November 19, 2025

How Should Christians Dress for Worship Services?

Boy Dressed UpOur culture in the United States has gotten much more casual over the past few generations. This affects our work, speech, relationships, and the way that we dress. The trend toward more casual attire has made its way into the church as many Christians do not “dress up” very much (if at all) when they assemble for worship.

Does this matter?

On one side, you have some who insist that Christians need to wear their “Sunday best” and dress formally as if they were going to a funeral or to meet the President. On the other, there are those who argue that it does not matter what clothes we wear to worship because God sees the heart; therefore, they claim it does not matter to Him what we wear.

Which of those sides is correct? Or is the right path somewhere in between? The Bible contains some principles and examples that will help us determine what to wear as we assemble for worship. Let us notice a few points together.Continue Reading

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February 19, 2025

Worship That Honors God

High Priest

“‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the Lord of hosts… ‘Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you,’ says the Lord of hosts…” (Malachi 1:6, 10).

In the passage where the above verses are found, God addressed the worship offered to Him. He asked, “Where is my honor?” This rhetorical question shows that they had dishonored God through their worship.

How did they dishonor God? They did not cease to offer worship, but they might as well have because their sacrifices had become worthless. Instead, they worshipped God in a way that did not honor Him.

It might seem incredible that God would reject the worship someone offers to Him. Yet as God – the one who created us and is worthy of worship – this is His prerogative. He has every right to refuse to accept worship that is not according to His standard. Just as He did this during the days of Malachi, He does the same today.

We need to learn from their mistakes so we can honor God in our worship. How can we offer the kind of worship that pleases God? A few points in the text help answer this question.Continue Reading

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August 22, 2024

The “Most Important” Part of Worship (08/22/24)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re talking about the “most important” part of our worship. If you ask many brethren what that would be, they may answer, “the Lord’s Supper.” I have heard this comment made on multiple occasions: The Lord’s Supper is the most important thing we do in our worship. But is it? We’re going to discuss that today.Continue Reading

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August 14, 2024

How Much Time Should We Spend on the Lord’s Supper?

Communion Trays

In my limited personal experience in every church where I have been a member, the observance of the Lord’s Supper in the assembly has been simple and relatively brief. Even when visiting on a Sunday with other congregations, that experience has been the same.

Lately, I have been hearing of more churches rearranging their Sunday service schedule in order to have one service wholly dedicated to the Lord’s Supper and another service in which they engage in the other acts of worship (singing, praying, preaching/teaching). As of the time I am writing this, I have not visited a church that has gone to this type of arrangement. However, based upon comments I have seen online, those who have done this seem to have an overwhelmingly positive view of this new format.

This begs the question: How much time should we spend on the Lord’s Supper? In this article, I want us to consider some thoughts regarding that question.Continue Reading

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May 29, 2024

Conducting Our Assemblies Decently and in Order

Worship service

When it comes to our worship services, we tend to emphasize what we are to do. As we study through the New Testament, we see certain “acts” that were part of the assemblies of the churches in the first century under the guidance of the apostles.* Yet in his first letter to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul also described the manner in which these assemblies were to be conducted.

“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40, NKJV).

What does it mean to conduct our assemblies in this way? It is important that we understand this so we can worship God acceptably and not misapply Paul’s instruction.Continue Reading

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April 17, 2024

Should Christians Listen to Contemporary “Christian” Music?

Contemporary worship band

Contemporary “Christian” music has grown in acceptance and popularity over the last several decades. During this time, artists in more and more genres – including rock and hip hop – have been writing songs with lyrics that are more spiritual than secular. For many religious people, this is seen as an unquestionably positive development.

Before we consider whether these songs are ones that Christians should listen to, let us start with a definition of what we mean by Contemporary “Christian” music.

“Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christian faith and stylistically rooted in Christian music. …the term is typically used to refer to pop, but also includes rock, alternative rock, hip hop, metal, contemporary worship, punk, hardcore punk, Latin, electronic dance music, R&B-influenced gospel, and country styles.” (Wikipedia)

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November 14, 2022

Answering Basic Questions (Part 9): What Is Worship?

Answering Basic Questions

Many people equate being religious with worship, and for good reason. Worship may not be all that we do in service to God, but it must be a necessary and fundamental part of it.

What is worship? Let us consider four points about this subject.Continue Reading

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