Sermon Tone Analysis

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”[1]

Among contemporary churches we have witnessed a pronounced emphasis on worship during the past several decades.

Undoubtedly, the renewed emphasis on worship is in many ways commendable; however, it is greatly to be feared that much of what is presented as worship in contemporary churches falls far short of a biblical standard.

Too often, modern Christians confuse entertainment and worship.

Routinely, the effectiveness of worship is subjected to a criterion that more properly reflects the world’s standard rather than appealing to a biblical standard.

Thus, worship is too often judged on the basis of personal enjoyment; what is presented seems more frequently to glorify the performers instead of glorifying the Living God.

It almost seems that worship teams have adopted an adversarial role against those appointed to proclaim the Word.

Thus, performance and proclamation are set in competition.

The use of worship teams and praise choruses has too often become a means to showcase an individual or a group rather than leading the worshippers into the sanctuary of the Lord.

The music chosen seems often to be designed to generate an outcome rather than to honour the Master.

Repeating a chorus or a phrase is geared more to inducing a hypnotic state than encouraging thoughtful worship.

In time, the melody and~/or the rhythm has become more important than the theology of what is sung.

We have drifted so far from biblical concepts that I question whether we any longer know what it means to worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness.

Before we actually look at the text, take note of one significant fact.

Within the pastorate are many who have emphasised the necessity of avoiding drunkenness.

In urging this caution, pastors have frequently appealed to the eighteenth verse that warns, “Do not get drunk with wine.”

However, if we concede that this text debars inebriation, then we must be equally adamant that it demands that believers be “filled with the Spirit.”

The verse does not present an either~/or situation; rather it points out a both~/and condition.

Paul commands believers to “be filled with the Spirit.”

In the following verses are found five participles: (1) addressing one another; (2) singing; (3) making melody; (4) giving thanks; and (5) submitting.

In short, Paul is informing Christians how they can know that they are “filled with the Spirit.”

If you will, he is telling us how to recognise Spirit-filled worship.

The participles point to the result of being filled by the Spirit.

Join me in study of these brief instructions that reveal the church at worship so that we may learn how to worship in a manner pleasing to God.

Spirit-Filled Worship Requires Mutual Ministry — “Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.”

One of the weaknesses of the modern worship movement is that the focus is on the worshipper.

How the worshipper feels and what he or she experiences is central to the movement.

Throughout the New Testament, however, the focus is the Master, and in all worship described in the New Testament there is an emphasis upon the shared or corporate experience.

Together, the congregation of the Lord seeks to recognise His presence and as a body presents their service to Him.

Reviewing the text, it is difficult to draw any other conclusion then that worship that fails to serve others is incomplete, or perhaps is even defective.

Worship that builds only the worshipper is unworthy of Him who loved the church and gave Himself for her.

One must be struck by the instructions provided to us in the Apostle’s First Letter to the Corinthian Christians.

Listen once again to the opening words of the fourteenth chapter.

“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.

The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up” [*1 Corinthians 14:1-5*].

The focus for those participating in worship is to build others through edification (or strengthening), encouragement and consolation.

“Others” must be the focus of those who would worship acceptably.

I will be very bold to say that those who worship in spirit and in truth are focused outward seeking the benefit of others.

When I come before the Lord, it is not about me.

If I am focused on the Master, I will see others as I serve in His Name.

Not only will I see others, but I will esteem them highly in love.

Let’s take a moment to think about the congregation of the Lord in relationship to who we are and what our purpose is.

Paul compares the congregation to a body.

In fact, Paul refers to the local congregation as “the Body of Christ” [*1 Corinthians 12:27*].

We are accustomed to thinking of the Body of Christ as a universal entity, but the only other place in the New Testament where this particular term is used is more properly applied in a generic sense to the local congregation [see *Ephesians 4:12*].

Precision compels me to point out this fact, encouraging you to see that God’s ideal is that the local congregation should reflect the reality of Christ’s spiritual rule over the assembly.

We err if we attempt to reduce the congregation of the Lord to an organisation, neglecting the fact that the congregation is a spiritual entity.

It is a tragic observation that many believers in modern churches have hindered congregational effectiveness through imposing cultural restraints, focusing attention on the organisational structure as dictated by government decree rather than emphasising the spiritual structure created by the Lord.

Whenever an individual is saved, the Spirit of God gifts the individual and places him or her where He desires.

Listen to what is written in the Word.

“There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” [*1 Corinthians 12:4-7*].

Pause for a moment and consider the information that the Apostle has provided.

First, Christians are not identical—we are not produced via the “cookie-cutter method.”

We are each gifted differently—but we are each gifted.

It would be very boring indeed if everyone within a given congregation were all alike.

Can you imagine a church composed only of preachers?

Fortunately, God equips each of us so that */together/* we are enabled to reflect the character of Christ.

No one of us can ever fully express the full character of the Master, but together, as we are empowered and enabled by the Spirit of the Lord, we are equipped and appointed to reflect the glory of the Master.

Within any New Testament assembly will be individuals who are gifted with generosity, others who are gifted with compassion, and yet others who will exhibit exceptional faith.

This does not mean that we are not to be generous, excusing ourselves by saying that we haven’t the gift of generosity.

Likewise, we are responsible to walk by faith and to be a compassionate people.

Nevertheless, there will always be some among us that lead in these areas because the Spirit of God equipped them to do so.

Take note that the gifts are precisely that—gifts.

These are qualities that were not present before in the various members of the Body.

These qualities may be cultivated in the individuals making up the Body, but they are given to the members for the benefit of all the members.

The gifts are given that all the members might be blessed.

Again, there is no priority of one gift over another—there are neither superior nor inferior gifts given by the Spirit of God.

Occasionally, I have heard people opine that they are not important because they consider their gift to be inferior.

However, the Spirit of God gives each gift “as He wills” [*1 Corinthians 12:11*] and it is God who has appointed your position in the assembly [see *1 Corinthians 12:28*].

Therefore, since the gifts are given “for the common good” [*1 Corinthians 12:7*] there can be no inferior or superior gifts.

The gifts are given as God determines, they are given for the benefit of all within the assembly, and they are divinely bestowed.

Therefore, the gifts of the Spirit are vital, each one being absolutely necessary for congregational health and completeness.

It is important to stress that no member of the Body is superfluous.

We pay scant attention to our toenails—they are not attractive, they seldom generate much excitement.

However, should the cuticle become infected due to a hangnail, we are immediately conscious of our toenails.

If these “needless parts” must be surgically removed due to repeated infections, we are suddenly made aware of the value of the toenails.

They seem so insignificant, until they hurt.

The reality of the Apostle’s assertion cannot be ignored.

“God has so composed the body, giving greater honour to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together” [*1 Corinthians 12:24b-26*].

However, what may be the most significant information implied by the Apostle’s words is that together—*/and only together/*—we reflect what Christ is.

There is no perfect church; but that does not excuse us from labouring diligently to fully express the presence of Christ.

He is the Head of the Church, and each congregation needs to think long and hard about whether He is the Head of that particular assembly.

There are no bosses to run the church, nor even a committee to make things happen.

Rather, God seeks to exercise His will through the congregation as the members submit to the mind of the Spirit.

This means nothing less than investing time together to prayerfully ask what the will of the Lord is and how that will is to be expressed collectively through the assembly.

Because this is true, as members of the Body we must each accept responsibility to fulfil the ministry God has given us to build one another, to encourage one another, and to console one another.

If we will witness Spirit-filled worship in the congregation, each of us must focus on others rather than on ourselves.

Let me speak pointedly to this issue for a brief moment.

Worship is not about me.

Worship is about honouring Christ the Lord.

What I “feel” is immaterial in assessing whether I have worshipped or not.

Worship that is Spirit-filled will look to the welfare of those who share in the Body life with me, seeking their welfare.