There are basically four components in total: praise, prayer, reading and preaching the Scriptures.
We commenced with the reading of the Scriptures last time as that is so distinctly different from the other three. Reading the Scriptures involves reading the actual spoken words of God. There is no qualification that needs to be placed upon the reading of the Scriptures. It is not some earthly individual's opinion that we are reading. No, it is the infallible, inerrant Word of the living God. Therefore it is different to every other part of worship.
Every other part of worship has a greater human dimension within it. Our praise, praying and preaching all involve an element of human composition. Even where there is a singing of metrical Psalms, as we will come to see that they also have this element of human composition within them as well.
This human dimension to worship must be governed by the Word of God. We must seek to search for and take note of Scriptural principles and examples that will govern what we use in praise, prayer and preaching. These principles and examples will fit within those three essential characteristics that we have already taken note of, namely, spoken words, in spirit and in truth.
Today, we want to consider the component of prayer. |
