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Richard Chambers The Silence of Scripture   Worship

What does the church of Christ teach about the Silence of Scripture?
What does the Bible say about the Silence of Scripture?

John 4:21-24
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
KJV

 

THE SILENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES

(WHEN SILENCE SPEAKS LOUDLY)

  

-Introduction

-Quick review of previous lessons:

            -God’s patterns - God has established patterns for order and cohesiveness.  They are

                                        authoritative and binding.  We must conform to them.

            -God’s pattern for N.T. worship.

                        -Lord’s Supper - when instituted, when to partake, emblems, purpose, etc.

                        -Crucifixion - reminder of how much Jesus suffered for us

                        -Singing - Sing to God and to one another.  God has specified singing.  Therefore, all

                other options are eliminated.

-catalog example

-Singing is an issue of authority

-In this morning’s lesson, we’ll consider the silence of the scriptures.  I think we’ll see that the

  silence of the scriptures speaks loudly and helps us to determined what is and isn’t authorized.

-Let’s begin by looking in the book of Hebrews.

            -Remember the overall theme of Hebrews – Jesus and the Gospel are superior, preeminent to

              Moses and the Law.  There are a number of ways the writer of Hebrews demonstrates this,

        including appeals to silence.

 

-Hebrew Examples

-Heb 7:11-17

            -vs 14 – “of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood”

            -What is the point?  Since nothing was said of those from the tribe of Judah serving as priests,

              they were unauthorized to do so.

            -Deut 17:9, 18;  18:1; Num 1:50-51

            -The point:  We know from the standpoint of silence, that not even Jesus could have served as

                              a priest under the Law.  Therefore, there had to be a change of Law (Heb 7:12)

                              because Jesus is our High Priest (Heb 4:14).  Silence speaks loudly.

-Heb 1:1-5

      -In this passage, the focus is on showing that Jesus is higher than the angels.  To do so, the

  writer appeals to silence.

-vs 5 – “For unto which of the angels said he at any time…” – The point is…He didn’t.

      -This was only said in regards to Jesus.  (Ps 2:6-7, Acts 13:33, Heb 5:5)

      -Jesus is higher than the angels because God never said this to an angel – silence.

-Again, silence speaks loudly.

 

-Nadab and Abihu

-Perhaps one of the best known accounts of silence speaking loudly is Lev 10 - Nadab &  Abihu.

-vs 1 –  “which God commanded them not”

            -NAS – “which He had not commanded them”

            -God had specified the manner and method in which offerings were to be made to Him.

            -He said nothing about the manner in which Nadab and Abihu made their offering.  Therefore,

              it was unauthorized.

                        -NIV – “and they offered unauthorized fire”

-Note the results.  It was unauthorized and therefore unacceptable to God. 

-Rom 15:4 - And again, silence speaks loudly.

 

-Silence – Permissive or Prohibitive?

-Col 3:17

-Some say that silence authorizes us to make our own determinations – permissive.

-I think these previous passages show that the silence restricted that authority – prohibitive.

-However, there are instances in which silence is permissive:

            -Heb 10:25, Acts 20:7 – We are to gather together but it is not specified where – a building,

                                                                                      a house, a barn….? – permissive

            -Acts 20:7 specifies the day of the week when we are to worship but not the time.

            -Eph 5:19, Col 3:16 – We are to sing.  With songbooks?  Songs we have memorized?  All

                                               four stanzas or just the 1st, 2nd and last?

-I hope we can see the difference.  When God specifies one thing and is silent toward all else, that

silence is prohibitive. 

          -“Thou are my Son…” (Heb 1:5) was specifically spoken to Jesus.

          -The role of priests was specified to the Levites, not those of Judah.

          -The specific instructions for offerings were given.  Nadab and Abihu didn’t follow them.

-What if Heb 10:25 said, “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together at the church

building at 10:00 a.m. where you sing out of songbooks”?  We would then have some more

specific instructions and all other silence would be prohibitive.

 

-Singing

-Eph 5:19, Col 3:16

-Here God specifies that we are to sing with “melody in [our] hearts to the Lord”.

-So, where is there any authority given for the use of mechanical instruments in worship?

-There is not a verse in the New Testament scriptures which authorizes New Testament

  Christians to use mechanical instruments in worship here on Earth.

          -God has specified “singing”.  Therefore, the NT silence is prohibitive.

-Therefore, based upon the pattern set form in the scriptures in regards to silence, we can know

  wholeheartedly that the use of mechanical instruments in worship is unauthorized and therefore

  unacceptable.

         

-Summary and Invitation

-Col 3:17

-Deut 4:2, Prov 30:5-6, Rev 22:18-19

-We must strive to abide by that which God has authorized.

-Hopefully, this lesson has helped you to realize the very important role of silence.

-Indeed, silence speaks loudly.

          -Just think of all the different forms of worship being taught and practiced around the world.

          -So much of what is done under the label of worship is in violation of the principle of silence.

                      -God has specified what He wants.  Any additions violate the silence of the scriptures.

-And, think about how many different teachings there are in terms of the plan of salvation.

          -Let’s see what God’s word specifies:

          -Believe (John 8:24, John 3:16), Confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent (Acts 2:38,

      Luke 13:3,5), Be Baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Gal 3:26-29)

          -We are then to walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4) putting off the old ways of sin and putting

            on the new ways of obedience to God’s word (Eph 4:22-24).

-Is that what you have done and/or continue to do?

 
Other sermons and lessons about Worship:

 
Worship:          

Title

Outline

Lesson

Audio

Video

Author

Teach Us To Worship     Bobby Stafford

Worship in Spirit and in Truth

 

    David Hersey
Lifting Holy Hands       Travis Main
True Worship       Don Cope
All Service to God is not Worship     Travis Main
What is the Meaning of Worship?       Bobby Stafford
Reverence in Worship       Bobby Stafford
Why Does the church of Christ Observe the Lord's Supper Weekly?  

    David Hersey
Lesson 1:  God's Patterns       

Richard Chambers

Lesson 2:  The Lord's Supper     Richard Chambers
Lesson 3:  The Crucifixion     Richard Chambers
Lesson 4:  Singing       Richard Chambers
Lesson 5:  The Silence of the Scriptures     Richard Chambers
Lesson 6:  Giving       Richard Chambers
Lesson 7:  Prayer     Richard Chambers
Lesson 8:  Preaching     Richard Chambers
Lesson 9:  Evangelism and the Jerusalem Church     Richard Chambers
Lesson 10:  Church Authority & Organization       Richard Chambers
Lesson 11:  Too Exclusive &/or Narrow Minded?       Richard Chambers

 

 

 

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The church of Christ in Granby Missouri

516 East Pine St.
P.O. Box 664
Granby, Mo. 64844
(417) 472-7109