion? Is this a problem that we have? What sorts of practical effects would this have on the worship service? I would think it would lead to more attentiveness Biblically saturated prayer, singing more Biblically based music, giving more attention to consecutive Scripture reading (the first time I visited my church, I wondered "what did that have to do with the preaching?" It may or may not, and it does more often than not, but it has to do with hearing the words of my Savior!), having a higher view of the Lord's Supper (I visited a church where the pastor said, "Unbelievers, we're going to take the Lord's Supper now. You don't understand it yet, so just wait while we do this..." I wasn't even Reformed yet, and I knew there was something wrong there!). And the focus would be on Christ ministering to us through His Word not only in the preaching but throughout the service. Also, it would become easier to look beyond the preacher and the other men leading to the One who is using them!