11. Morning Worship

Scripture Readings

Morning Worship may begin with one or more Scripture readings followed by silence from the Old Testament books of the Law, the Psalms, and Proverbs, or the Prophecies in the Old Testament. They may also include a reading from the New Testament Epistles, the Acts of the Apostles, or the Apocalyptic writings like Revelation. But the main text should be from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. The readings should be of moderate length following the chapter headings, and none of the verses omitted. While some Apocrypha books like Ecclesiastes, Tobit, or Baruch are of interest, but most scholars do not generally regard them as having the same inspiration or value as the other Biblical Books. The Early Church determined quite clearly at the Council of Nicaea in 246 AD, which were God-inspired books of the Bible and which were not. ✞

Study Time

People: Sharing Time ✞

Intercessions and Thanksgivings

People: The Lord's Prayer ✞

Leader: Let us bless the Lord. ✞

People: Thanks be to God. ✞

Christian Worship Music

Christian worship music is essential in any act of worship. Music with Bible readings and prayer make up the Household of Faith worship service. Background Christian worship music is conducive to fellowship as people are gathering. The worship music may be upbeat praise or well-known hymns with the piano or guitar for 10 to 15 minutes.
Use short opening prayers together for 2 minutes.
A psalm may be said responsively.
A song from a Christian worship music book, praise booklet, or overheads may last 5 to 10 minutes.
The first Bible reading from the epistles is short.
The second Bible reading from the Gospels would also be about 2 minutes. ✞

Resource Book Teaching

Then follows the teaching from a resource book (See the list of resources in Step Five) ✞

The Creed

A modern form of catechism or creed may be used beginning, "I believe..."
leading into a discussion as a Household.
Use a meditation DVD or CD of Christian worship music as background music.
Follow this by sharing time in 3 small groups of 3 - 4 people, in separate parts of the room.
Try going around the group, each person contributing if they wish.
See also the sharing time questions.
Prayer together as a house - for individuals, the church, leaders, world, society.
Close with the Lord's Prayer, a General Thanksgiving, and shared grace. ✞

Share the Christian Faith

Books And Videos How do you share your Christian faith with other people in school, at work, or at home? How did I share my Christian faith with others this last week? I am reminded of that beautiful verse from Philemon 6, "As you share your faith with others, I pray that they may come to know all the blessings Christ has given us." (CEV version) How have I helped others see the amazing grace of Jesus this last week? We often feel ill-prepared for the task but note how Saint Paul expresses it in 1 Corinthians 2.1-5, "And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but God's power." How do I share my faith? What opportunities do I have for ministry? God equips those sharing their faith. ✞

Jesus' Words

Matthew 28.19 explains in Jesus' own words, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." How have I grown this week? We are now children of the Highest God. John 1.12 reads, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." The people of God may join in a short Morning Prayer at the beginning of each new day. The following is a shortened form of Morning Prayer using elements of the traditional Anglican office by The Rev Canon John Hill, in "All Our Days 2002" used by permission. ✞

Praise

"Lord, open our lips,
and our mouths shall proclaim your praise.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen." ✞

"Come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the caverns of the earth,
and the heights of the hills are his also." ✞

"The sea is his, and he made it,
and his hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us bow down, bend the knee,
and kneel before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
Oh, that today you would listen to his voice!" ✞

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